By accident or design, the decision of Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning to drop Grace Hamilton for a clash with the Black Ferns in August has yielded dividends at the Rugby World Cup.
Given Hamilton had been the standout Wallaroo for several years prior, the selection decision shocked many and, unsurprisingly, didn’t last all that long.
Based on Hamilton’s subsequent work at training, Tregonning recalled the powerful No.8 for the next Test and the 30-year-old has not only stayed there since, but consistently been one of the Wallaroos’ best.
At the Rugby World Cup this month, Hamilton has indisputably been the best player for Australia, and almost literally carried the Wallaroos to a quarter-final berth against England on Sunday. The Waratahs forward leads the entire tournament for carries with 64 in three Tests; carting 28 times in a win over Wales, and 23 in victory against Scotland. Hamilton’s 402 run metres is almost 100 more than her nearest rival, Maura Muzzo of Italy.
But Hamilton – who was also replaced as Wallaroos captain by Shannon Parry in April – says her strong World Cup form has not been the result of any post-axing ‘I’ll-show-them’ motivation. If anything, after years of posting similarly impressive stats, Hamilton’s response to being dropped was to double down in self-belief.
Grace Hamilton on the charge for Australia against Wales.Credit:Getty
“I am not going to lie, it was a tough year and has been a tough year … my whole perspective of playing has definitely changed throughout this year,” Hamilton said.
“I have been let down this year so for me, it was about just focussing on myself and playing for myself, regardless of selection. If they don’t want to select me that’s completely fine. I am pretty self-motivated like that. I know what I can do, I can be that strong person for the team. If that fits in their game plan for the team, great. If not, that’s the decision.”
Whatever the motivation, there’s no doubt Wallaroos need a fired-up Hamilton on Sunday to be any hope of taking down England in the World Cup quarters in Auckland. The English have won a record 28 straight Tests and have built that record on the back of the best forward pack in women’s rugby.
Get out of my way … Hamilton sits down a Scottish defender.Credit:Getty
Australia’s pack have proved their mettle up front in beating Wales and Scotland and disarming the scrum-maul threats of the two Six Nations teams. But England will be several steps up again.
“We obviously haven’t played any northern hemisphere teams in ages … there is only about four of us who have ever played England. But the experience in that style, they play fast, they’re well drilled, they like line speed in defence,” Hamilton said.
“So it is about how we deal with that pressure and how we execute our game plan around it.”
In more bold selection calls, Tregonning has switched up his backline to take on the English, naming Layne Morgan at halfback in place of Iliseva Batibasaga, and recalling Pauline Piliae-Rasabale at fullback. Lori Cramer has been moved to the wing to replace the injured Ivania Wong. Mahalia Murphy and Cecelia Smith come onto the bench for their first games.
“We know we need to play a quick game, and we think Layne just has that little bit of extra speed for us to get the ball out for us,” Tregonning told reporters.
Layne Morgan feeds a scrum against the Black Ferns.Credit:Getty
Parry added the Wallaroos “have nothing to lose but everything to gain”.
While pleased with the team’s steadily strengthening form, Hamilton said she believed they are still only in third gear.
“I am actually probably more frustrated because I don’t think we have been as good as we could be. Looking to the quarter-finals, hopefully, we will peak at the right time and that’s the idea this weekend. If we get a few more things right, we can make an impact,” Hamilton said.
“We are getting into the 22 but not coming away with points.”
Stunning New Zealand in the first half of their pool match showed the Wallaroos have a front-foot game to trouble anyone.
“One thing about England is they are really well structured and they do the basics right,” Hamilton said.
“When you play New Zealand, you don’t know what they’re going to throw at you because they have an offload game and they play through the line more. But England, defensively if we can show up and re-set every quarter and set goals of not leaking points for the next ten minutes, that’ll be key to getting up defensively against them. We have to rattle them.”
Wallaroos team to play England, Sunday, 11.35am AEDT
(1-15): Liz Patu, Adiana Talakai, Bridie O’Gorman, Michaela Leonard, Grace Kemp, Emily Chancellor, Shannon Parry, Grace Hamilton, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Lori Cramer, Sharni Williams, Georgina Friedrichs, Bienne Terita, Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.
Reserves: Tania Naden, Emily Robinson, Eva Karpani, Sera Naiqama, Piper Duck, Iliseva Batibasaga, Cecilia Smith, Mahalia Murphy.
Watch all the action from the Women’s Rugby World Cup from New Zealand with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport. Continues this weekend with France v Italy (Saturday 12:30pm AEDT) and New Zealand v Wales (Saturday 3:15pm AEDT), England v Australia (Sunday 11am AEDT) and Canada v USA (2:15pm AEDT).
