Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has included four debutants for the side’s Test against Fijiana in Sydney. ACT Brumbies trio Biola Dawa, Allana Sikimeti and Lydia Kavoa join Natalie Wright as the fresh faces in line to make their Wallaroos debut at Allianz Stadium. The quartet were part of an extended Wallaroos squad that spent five days in Canberra preparing for Saturday’s clash before shifting to Sydney earlier this week. The Wallaroos starting pack includes captain Michaela Leonard along with Piper Duck, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney and Atasi Lafai, while Lori Cramer returns to fullback.
Karpani and Arabella McKenzie are set to celebrate milestones by bringing up their 25th caps as the Wallaroos eye their first Test win of the year.
"It's been nice to be back in Sydney and the players are working hard to put in a good performance against Fiji," Yapp said.
"Our team has been building well and we are looking forward to seeing how they go.
"I'd like to congratulate Allana, Biola, Lydia and Nat on selection ahead of their first Test caps, and Eva and Arabella on their pending milestones." Prolific winger Maya Stewart and front-rower Ashley Marsters were unavailable due to injury. Wagga Wagga product Dawa represented University of Canberra at the 2018 AON Uni Sevens series before joining the Brumbies in the Super W as a teenager. She comes in for Stewart, who has been ruled out with a hamstring problem, and ensures the Wallaroos maintain their speed out wide. Sikimeti, a talented emerging forward who celebrated her 20th birthday with selection this week, was in the Queensland Reds system before moving to Canberra. Kavoa, 30, discovered her love for rugby during the more than a decade she spent in the navy.
She played for the navy in the ADF Tri service competition at Ballymore Stadium before signing with the Brumbies.
Wright’s rise through the 15s ranks has been impressive after multiple injury setbacks while coming through the Australian sevens system.
The 21-year-old has floated between positions since transitioning to the longer format of the game and will look to add some strike through the middle alongside Layne Morgan. The Test match will feature as part of a double header with the Wallabies-Wales clash on Saturday night in Sydney.
Wallaroos: Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard (capt), Atasi Lafai, Leilani Nathan, Piper Duck, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Cecilia Smith, Georgina Friedrichs, Biola Dawa, Lori Cramer. Res: Tiarna Molloy, Allana Sikimeti, Bridie O'Gorman, Siokapesi Palu, Lydia Kavoa, Natalie Wright, Trilleen Pomare, Faitala Moleka.
