Former Fijian Drua captain Bitila Tawake is anticipating a fierce encounter as they face the Wallaroos tonight at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The prop, returning after a period of rehab, acknowledged the difficulty of being sidelined and emphasized the importance of proper recovery and trust in the system.
Tawake expects a challenging match against the Wallaroos, noting that many of their players have competed in the Super W, now coming together as one formidable team.
On the other side, Wallaroos halfback Layne Morgan expressed her team’s readiness to change their Test fortunes against Fiji. Although the Wallaroos have yet to secure a win this year, Morgan, 25, is confident in their growth under Coach Yapp and sees the match in Sydney as an opportunity to showcase their progress.
“We always have pride in ourselves and we know our capabilities,” Morgan said. “We believe in ourselves and think we can win these games. It’s just the ebbs and flows of rugby, but I definitely believe we’ll be ready to compete against Fiji.”
Morgan is also committed to nurturing the next generation of Wallaroos, highlighting the growing visibility and popularity of women’s rugby. She emphasized the importance of today’s players as role models and the necessity of laying the groundwork for future stars.
Likely to start against Fijiana, Morgan’s experience and recent Super W successes will be crucial in countering a strong Fijian team fresh from their unbeaten Oceania Championships run.
To enhance her play against Fijiana, Morgan is focusing on improving her kicking game, a skill she believes will add to her overall effectiveness as a halfback. “I think bringing in the kicking game is something new for me and we’re keen to integrate it along with maintaining solid run, pass, and kick options.”
As both teams prepare for a highly anticipated clash, the energy and determination from both sides promise an exciting match at Allianz Stadium.