Former Fijian Drua captain Bitila Tawake is anticipating a challenging match against the Wallaroos in tonight’s Test clash at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Tawake, a determined prop returning after undergoing rehabilitation, expressed her relief at being back on the field.
“It’s been tough watching from the sidelines,” Tawake said. “It tested my patience as I had to do my rehab properly. I had to trust the system.” She acknowledges that facing the Wallaroos will be tough, noting that many of the players they’ve faced in Super W are now unified in one team.
Meanwhile, Wallaroos halfback Layne Morgan shared her team’s positive mindset ahead of their encounter with Fiji. Despite a series of defeats this year to Canada, USA, and New Zealand in the Pacific Four campaign, Morgan, 25, believes there is a perfect opportunity to showcase their progress under coach Yapp.
“We always have pride in ourselves and we know our capabilities. Our rugby will get better the more effort we put into it, and you can see that every girl is passionate about the game,” Morgan said. “We do think we can win these games. We believe in ourselves. It’s just the natural ups and downs of rugby, but I definitely think that we’ll come back out absolutely ready to smash Fiji.”
Morgan, passionate about developing the next generation of Wallaroos, emphasized the importance of visibility and role models in rugby. “When I was growing up, I didn’t even know what a Wallaroo was. To be able to show young girls that they have something to aspire to is so important,” she said. “By 2029, I think there’s going to be a huge boom in the sport, but we’ve really got to start doing the work now and helping the girls who are currently playing.”
Morgan is expected to start as the halfback against Fijiana, named alongside uncapped Queenslander Nat Wright in Yapp’s 30-woman squad. Her Test experience and recent Super W wins over Fijian Drua with NSW will be crucial against a Fijiana team coming off an unbeaten Oceania Championships campaign. Morgan has also been adjusting her gameplay, focusing on improving her kicking skills from the ruck base.
“I think bringing in that kicking game is something I don’t normally do in Super W, so that’s something we’re looking to introduce,” she told rugby.com.au. “Additionally, I’m building on my core nine skills – having that run, pass, and kick option – and ensuring all three threats are solid.”
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