‘If we help the women’s game grow, that means rugby is growing. More people are playing rugby, more people are exposed to rugby. We are all benefiting.’
There was something very special about seeing Siya Kolisi attending games, taking a thousand selfies and even presenting the Wallaroos with their jerseys. It was more than just getting eyes on WXV2, or around social media lapping it up.
His paraphrased comments on The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby nailed tournaments like this are so important – and judging by the reaction for Australian fans after their WXV2 title win, there was plenty of growth to see.
The Wallaroos played ten Tests in 2024, only the second time since their inception they have played ten or more Tests in a season. The first time was only two years ago, a World Cup year.
The 84 Tests the side has played overall has been (often) unfavourably compared to their northern hemisphere counterparts, with players on their own in England amassing over a century of matches.
However, of those 84 Tests, 35% of them – 29 Tests – have been played in just the last three years. While they have been behind the eight ball for many years, Australian women’s rugby is catching up.
Granted, 2024 was not smooth sailing. Many reasons reared their heads – new coaches, minimal preparation time and front row injuries – and throwing in coming up against sides in the Pacific Four series that are now effectively fully professional, Jo Yapp was always going to be jumping into the deep end.
Swim, however, she did. Despite an ‘average’ start, they finished the season on a positive with a win over Scotland 31-22, taking out the WXV2 tournament and had their Rugby World Cup qualification confirmed.
In ‘Animal House’ movie terminology, what do you do when things are not going well, if there is a bit of doom and gloom? ‘Roadtrip’. It is often the answer to all of one’s ills.
As a tour, this was possibly a Wallaroos biggest tour in terms of length of time on the road, (six weeks), with the exception of maybe a World Cup campaign.
However, three wins from five is nothing to be sniffed at. While it is the bane of many a passionate fan that the Wallaroos do not get much media coverage, keep this up and that may soon change?
So, what did we learn in 2024 about the Wallaroos?
We knew we had backs who can score when given the opportunity. There were some terrific tries from the backline. Being old fashioned, it is always pretty to watch backline passing and wingers like Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart scoring. If it ain’t broke though.
Several early issues emerged in this season in Australian rugby’s perennial issue, the tight five, at times scrums and defending rolling mauls. Those feel like forever issues.
Bridie O’Gorman, Eva Karpani and Tanya Naden put in a lot of minutes on the paddock. That is before we get to the front row injuries to Adiana Talakai, Brianna Hoy, Bree-Anna Cheatham and Emily Robinson.
However, the side did pick up a lot of learnings. South Africa saw them develop into real fighters, their commanding defeat of Wales and Scotland particularly notable given both of those sides improvements in the women’s game. Next year’s World Cup, they won’t just be making up the numbers.
While there may still be a gap with the top two or three teams at present, the Wallaroos can more than compete with any team. The squad is now a good mix of youngsters and old heads – and critically, Jo Yapp has built depth in a several positions.
One of the more unsung achievers on the tour was Georgina Friedrichs – it’s easy to forget that in the last three seasons she is the only player to start all 29 Tests – when was the last time you could say any player in the men’s or women’s side has held a position that long?
However, it is one position where there is a lack of depth is a concern – quite in contrast to her left running mate at inside centre, where Cecilia Smith, Trilleen Pomare and Arabella McKenzie can play.
By good luck, good management or a combination of both, there were also three finds of the tour, players who took good form and translated it to gold – Caitlyn Halse, Faitala Moleka and Tabua Tuinakauvadra.
Halse is particularly notable – she was only 16 when she debuted for the Waratahs. After her Wallaroos debut against the US, she went on to start the last four tests of the year – and has almost locked the fullback position down, even with experienced Reds player Lori Cramer on her tail.
What is most interesting, she is not just a running fullback. She is the second playmaker in the backline and shoulders a lot of responsibility. As odd as it may sound, her passing game is possibly the best in the team. It is worth noting it was her slicing run returning a kick at the end of the Scotland game that resulted in Ash Marsters scoring the try to seal the match.
Speaking of playmakers, Moleka took her opportunitues more than any other player.
You could see from when she first played for the Brumbies at 18 she had that special something, time. But, she has stepped up much quicker than expected. McKenzie had a stellar year too, really standing out in losing sides – but instrumental in the Wallaroos win over Fiji for her skillset to unleash the backline.
However, her injury, while unfortunate, enabled Moleka to step in and grab some critical experience, and her form was so good she retained the flyhalf position – even though McKenzie appeared to be available for the final Test.
Moleka’s goal kicking was particularly solid, proving the difference in the Scotland game. Most excitedly though, she sure does not lack confidence – something very welcome in Australian rugby as a whole. She believes in herself, which lifts everyone around her.
Lastly, Tuinakauvadra demonstrated some real potential at eight for the Brumbies in 2023. She had something the Wallaroos desperately need more of – physicality. She is a big, hard, running number eight. You can never have too many of them.
While her inclusion was at the expense of Piper Duck due to injury, Tuinakauvadra has put defences in two minds with her she running and passing game. She adds a further headache for Jo Yapp in 2025 – with Pesi Palu, Ash Marsters, Atasi Lafai, Tuinakauvadra and to return from injury Duck, Leilani Nathan and Emily Chancellor, the Wallaroos have options galore in the backrow.
There were ups, there were downs, but all up, despite the slight slant in the win-loss record, Jo Yapp’s Wallaroos can call 2024 a year of key growth and belief – and one that looms as critical with a World Cup year approaching.
Next stop, Super Rugby W – with no Rebels – which is already strange saying that.
