This week in Manchester, Emily Chancellor observed her special day; however, the Australian co-leader anticipates another favorable outcome this Saturday as the Wallaroos aspire to commence their Women’s Rugby World Cup venture with a powerful statement against Samoa.
Chancellor will participate in the leadership responsibilities together with her NSW Waratahs associate, Kaitlan Leaney, who is scheduled to become the 20th commander in Wallaroos’ past. Both players have been selected to initiate in the forward setup, with ‘Chance’ positioning at the openside flanker role once more.
Michaela Leonard and Piper Duck, who have likewise secured spots in the starting lineup in the second row and at the blindside flanker role respectively, similarly possess prior experiences as previous captains of the national team.
This Australian team is keen to leave their mark as they start their World Cup campaign, with essential matches against the USA and England to follow. Should the Wallaroos succeed against Samoa and then the Americans, a position in the quarter-finals would be secured.
“It would be a delightful birthday gift, but I believe I might have extended the birthday sentiment a tad too much in this setting,” Chancellor expressed to reporters on Friday.
“Ultimately, we are here with the intention of securing this World Cup, and commencing from the first game, we aspire to emerge with force, aiming to deliver a performance that conveys a message to the rest of the World Cup, while also demonstrating to ourselves as a team that the effort we have invested has appropriately positioned us.
“I am of the opinion that we are prepared and enthusiastic to commence.”
Australia seeks to capitalize on their dominant 36-5 triumph over Wales at North Sydney Oval on August 1, succeeding a historically unfavorable defeat to the same adversary merely six days prior at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium.
Subsequent to clinching the WXV 2 title in South Africa last year – the inaugural significant trophy in team history – the Wallaroos persisted in exhibiting indications of potential during the Pacific Four Series and leading into those matches against the Welsh.
In Brisbane, an interruption due to lightning brought a cessation to the match, merely 12 minutes into the competition. Although the hosts were unsuccessful in recovering subsequent to the match’s resumption, rebounding the following week is a result that instilled “substantial confidence” within the Wallaroos as they approach the World Cup.
“As it commenced to trickle as we were present during the captain’s training, I articulated it upon our return to Sydney, I now have an affinity for the wet weather game that we have acquired the skills to play,” Chancellor stated, despite the anticipation of only cloudy conditions during the game at this juncture.
“I possess a sense of assurance, and I perceive that the entirety of the team was genuinely confident in our game strategy amidst wet weather conditions, consequently, the prospect of engaging in a slight amount of wet weather football genuinely excites me now.
“The two Test matches against Wales served as a genuinely valuable initial lesson in that first game, illustrating the sensation we aspire to avoid at the conclusion of a game. We are not granted a second opportunity during a World Cup, therefore, the current emphasis lies on executing the second game against Wales flawlessly from the outset.
“Each and every game at a World Cup is imperative for victory,” she appended. “We are unwilling to entrust anything to chance, and we acknowledge that ultimately the top two teams advance… should we secure victory in our initial two games, we establish that opportunity as a certainty.”
