Sevens flyer Bienne Terita is hoping to parlay her Wallaroos call-up into a maiden Test cap as the side heads to Adelaide to face the Black Ferns.
Terita made her debut for Australia Sevens in Malaga during the 2021-22 World Series, making the move to the 15-a-side to press her World Cup claims after missing out on the Commonwealth Games.
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The 19-year-old has largely featured as a Sevens specialist outside of sporadic appearances at club level, excited to further develop her skills into the expanded format.
“I played club for a bit but this is a completely different level. I think transitioning from Sevens from 15s was different, there’s so many more girls on the field but I think there are things from Sevens that I was able to implement into 15s,” she explained to Rugby.com.au before the O'Reilly Cup series.
“It’s a lot more physical game which I’ve had to learn from that. Sevens is more of a running dynamic game so I would say my fitness and running has been able to help here as well as the agility work we get done in Sevens to put into this game.
“It’s a bit more of a technical game but the girls here are very experienced and have a really good knowledge and understanding of the game. It’s been really helpful to be around the girls and picking up from them.”
Terita will re-join the Sevens squad for September's Rugby Sevens World Cup in South Africa, praising the coaching staff from both programs for facilitating the move.
“I think off being a non-selection for the Commonwealth Games, it was heartbreaking but I think the opportunity came around at the right time," Terita believes
“Walshy spoke to me about it and let me whatever I wanted to do he was supportive of. He’s all about the players and what they want to do so he was very supportive of me.
“For me, it was about trying to get that game time and experience in something different. he was very supportive of it and the coaches for 15s were keen to have me on board as well as some of the players.
“It was an easy environment to come back to.”
Terita doesn't have to look far for inspiration, with a host of Black Ferns stars making the move between the two.
Theresa Fitzpatrick and Tyla Nathan-Wong both featured in the 52-5 win in Christchurch last week, with Sevens legend Ruby Tui making the full-time switch in 2022 to focus on the World Cup.
“Making that switch from Sevens to 15s is amazing, especially the year they’ve had coming off the back of Comm Games,” Tertia added.
“To make that switch is really good for them. They’ll be coming off a high as well so it’ll be a good opportunity for them to get game time.
