The spirit of 13 Wallaroos keeping their tryline intact for 10 minutes while two players down against Wales will be a proud final memory for departing coach Jay Tregonning.
Friday’s tense 25-19 victory at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium was everything to do with the extra composure, sharp skill improvements, improved professionalism and character that the team has built during his 18-month tenure.
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It was a terrific show of determination to finish the inaugural WXV 1 competition on a high with a second win.
What did we learn?
1 THE TREGONNING LEGACY
The schoolteacher coach shared the life of his players as a part-timer but with full-time commitment and that resonated with his Wallaroos throughout.
He was never a big-noter, never an attention seeker and always deflected kudos onto his players not himself.
There were tough times at stages in 2022 with a string of losses and an attack as spluttering as an old Leyland P76.
Tregonning always preached that hard work, repetition of skills and gaining experience would pay big dividends down the track. The spirit has always glowed hot from his teams.
We are 16 Tests down the track in his tenure and the best was saved until last. Everything he wanted and preached crystalised in the superb 29-20 upset of France and was followed up by finding a way against the odds against Wales.
2 THE EVOLUTION
When the Wallaroos came out of three years in the wilderness, they blooded 11 new players against Fijiana in May last year.
Player-of-the-Match Kaitlan Leaney, try-scoring winger Ivania Wong, top centre Georgina Friedrichs, sharp-passing halfback Layne Morgan and forceful lock Sera Naiqama were among the rookies that day. In Auckland, they led the way with their attitude and class by being amongst the Wallaroos’ best.
Since the stutters of 2022, the Wallaroos have purred in recent weeks with sharper passing in the halves from Layne Morgan and Carys Dallinger, genuine finishing speed on the wing with flyer Maya Stewart, Friedrichs’ multi-purpose package, the crunch of flanker Siokapesi Palu, Leaney’s lineout winning, Karpani’s breakout Tests, the starch of their defence and much more. They are a much more cohesive unit.
That really is the progress of the Wallaroos. They’ve built experience through a bigger squad and are a worthy No.5 in the world with the potential to go higher.
They’ve beaten France, Wales (twice), Scotland, USA and Fijiana (twice) over the past 18 months from 16 Tests. You could see at full-time in Auckland what a charge of confidence has given their game too.
3 THE K-TRAIN
Prop Eva Karpani needed to be fitter last year to sustain her bursts of impact. She’s now a bona fide star of the game who’ll command offers to play in England and New Zealand.
The Wallaroos were down to 13 players when sheer willpower put an extra surge of determination through her legs and she bumped over with those pistons pumping at the 51-minute mark.
The Wallaroos were down 14-8 at that stage and things could have turned sour. Instead, she gave teammates the lift they needed because the Aussies were 5-0 “winners” in the period with 13 players. Amazing.
4 NEW SKIPPER
Injury has robbed Piper Duck of the chance to lead the Wallaroos this year after her original selection in the role.
Lock Michaela Leonard has stepped up brilliantly. She’s experienced, calm and an excellent communicator on-field with referees.
5 SUPER SUBS
The bench hasn’t always been the impact group that the Wallaroos have needed but they were superb in Auckland.
But for a dubious kick ahead in the final two minutes that gave Wales the ball for a final attacking passage, forward Ashley Marsters was decisive with her robust carries and a clutch effort to get over the ball for a penalty when on desperate defence.
Experienced centre Cecilia Smith threw the last pass for the clinching Wong try and replacement fullback Lori Cramer stayed alert to pounce on the loose ball for a try after being involved in the play on the other side of the field.
Such input was needed to cover for the ill-discipline of two players copping cards. Winger Wong even packed at flanker at scrum-time as a result.
A fine finale to end 2023.
