Getting a maiden win over the Black Ferns is enough motivation for anyone but for Lori Cramer, this week means more.
The Wallaroos and Wallabies will wear their respective First Nations jerseys as part of NAIDOC week, facing Wales and New Zealand respectively over the weekend.
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Cramer is a proud Indigenous woman, with ancestry from Taroom in central Queensland with the Yiman people.
The theme of NAIDOC week ‘Keep the fire burning’ resonates throughout the team as Cramer explained off the back of their thumping win over Fijiana and many close results with no success against the Kiwis.
“For me, it represents having either conformable conversations or keeping momentum,” she told reporters.
“We’ve got momentum at the moment and we’re building. Pac Four was a bit disappointing because it really didn’t show what we’re about as a Rugby nation and a team because we can do so much.
“We can give much better performances than that but at the moment, we’ve got some momentum and we’re building to a bigger picture so having those uncomfortable conversations amongst the group, is only going to make us grow and be better as a group.
“I think with NAIDOC’s theme around being uncomfortable and having conversations as a nation is important as well so we’ve embraced that this week and being able to push as a team and a family.
“I’m really excited this weekend to wear the Indigenous jerseys at Ballymore which is my home and have the family and my mob watching me.”
The Wallaroos have never managed to beat the Black Ferns, with Cramer confident they can turn around the 67-19 defeat in May.
“It’s just having that belief and have the reps of those things coming together to practice those winning behaviours,” she said.
“Coming off last week, we’re feeling good and we’ve had a really positive week so we’re coming in leaps and bounds (better than Pac Four).
“It’s down to that time together and the training environment we’re emulating at the moment…even compared to last year, we’ve had a lot of time together in camp.
“In the past, we’ve had a week’s build up before we play the Black Ferns whereas we’ve been in camp for three weeks and we’ll see each other again in a few weeks for WXV so that time away is getting shorter and it’s starting to show those combinations.”
The return of Ash Marsters is a big boost, slotting straight back into the back row,
“We know the difference Ash can make both sides of the ball,” coach Jo Yapp said.
“She’s exciting when she’s on the ball, having played 1-15 and she’s really comfortable with ball in hand which is awesome. She brings that energy and intensity to training.
“She’s been in camp the whole time with us so we’re excited to see her back on the field.”
