Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp is proud of the character shown by her side after a rollercoaster season leaves them as a team tow watch for next year’s World Cup.
Yapp’s first year in charge started slowly but delivered the team’s first title in their 30-year anniversary during WXV 2.
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It saw them put together three straight wins in consecutive weeks for the first time in history, rounding out with a tough win over higher ranked Scotland.
“It’s really special. We’ve had our challenges over the last few months,” Yapp told reporters.
“Even up to going to WXV and losing people like Piper Duck where people were like ‘oh my goodness that’s a big loss’ but what it did mean was players like ‘Boo’ (Tabua Tuinakauvadra) and Faitala (Moleka) stepped up.
“We had this new young group really take their opportunities which was which was so exciting to see. It was rewards for the effort that the girls have put in over the last ten months to come away and get those wins.”
The Wallaroos found themselves in WXV 2 after a winless Pacific Four campaign, with Yapp admitting the disappointment was just what the team needed.
“I think after the dust has settled not making WXV1 that we acknowledged that WXV 2 was probably not a bad thing for us," Yapp believes.
“WXV 2 is a real challenging comp with all the teams in there. The majority are full time and really established sides so it was always going to challenge us.
“To be able to be challenged and come away with the wins for this was really important because they are a young group so building that belief is key.”
The Wallaroos will enter 2025 as a team on the rise after blooding a host of new players, with several more potentially coming via the Sevens program.
Superstar Charlotte Caslick has also indicated her desire to give Super Rugby W a go with the Queensland Reds whilst Sharni Smale and Bienne Terita featured at the past World Cup.
On top of this, the likes of Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor and Adiana Talakai are amongst a host of returning stars from injury as Yapp balances picking the best players with the culture they’ve built over the past months.
“It was a conversation we spoke about a few months ago in terms of an expression of interest and there are a few that are interested,” Yapp said on Sevens interest.
“We'll start those conversations and map out what that looks like for them and us…we’ve really grown and developed as a squad as a 15 so how they are integrated in into our program is really important.
“…It’s really important that we get it right and we’ve been really transparent with the group about what it looks like. Ultimately we want to make sure we’re the best, then we can be going into the World Cup and if that includes some of the Sevens players then it includes some of the Sevens players.
“I’ve said to the 15s girls that I’ll be transparent about what that looks like and what the process is and that’s really important.”
