Wallaroos back-rower Emily Chancellor hasn’t been in the Wallaroos camp for close to 18 months, but the growth of the squad has the experienced star excited to begin the World Cup preparation.
Chancellor and the Wallaroos have settled into camp in Canberra as they prepare to fly to Suva for Saturday’s Test against Fijiana.
Catch the Wallaroos take on Fijiana on Saturday live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
It’s the first of seven games before September’s Rugby World Cup in England, with the Wallaroos currently on a three-match winning streak. Should the side win in Suva, it will mark the first time ever the Wallaroos have won four in a row.
Chancellor missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign due to a knee injury, appreciating the opportunity to immerse herself in the environment once again.
“It's always meant the same thing to me and it's something that you always want to be a part of but knowing that you've had that opportunity taken away from you, to be back in the environment then you're so much more grateful and aware of the little things that have changed in the year that I was missing,” she told reporters.
“(It’s) those little things that you take for granted when you're in this space year on year, how much you love it and how much this group of girls really enjoy spending time together.”
With that time out comes plenty of new faces and names to learn, with eight uncapped players in the squad, including Sevens duo Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds.
“I have been so impressed by the girls that haven't got capped yet and how they've entered into this space,” Chancellor remarked.
“Often you get a bit of fear and a little bit of nervousness, which either comes out in a little bit of a looser rugby or they go within their shells, whereas I feel like everyone has come in with a real desire to be a part of it.
“The girls that have been in here this week for the first time tasting an Australian environment, I'm blown away by their quality and their desire to be a part of it.
“Tia’s (Hinds) played quite a bit before she got into the sevens environment, but Charlotte has been just so open and so keen to learn, asking questions, making mistakes, changing the behaviours and just the desire to be a part of it.
“I have felt all three of those Sevens girls have really committed to being part of this squad and there isn't any divide. There's nothing to be worried about or talked about because they just are here to be 15s players and put their best foot forward, just like everyone else.”
