Western Force scrumhalf Samantha Wood has dreams of guiding her home state to a Super Rugby W title before she presses her claims for a maiden Wallaroos call-up.
Wood has been one of the standout players from the Force's brilliant start to the season, sitting second on the ladder.
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The club have yet to make finals in their short history since their shift from Rugby WA but the 19-year-old's contribution has been massive, named Player of the Match in their round two win over the Queensland Reds.
This and an injury crisis at nine within Australian clubs have vaulted Wood into Wallaroos contention. Brumbies scrumhalf Jay Huriwai fractured her leg in round two whilst Reds scrumhalf Sarah Dougherty will miss this week's match with the Rebels with injury.
The scrumhalf spent the off-season in the Farah Palmer Cup with Waikato, improving her all-around skills.
Wood, who has Italian and Scottish heritage through her mum and dad, has aspirations of pulling on the gold jersey, but is focused on leading the Force to glory.
“I’m just trying to go game-by-game, season-by season and right now the objective is to be the first Force team to with the Super Rugby W title," Wood told Rugby.com.au
“It’s not about higher honours yet and whilst they are goals I have in mind, you have to go game-by-game.”
Wood is leading the way for WA talent looking to make the Force into a Super Rugby powerhouse.
“It’s cool. Playing in WA during club Rugby, I think I was really lucky," she said.
“I had some great coaches and the age group I was in are coming through the system with me now and now they’re really starting to build the competition for young girls and women.
“Now I hope the dreams I had when I was younger are starting to foster within those girls as well. They’re all chasing their dreams and starting to experience a higher level of comp in those younger ages.”
She knows beating the Waratahs this weekend at UWA Park will go a long way towards making their title intentions known along with pressing her Wallaroos claims against starter Layne Morgan.
“They’ve got some incredible talented players which you have to give him that and they’ve had so many successful years but I think in the past, we’ve lacked depth in the squad so by the time they’ve come around in the year we’ve been just trying to hang on," Wood added.
"This year, we have the depth in our squad and we’re coming off a loss so we’re really looking to bring it physically.
“We want to bring it to them, give it everything we’ve got and hopefully that means a win for us.”
