Wallaroo Sera Naiqama has lauded the leadership of locking partner and Test captain Michaela Leonard following Australia’s historic 29-20 win over France in WXV1.
While a hat-trick of tries to Eva Karpani dominated headlines along with breakout performances from Georgie Friedrichs and Faitala Moleka in the backline, Leonard’s role cannot be overstated.
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The stand-in skipper made 15 carries, 15 tackles and beat two defenders in a heroic 80-minute shift under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
For Naiqama, the performance typified Leonard’s coming of age as both a player and leader in 2023.
“She’s incredible,” Naiqama said of Leonard.
“The thing is Mac and I both came to the fold in 2019 and we’ve always been competitors on the field, but I’ve had a great sense of pride looking at the way she’s led our team.
“I empathise with her as well – it’s not easy in any kind of leadership position – but the way she’s had to wear the results both good and bad has been outstanding and the fact we were able to notch that win while she has the bracketed “c” next to her name is a core memory for her.
“I’m really happy I got to pack down with her and see that result come to fruition.”
Just six games into her tenure as stand-in Wallaroos skipper, Leonard has experienced dizzying heights and lows in equal measure.
The Force lock first took on the captaincy in June following Shannon Parry’s retirement, taking the armband against New Zealand with Parry’s successor Piper Duck ruled out to injury.
A 50-0 defeat that night prompted Leonard to deliver a public apology to Australian fans, but Duck’s ongoing ankle concerns saw Leonard retain the armband across the Wallaroos’ Pacific Four/Laurie O’Reilly Cup campaigns and into WXV1.
It’s a decision her teammates and coaches stand by in unison – and one that has yielded Australia’s most impactful women's XVs result since a bronze medal win at the 2010 Rugby World Cup.
“She’s a really good on-field leader by her actions,” Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning said last week.
“You look at her speed around the corner and things like that she’s leading the charge, a genuine 80-minute player playing in a tough position like lock.
“She leads by example that way, she’s got a calming voice on the field as well, she talks to referees...so all across the park she’s shown that leadership.”
Wallaroos teammate Faitala Moleka added: “As a leader, she just displays that sense of calmness on the field with her chat and her role as a lock with the forwards.”
“She’s the kind of leader that brings all the girls together and gets that connection going, not only on the field but off the field as well.”
The Wallaroos will name their team on Wednesday to tackle Wales in Friday's WXV1 clash at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.
BUILDCORP WALLAROOS WXV1 FIXTURES
Wallaroos 7 def by England 42 on Friday 20 October, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Wallaroos 29 def France 20 on Saturday 28 October, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Wallaroos v Wales, 5:00pm (AEDT), Friday 3 November, Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
