Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning has made several changes as they prepare to open their O'Reilly Cup campaign against the Black Ferns in Christchurch on August 20.
Breakout star Grace Kemp has been named at number eight, earning her first start after strong performances in the Pacific Four.
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This pushes Grace Hamilton out of the squad as backrower Piper Duck retains her spot on the bench.
Kemp is joined in the backrow by the returning Emily Chancellor and Shannon Parry, who retains the captaincy.
Queensland Reds prop Bree-Anna Cheatham is also set to make her Test debut at loosehead prop.
Cheatham missed the entire Super W season due to injury, earning selection in the starting side along with Ashley Marsters and Bridie O'Gorman.
“The team has come back into camp in better shape since our last campaign, showing that players have been putting in the hard yards in their respective states," Tregonning said in a statement.
“I’ve been impressed with how everyone has applied themselves this week as we prepare for the first O’Reilly Cup Test against New Zealand.
“It is great to reward a number of players who have been diligent in their training in the seven weeks since we were last together for the Pacific Four campaign, with players working hard to return from injury while also playing great Rugby in their respective club competitions around the country.
“We’re still building towards the World Cup, but we want to keep improving with every game and be competitive against the top teams in the world, which includes New Zealand."
In further team news, Ivania Wong makes her return from a knee injury, joined in the back three by Mahalia Murphy and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.
Waratahs hooker Adiana Talakai is amongst the reserves, making her return from her own knee injury suffered during the Pac Four.
Talakai is joined by club teammates Emily Robinson, who earned a call-up for her first game in 2022, along with Atasi Lafai, who has overcome a collarbone injury suffered during Super W.
“These two Test matches provide us with a great opportunity for further growth off the back of the Pacific Four campaign, with valuable game time for the players ahead of the World Cup," Tregonning added.
The Test between the Wallaroos and the Black Ferns kicks off at 7:05pm NZST (5:05pm AEST) this Saturday, 20 August, at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch. and will be shown live, ad-free and on-demand on Stan Sport
1.Bree-Anna Cheatham* – Queensland Reds
2.Ashley Marsters – Melbourne Rebels
3.Bridie O’Gorman – NSW Waratahs
4.Michaela Leonard – ACT Brumbies
5.Kaitlan Leaney – NSW Waratahs
6.Emily Chancellor – NSW Waratahs
7.Shannon Parry (c) – Queensland Reds
8.Grace Kemp** – ACT Brumbies
9.Iliseva Batibasaga – NSW Waratahs
10.Arabella McKenzie – NSW Waratahs
11.Ivania Wong – Queensland Reds
12.Cecilia Smith – Queensland Reds
13.Georgina Friedrichs – NSW Waratahs
14.Mahalia Murphy – NSW Waratahs
15.Pauline Piliae-Rasabale – NSW Waratahs
Reserves
16.Adiana Talakai – NSW Waratahs
17.Emily Robinson – NSW Waratahs
18.Eva Karpani – NSW Waratahs
19.Atasi Lafai – NSW Waratahs
20.Piper Duck – NSW Waratahs
21.Layne Morgan – NSW Waratahs
22.Trilleen Pomare – Western Force
23.Lori Cramer – NSW Waratahs
*Denotes Wallaroos debut
**Denotes Wallaroos starting debut
- Pip Love
- Georgia Ponsonby
- Tanya Kalounivale
- Joanah Ngan Woo
- Chelsea Bremner
- Alana Bremner
- Kennedy Simon (co-captain)
- Charmaine McMenamin
- Kendra Cocksedge
- Ruahei Demant (co-captain)
- Ayesha Leti-I’iga
- Theresa Fitzpatrick
- Amy du Plessis
- Ruby Tui
- Renee Holmes
- Luka Connor
- Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
- Amy Rule
- Tafito Lafaele
- Kendra Reynolds
- Tyla Nathan-Wong
- Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’I (Sylvia) Brunt
- Hazel Tubic
