Arguably, Thursday’s Super Rugby Champions Final is the most important Australian women’s rugby match of the year.
Yes, that is a year that includes a World Cup. No hyperbole, but it could very well determine what the domestic rugby future will look like.
I promise that I wasn’t copying ESPN’s Britt Mitchell; we just coincidentally happened to be writing that exact same thought at the same time.
Putting that aside, from a Waratahs fan perspective, there is more than a bit of trepidation and excitement that comes with fear.
One cannot help but think the Blues-Waratahs match on Thursday will be a bit of big sister (Blues) wanting to put little sister in her place. With the number of teenagers including year 12 players in the Tahs team, the analogy is more than quite apt.
The Blues and Waratahs matched up in a pre-season trial with a final score of 36-36. Not sure how much can be read into that game, and not sure when the points were scored.
The Blues rolled out pretty much two separate teams in each half. Only three players who started played in the second half team.
The Waratahs had quite a strong starting line up with an extended bench of 11 players. The only players missing from the usual starting team were the locks Kaitlan Leaney and Annabelle Codey and fly half Arabella McKenzie.
Interestingly, Caitlyn Halse played 10 with Waiaria Ellis at fullback.
No matter how you spin it, the Waratahs are a big fish in a small rugby pond, heading over the ditch as the small fish in a big rugby pond.
So what do we know?
Both teams have had a five-day turnaround since their respective competition finals. It is a bit rough, but the scheduling is tight. Easter and both national coaches want to announce squads to prepare for the Pacific Four Series.
On May 3, the Wallaroos have their first Test against Fiji in Suva. That is less than three weeks away, and with a squad yet to be named. Word has it that the train-on squad will be announced next Tuesday.
Anyone who watched the Aupiki final will have seen it was a bruising affair.
The Blues’ defence was astoundingly good. Towards the end of the game, Matatu were pounding the Blues’ line, but they held firm to get the win 26-19.
Like any game of rugby, it will be the forwards who determine the outcome. The Waratahs forwards cannot be bullied by the Blues, which is always easier said than done.
Desiree Miller of the Waratahs celebrates with teammates after scoring. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The Waratahs are up against a very good side. There are a lot of Black Ferns in the team, and any team that has Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is a tad terrifying.
The Waratahs will be without at least Piper Duck, Leilani Nathan, Adiana Talakai and now Maya Stewart. The loss of Stewart is big, not just her attack, but her defence is strong and physical.
The Blues have the best stats of all the Kiwi teams: scrums 99% won, most tries, most line breaks, most carries, most tackles, most almost everything.
Woodman-Wickliffe most defenders beaten. Of the Aupiki teams, the Blues have conceded the most penalties, received the most cards and won 71% lineouts, which is the worst of the Kiwi teams.
There are no publicly available match stats on the Super Rugby W games this year, so it is not possible to compare. But just watching the grand final, the Tahs lineout is pretty solid, but the scrum really struggled as it had earlier in the season.
Maybe that was the loss of Talakai. Either way, the Tahs do not have long to fix it, or Thursday could be ugly. In a positive, it was the GF front row that took on the Blues in the preseason game.
What is amusing, both fullbacks are 18 years old, both wunderkinds. The Blues – Braxton Sorensen-McGee, the Waratahs – Halse. The Blues have moved Ruahei Demant to fly half and Sylvia Brunt to 12.
That centre combination will put a lot of stress on the Tahs’ defence. The 13s, Woodman-Wickliffe vs Georgina Friedrichs, will be fascinating. This will be Friedrichs’ biggest challenge of the season.
No matter if it is the Australians against Kiwis sides in men, women, sevens, or 15s, the key is competing physically. It will be no different on Thursday.
Both sides of the ditch wanted this game. Here is to a good competitive game and, naturally, a Waratahs victory.
Maybe little sister can show big sister what she has got. Now, for a few positive affirmations in the lead-up to the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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