Dennison heads NSW newcomers to Wallaroos squad
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Monday, 13 October 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
NSW Women's Player of the Year Delena Dennison is one of seven players who will debut for the Wallaroos when the Australian Women's Rugby team takes on world champions New Zealand Black Ferns in at Viking Park in Canberra on Tuesday night.
Dalena Dennison - Winner: Rova Media Women's Player of the Year.
Dalena Dennison - Winner: Rova Media Women's Player of the Year.
The Test will be the first in a two-game showdown between the trans-Tasman rivals; it will also be the first match between the two countries in Australia since 1998.
Australian coach Steve Hamson has finalised the side which comprises 11 NSW players in the 22 player squad, led by Dennison (lock), captain Cheryl Soon (scrumhalf) and vice-captain Alexandra Hargreaves (flanker).
Other NSW debutantes are centre Nicole Beck and reserves Margaret Watson, Danielle Meskell and Selene Thornton.
Hamson has also included eight members of the victorious Sevens squad which beat New Zealand in the final of the Oceania Sevens in July to ensure qualification for the Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai next March.
"Those girls bring with them confidence and enthusiasm having been part of the first Australian women's team to beat the Kiwis in Rugby," said Hamson. "We're hoping the whole squad will feed off that self-belief.
"There are signs it has already filtered throughout the squad and with an average age of only 23, we are certainly heading in the right direction.
"Our backline has plenty of pace. They have the ability to penetrate defences.
"Our backrow is also impressive, and arguably the finest we have ever had in Australian Women's Rugby."
The Wallaroos opened preparations for the First Test with a warm-up match against the Australian President's XV in Canberra on Saturday, running in 15 tries during a 95-0 romp.
Outside back Thornton scored four tries and centre Williams collected three.
"It was a more than useful exercise," said Hamson. "We've changed our style of play significantly and they executed almost flawlessly.
"We didn't show too much though; not with a Kiwi presence at the ground keeping a close eye on what we were doing."
The Black Ferns are defending the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy after winning last year's series 2-0 in New Zealand.
This year's series opens on Tuesday night with a 6pm kickoff (Canberra time) at Viking Park.
The Second Test will be played on Saturday with a 3pm kickoff at Viking Park.
Australia and New Zealand have met on eight occasions in Women's Tests since the Wallaroos entered international competition in 1994.
The Kiwis have won all eight clashes, taking last year's games 21-10 and 29-12.
LAURIE O'REILLY MEMORIAL TROPHY - FIRST TEST
AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday, 14 October 2008 (Kick-off 6:00pm AEDT)
Viking Park, Canberra
AUSTRALIAN WALLROOS
1. Lindsay Morgan (ACT)
2. Silei Poluleuligaga (VIC)
3. Kylie Pennell (NSW)
4. Dalena Dennison (NSW)
5. Kate Porter (Australian Services)
6. Selena Tranter (QLD)
7. Alexandra Hargreaves [vc] (NSW)
8. Debby Hodgkinson (WA)
9. Cheryl Soon [c] (NSW)
10. Alana Thomas (NSW)
11. Nicole Beck (NSW)
12. Tui Ormsby (NSW)
13. Sharni Williams (ACT)
14. Iliseva Batibasaga (QLD)
15. Tricia Brown (QLD)
Reserves
16. Margaret Watson (NSW)
17. Danielle Meskell (NSW)
18. Tasileta Bethell (QLD)
19. Se'ei Sa'u (QLD)
20. Kim Wilson (ACT)
21. Selene Thornton (NSW)
22. Melissa Rowe (WA)
NEW ZEALAND BLACK FERNS
1. Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (Canterbury)
2. Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland)
3. Beth Mallard (Otago)
4. Kim Smith (Canterbury)
5. Victoria Heighway (Auckland)
6. Melissa Ruscoe [c] (Canterbury)
7. Olivia Coady (Canterbury)
8. Linda Itunu (Auckland)
9. Emma Jensen (Auckland)
10. Anna Richards (Auckland)
11. Carla Hohepa (Otago)
12. Halie Hurring (Canterbury)
13. Huriana Manuel (Auckland)
14. Victoria Grant (Auckland)
15. Hannah Porter (Auckland)
Reserves
16. Ruth McKay (Manawatu)
17. Doris Taufateau (Auckland)
18. Monalisa Codling (Auckland)
19. Aimee Sutorius (Wellington)
20. Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
21. Rebecca Hull (Manawatu)
22. Selica Winiata (Manawatu)