Author: Amanda

Australia take on England in the 1st v 4th semi final tomorrow morning. A a story of the highly prepared against the highly motivated.

The Wallaroos have done the quite improbable and qualified for the World Cup finals as the best pool runner-up with a cracking 61 – nil victory over South Africa.

Australia were 100% attacking mode from the outset, knowing they’d need a 55 point differential to make it through, after France caused an upset by beating Canada. The Wallaroo machine was looking decidedly more oiled than in the previous outings.

The defending world champion Black Ferns outclassed Australia in a high quality pool match, making a tough ask of Australia to make the semis of the Women’s World Cup.

Australia took a bonus point win against Wales in their World Cup opener in a raw and overenthusiastic performance, winning 26-12. The Wallaroo backs showed all the class expected of them, running in three tries in the first 24 minutes, but the unpracticed side lifted the foot from Wales’ throat with ill-discipline, conceding three yellow cards in the 10 minutes either side of the break in the sometimes fiery encounter. Wales pulled back the 14 point lead with a penalty try (collapsed maul) shortly after half time while #8 Alex Hargreaves was serving a ten minute spell for repeated breakdown infringements…

The best girl ruggers in Oz are headed to Canberra this weekend for the National Women’s Championships. Given this is also the last chance to press a claim for selection in the Wallaroos World Cup squad, my bet is there’ll be plenty of intense rugby in store.

Here’s a preview of what we might expect to see from the Championship division (QLD, Sydney, ACT and NSW Country:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WtBn36vsfM[/youtube]

Things are pretty exciting for Australian women’s rugby this year. After winning the Sevens World Cup in Dubai last year and taking out the Hong Kong Sevens this year, it seems there’s a lot more confidence for the 15s squad leading up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in August. The Wallaroo girls attended a training camp in Sydney from 30 April to 2 May, which by all reports was a positive, intense and competitive affair. The squad for the World Cup will be finalised after the National Women’s Championships, which will be held in Canberra from…