TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has named her squad for the upcoming Test match against Ireland at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday.
Western Force duo Alapeta Ngauamo, Lucy Dinnen and former Melbourne Rebels forward Tiarah Minns are in line to make their international debut after being included on the bench.
It’s been a remarkable few weeks for Gold Coast-raised Dinnen, who was brought into the squad for the tour late after being part of the Wallaroos training squads for close to a decade.
Minns has also overcome a spate of injuries in her young career to make her Wallaroos debut while Ngauamo’s maiden Test appearance comes at 36 years of age.
Siokapesi Palu will captain the side for the match, where the Wallaroos have been forced to make several changes for due to injuries.
Starting forward Brianna Hoy suffered an ACL injury at training on Tuesday and will return home to undergo surgery with a replacement player to be confirmed.
Bridie O’Gorman starts in Hoy’s absence while Leilani Nathan moves to right flanker and Natalie Wright earns her first starting cap at scrumhalf.
Tabua Tuinakauvadra comes into the line-up with Piper Duck (ankle) ruled out for the tour. Ashley Marsters returns to hooker with Tania Naden (hand) unavailable.
Wallaroos wing Maya Stewart makes her return from a hamstring injury with Biola Dawa shifting to the bench alongside Arabella McKenzie.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: “We’re all really excited to be here in Belfast and I’ve been pleased with how the players have settled in and responded with the travel and being away from home.
“We want to put in a good performance on Saturday and build on what we’ve been working on in recent camps.
“It’s a new-look side selected and it’s important with a few injuries to build depth in key areas and give players an opportunity.
“Alapeta, Lucy and Tiarah are all deserving of their first Test caps this weekend and we’re looking forward to watching them play.”
It is the first time the Wallaroos will play Ireland since the 2017 World Cup.
The Wallaroos will then travel to Cardiff on Sunday ahead of their next match against Wales at Newport Parade on September 21.
Australia Women: 15 Lori Cramer, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Cecilia Smith, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Natalie Wright, 8 Tabua Tunakauvadra, 7 Leilana Nathan, 6 Siokapesi Palu, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Ashley Marsters, 1 Bridie O’Gorman.
Replacements: 16 Tiarna Molloy, 17 Alapeta Ngauamo, 18 Lydia Kavoa, 19 Tiarah Minns, 20 Lucy Dinnen, 21 Layne Morgan, 22 Arabella McKenzie, 23 Biola Dawa.
