SPOTLIGHT: Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp shared her thoughts regarding her side’s pool draw ahead of the 2025 World Cup in England.
Australia found themselves in a tough pool against the host nation England, USA and Samoa.
Yapp is optimistic about her side’s prospects despite being drawn alongside the world’s number one ranked Women’s team.
“Obviously it’s a tough draw but one that’s got loads of opportunity and we’re pretty excited about.”
She shared her thoughts on their opening fixture against England subtlety claimed the proverbial underdog tag against the host nation.
“It’s exciting to be playing England and to be playing a home national in their home World Cup,” said Yapp.
“I think that’s really exciting and we know that the crowds over in England are going to be huge and it’s going to be the biggest World Cup yet so all of that just adds to the excitement.”
“There’s going to be a lot of pressure on them [England] and that’s a big opportunity for us.” Yapp added.
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Yapp believes that the 2025 global showpiece will be the biggest and most competitive one yet, and that there is no such thing as an easy pool anymore.
“I think that’s what’s so exciting about this World Cup – looking at all the WXV results from one to three, this is going to be the most competitive World Cup there’s ever been,” said Yapp.
“Some of those results that came through last month has just made this World Cup such an exciting one and I think whatever pool we ended up in was going to be challenging.
“South Africa are on the up and that’s going to be a tough game whoever faces them and like all of the teams now, whichever pool we ended up in was going to be a tough one, there’s no easy pools anymore.”
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She addressed the issue of the Australia Sevens girls that expressed interest to make the code switch in order to give themselves a shot at fifteens World Cup glory.
“That is a conversation that is happening, there are a few [sevens players] that are interested and now that we’re back from WXV we’ll start those conversations.” Yapp stated.
“Ultimately we want to make sure we’re the best that we can be come the World Cup and if that includes some of the sevens players, it includes some of the sevens players,”
“I said to the fifteens girls I’ll be transparent with them around what that process looks like and that’s really important with the players.”
