'Superpower' shift as Wallaroos absorb double blow
But the new Wallaroos skipper and No.6 hopes to bring one of her own in a side she reckons has switched to selfless, big-picture thinking ahead of the World Cup.
With Siokapesi Palu (foot) recovering from surgery, veteran ruck menace Chancellor will lead Australia for the first time, against Wales at Brisbane's Ballymore on Saturday.
Converted rugby sevens star Charlotte Caslick (ankle) was also injured in the side's last outing in New Zealand, where she wore the No.13.
Both are hopeful of returning during the World Cup in late August.
With just two Tests - they meet Wales again in Sydney next weekend - before their Cup opener against Samoa on August 23, coach Jo Yapp has also made unforced changes to her front row, second row and backline.
But with Georgina Friedrichs an obvious replacement in the centres and Chancellor teaming with Ashley Marsters in the back row, there is no panic.
"Yes, I'm playing No.6 but that's not my superpower, that's hers," Chancellor told AAP of Palu's ball-carrying prowess.
"It's going to rely on us to share that load.
"But you bring G-Fred back in ... she has one of the best workrates in the team, so we have that superpower back and we've suddenly got two players who can get over the ball in myself and Ash.
"There's no-one brought in that you wonder if they can step up."
Chancellor, 33 and vice-captain this year, is a ready-made leader after winning Test player of the year in her rookie 2018 season, enjoying stints in the UK and Japan and then missing the 2024 season with an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
"I played against many of these (Welsh) girls," Chancellor said of her Premiership Women's Rugby stint with Harlequins.
"And injury teaches you a lot about yourself; it makes you reflect and you can get to that point where you ask, 'Why am I doing this?'.
"And that never crossed my mind. I've come back into this squad with a lot more perspective and it increases your team-first mentality."
She's noticed that mindset elsewhere too as the women's program benefits from extra investment that includes the support of designated high performance manager Jaime Fernandez.
"She's pushing our case to Rugby Australia and we've now got some girls who are full-time," Chancellor said.
"Who have made the decision we're earning just about enough, never enough, but enough to survive and fully commit to this game."
Sevens stars Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry were the only squad members operating on a full-time capacity for the Wallaroos in their 2021 Cup campaign.
"The mental strength, willingness to dig deep and, to be honest, response to selections, shows a massive growth," Chancellor said of the differences since then.
"It shows it's not just about you getting picked or not, or wanting to play a certain position.
"It's understanding the role in a big squad. It's not personal."
In seven World Cups Australia have a sole third-placed finish and otherwise finished no higher than fifth.
Canada and New Zealand, who the Wallaroos challenged for 40 minutes before losing 37-12 a fortnight ago, remain the clear women's powerhouse sides.
But the Wallaroos lead Wales 7-1 in head-to-head battles and are among the next rung of challengers.
"The scoreboard matters and winning's important for the emotions," Chancellor said of the significance of Saturday's result.
"But we're on the edge of a new way of playing and you regress to go forward again. We've been dabbling on the tipping point of playing nice, exciting, fast rugby."
WALLAROOS SQUAD TO FACE WALES:
Lydia Kavoa, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O'Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Annabelle Codey, Emily Chancellor (capt), Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Layne Morgan, Tia Hinds, Desiree Miller, Trilleen Pomare, Georgina Friedrichs, Waiaria Ellis, Caitlyn Halse. Bench: Tania Naden, Bree-Anna Browne, Eva Karpani, Ashley Fernandez, Piper Duck, Samantha Wood, Cecilia Smith, Lori Cramer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lightning halts women's rugby Test as ‘humdinger' winter storm lashes Brisbane
A large rain band moving across Australia brought soggy conditions across large parts of the country, stretching from much of central Queensland to Tasmania and over to coastal areas of South Australia. The stormy weather in Brisbane even led to lightning causing play to be suspended in a women's rugby Test between the Wallaroos and Wales, which the tourists eventually went on to win 21-12. The sunshine state copped an 'unseasonable' amount of rain including in the central highlands, where 45 millimetres was recorded in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, Bureau of Meteorology Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. 'Through the remainder of the day today, we'll see this band of rain move eastwards across Queensland, southeastwards across New South Wales and Tasmania,' he said. 'The rain band will linger across parts of Queensland. 'It's a wet night in Brisbane tonight and actually wet really up to around about Mackay maybe.' Meanwhile, lightning forced a suspension of about 35 minutes in the women's rugby Test between Australia and Wales at Ballymore in Brisbane. The game was halted in the 12th minute with Australia leading 7-0.
The Age
10 hours ago
- The Age
Lightning halts women's rugby Test as ‘humdinger' winter storm lashes Brisbane
A large rain band moving across Australia brought soggy conditions across large parts of the country, stretching from much of central Queensland to Tasmania and over to coastal areas of South Australia. The stormy weather in Brisbane even led to lightning causing play to be suspended in a women's rugby Test between the Wallaroos and Wales, which the tourists eventually went on to win 21-12. The sunshine state copped an 'unseasonable' amount of rain including in the central highlands, where 45 millimetres was recorded in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, Bureau of Meteorology Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. 'Through the remainder of the day today, we'll see this band of rain move eastwards across Queensland, southeastwards across New South Wales and Tasmania,' he said. 'The rain band will linger across parts of Queensland. 'It's a wet night in Brisbane tonight and actually wet really up to around about Mackay maybe.' Meanwhile, lightning forced a suspension of about 35 minutes in the women's rugby Test between Australia and Wales at Ballymore in Brisbane. The game was halted in the 12th minute with Australia leading 7-0.
The Australian
10 hours ago
- The Australian
$51 roughie Investment shocks rivals at Randwick but trainer Joe Pride gave her a ‘sneaky chance'
Investment was a genuine roughie starting at $51 but trainer Joe Pride gave the mare a 'sneaky chance' before she caused a huge boilover at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The four-year-old was her sire So You Think's third winner of the day, following on from Glad You Think So and Oh Diamond Lil, when taking out the TAB F&M Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m). 'I thought she could improve a bit today. I said to a few people she had a sneaky chance,' Pride said. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'She was fitter, she looked really healthy and a bit of cut in the ground were all pointers to a better performance.' Pride rated Andrew Atkins steer aboard Investment as a '10 out of 10 ride' praising the jockey's boldness during the middle stages of the race as the key to victory. 'Plan A was to be midfield or forward but that was short lived as there was quite a bit of pressure early but she adapted to Plan B which was to get back and let her settle,' Adkins said. 'I thought if I could make a move at a point of the race when they were not making ground it would be to her advantage and that point was at about the 600m when I got on my bike and my the time we got into the straight I'd passed half of the field and we had a bit of momentum up. 'I was able to idle up, she was more than willing to do it and it saved us about five lengths. 'In the straight she really wanted to do it, she tried really hard and we just got the better of the other horse late in the piece.' • 'Very exciting' Glorious Moments can end trainers' black-type wait Investment ($51) defeated the Brad Widdup-trained Hasty Honey ($10) by a long head with Nana's Wish ($5.50) three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. Pride has no ambitious plans lined up for Investment this preparation but he hopes the mare can continue to strengthen and improve over the next year and when winter roles around again in 2026, he may have his sights on bigger targets. 'She's always been a reasonably promising staying type of mare so it's nice to get a Saturday win with her,' he said. 'You'll see her at her best over 2400 metres and this was only her 18th start so I still don't think we've seen the best of her. 'Maybe this time next year is when she'll be at the absolute top of her game. 'While ever the tracks remain wet, she should continue to race well now as she appreciates these types of track.' The $2.60 favourite in the race She's Unusual struggled in the testing conditions, one of the first runners beaten when weakening in the straight to finish seventh.
