Wallaroos rocked by devastating injury as Yapp springs captaincy surprise

As Jo Yapp followed Joe Schmidt’s lead of selecting a new captain for their first Test on tour, the first-year coach has been forced to call up a 36-year-old debutant to help solve an injury crisis up front that threatens to derail next year’s World Cup campaign.

Indeed, less than a week after touching down in Northern Ireland on their two-Test tour of the United Kingdom, the Wallaroos suffered an injury to one of their most important players with loose-head prop Brianna Hoy doing her ACL at training ahead of Saturday’s night’s Test against the Irish in Belfast.

Already short of world-class depth in the tight-five, the training mishap will see the 24-year-old racing the clock for next year’s campaign in England.

Her absence sees the experienced Bridie O’Gorman return to the starting side, while  Alapeta Ngauamo will become one of the oldest players in history to debut off the bench. O’Gorman starts alongside Test regulars Eva Karpani and Ash Marsters, whose return to hooker comes after a short stint in the centres and back-row.

Yapp, the former England captain turned coach, admitted the loss of Hoy was a big one but she was thrilled to be able to turn to some experience in the key set-piece area.

“It is a big blow but it’s just a big blow for her as a person as well,” Yapp said.

“She’s an extremely popular member of the squad as well. She’s kind, caring, professional in everything she does, so it’s always really heartbreaking when that happens to a player.

“Obviously now it’s an opportunity for someone else to come in, and we’re fortunate that players like Bridie are able to play both sides and it gives Alapeta an opportunity to come in and show what she can do.

“The front row is somewhere where we’re looking to increase our depth. But somebody like Alapeta, she’s been performing really well across at the Force. I think with the props, the older you get, the better you get, they say. She comes in, she’s been working really hard and just brings a really good attitude with her as well. And she’s super willing to learn still, even at the age she is. She definitely deserves the opportunity to be in the squad.”

The changes up front weren’t the only curious ones, with Yapp giving back-rower Siokapesi Palu the captaincy after lock Michaela Leonard had led the side to date this season.

“Mac is still very much tour captain for us, but we’re trying to increase our depth of leadership, so we saw this as an opportunity to give Siokapesi Palu a chance to start as captain,” Yapp said.

“She’s been captain for us before when Mac’s left the field, so she’ll get the opportunity to start and see how she develops as a leader.”

Whether or not she keeps the role remains to be seen, with Yapp saying it was currently “just a one-off Test to see how she goes”.

But the change in leadership does hint that Yapp wants to see more out of Leonard after a quiet start to the international season.

Elsewhere, Yapp starts Natalie Wright and Faitala Moleka in a new-look halves combination with Layne Morgan and Arabella McKenzie named on the bench.

“It’s an opportunity, isn’t it?” said Yapp of the new halves pairing. “We’ve got these two warm-up games before WXV.

“Nat’s been training really well in camp. She’s had a really good block with us. She’s an exciting player. She’s got a strong kicking game.

“Tala’s not had, a real opportunity to start for us, and she’s been training well. Bella joined the group slightly late. She flew out slightly late to camp as well, but Tala’s been training well, and it’d be good to see her take that kind of leadership role at 10 for us.”

After a torrid start to their international campaign, which they were bullied up front by Canada, USA and New Zealand, Yapp said the group were better prepared to take on the Six Nations outfit.

“Going into those first Tests, we just had eight days together and straight into Test Matches. So being able to put some camps in has been really valuable. Having those extra days has definitely given us an opportunity to work with the girls, connect with the girls and get to know them better as well,” she said..

“Also just strip it back and work on the fundamentals, which we needed to do. So yeah, we definitely feel more prepared. Going into a World Cup year now, the more time we can have together in those camps, the more we’re going to grow as a group.”

Wallaroos Squad to face Ireland. Kick-off: Saturday, 11:30pm AEST

1. Bridie O’Gorman (#180 – Sydney University) – 22 caps
2. Ashley Marsters (#117 – Booroondarra) – 29 caps
3. Eva Karpani (#171 – Onkaparinga) – 26 caps
4. Kaitlan Leaney (#179 – CSU Marlins) – 20 caps
5. Michaela Leonard (#168 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 27 caps
6. Siokapesi Palu (c) (#194 – Rockdale Rangers) – 11 caps
7.  Leilani Nathan (#202 – Hamilton Hawks) – 7 caps
8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 6 caps
9. Natalie Wright (#213 – Wests Bulldogs) – 2 caps
10. Faitala Moleka (#199 – Blacktown Scorpions) – 11 caps
11. Desiree Miller (#204 – Eastern Suburbs) – 7 caps
12. Cecilia Smith (#190 – Leeton Dianas) – 15 caps
13. Georgina Friedrichs (#178 – Wests Bulldogs) – 24 caps
14. Maya Stewart (#196 – Nelson Bay Gropers) – 11 caps
15. Lori Cramer (#172 – University of Queensland) – 23 caps

Reserves

16. Tiarna Molloy (#191 – Inverell Highlanders) – 3 caps
17. Alapeta Ngauamo* (Wests Bulldogs) – uncapped
18. Lydia Kavoa (#214 – Eastern Suburbs) – 1 cap 
19. Tiarah Minns* (Melbourne Uni/Manly Mermaids) – uncapped
20. Lucy Dinnen* (Wanneroo) – uncapped
21. Layne Morgan (#188 – Merewether Carlton) – 26 caps
22. Arabella McKenzie (#175 – Lightning Ridge Tigers) – 26 caps
23. Biola Dawa (#211 – Wagga Reddies) – 2 caps

*Denotes debut