Wallaroos smash Fiji to start World Cup year in style

The Wallaroos’ journey to August’s World Cup has started strongly, with Jo Yapp’s women smashing Fiji 43-7 in Suva on Saturday afternoon.

But Yapp will have a nervy return to Australia ahead of next week’s Pacific Four Series opener against New Zealand after losing star backs Bienne Terita (hamstring) and Maya Stewart (knee) to injuries in the first half.

Despite conceding an early try to young Fijian captain Alfreda Fisher, the women in gold ran in seven straight tries to bounce back and show their superiority.

Terita scored a double, while she was joined on the score sheet by fullback Caitlyn Halse, flanker Siokapesi Palu, halfback Layne Morgan, winger Desiree Miller and hooker Tania Naden.

Not only was the win the perfect start to their huge year, but it was also a stark contrast to last year, where the Wallaroos lost their opening three matches in the Pacific Four Series.

Yapp’s decision to not only blood several new talents but experiment with selection also paid off, with all six debutants getting on the field and the vast majority excelling.

Indeed, Katalina Amosa – the younger sister of Wallabies hooker, Brandon Paenga-Amosa – was excellent in the No.2 jersey and was well supported early by fellow front-rower breakout star Faliki Pohiva.

Sevens star Charlotte Caslick likely got more minutes than she anticipated because of the injuries to Terita and Stewart and didn’t look out of place, while Tia Hinds came on late in the match.

The Wallaroos were simply better in every facet of the game.

Indeed, they had scrum dominance, dominated physically and had way too much quality out wide, and with Morgan playing the entire 80 minutes, the cunning halfback kept Fiji on their heels, especially with Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Eva Karpani running with a full head of steam.

But the road ahead isn’t easy, with the Black Ferns preparing to meet the Wallaroos next Saturday in Newcastle.

Nor are they likely to be with Terita or Stewart over the coming weeks.

Terita hurt her hamstring in the process of diving over out wide while there is huge concern over tryscoring machine Stewart, who hurt her knee in open space.

Yapp said both players would go for scans to determine the injuries, but the second-year Wallaroos coach hinted that at least one of them could be on the sidelines for sometime.

“They’re both really popular players and it’s always really sad at this point, when we know we’re going to a World Cup, anyone who gets injured, everyone just feels for them,” she said.

“We’re hoping it’s not too bad and we can see them both back out there. It’s definitely put a bit of a dampener on it for the players and the staff, but hopefully it’s not too serious.”