'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
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
‘Left it a while': Bend It Like Beckham director confirms sequel plans
A sequel to the 2002 sports-drama movie Bend It Like Beckham is in the works. The film, which starred Keira Knightley, Parminder Nagra and Johnathan Rhys-Meyers, is widely credited with inspiring a generation of women to play football, and director Gurinder Chadha thinks now is the perfect moment to launch a sequel. 'We've been part of changing the game for women, so it felt like this was a good time for me to go back and investigate the characters,' the 65-year-old filmmaker told the BBC. The England women's team has enjoyed significant success in recent years and faced Spain in the final of Euro 2025 overnight, a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Australia won 1-0 by the Spanish. Chadha says attitudes towards women's football have changed since the first movie, but admits more progress is needed. 'A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football,' she says. 'There are people who still don't take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high. 'I've left it a while, but I thought: look at the Euros, look at the Lionesses.' Chadha hopes the sequel will spread a positive message and 'challenge' stereotypes. 'What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all, and I think that's a really great message to put out again,' she says. 'I think there's still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge.' Bend It Like Beckham proved to be a big moment in Keira Knightley's career, but the actress previously revealed that her friends scoffed at the idea of making the movie. During an appearance on The Tonight Show, she told host Jimmy Fallon: 'I literally remember telling people I was doing it and it's called Bend It Like Beckham, and them going, 'Oh that's really embarrassing'. And they were all like, 'Don't worry. Nobody will see it. It's fine.'' Knightley noted that 'women's soccer was not as big' in 2002 as it is now, and so her friends assumed that the movie would flop at the box office. 'Women's soccer was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous,' she says. Despite this, the film proved its doubters wrong, earning more than $70 million at the box office and even inspiring a musical adaptation. And Knightley — who also starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — is still constantly reminded of her role in the movie by fans. 'It's amazing because it's still the film even today, you know, if someone comes up to talk to me about my work, it's that one,' she says. 'It's so loved. It's amazing.'
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over his post-match spray about the controversial decision to not penalise the Lions for foul play before their match-winning try at the MCG, and said RA would be seeking 'a high level of accountability' from World Rugby about the referee's calls this week. Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck. The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder. Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about. 'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.' World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
The Age
10 hours ago
- The Age
Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over his post-match spray about the controversial decision to not penalise the Lions for foul play before their match-winning try at the MCG, and said RA would be seeking 'a high level of accountability' from World Rugby about the referee's calls this week. Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck. The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder. Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about. 'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.' World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
