Lock Kaitlan Leaney is set to earn her 25th Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s cap in Saturday’s Round 2 clash against the Brumbies at Viking Park on Sunday (2.05pm kick-off AEST).
Wallaroo Leaney, 25, was elevated to the new leadership group ahead of the start of the season, alongside Desiree Miller as a vice captain, with Emily Chancellor named as skipper.
Alongside Leaney in the starting line-up, there are two changes from Saturday’s 42-29 Round 1 win against the Fijian Drua at Leichhardt Oval, with Brittany Merlo replacing the injured Adiana Talakai. Edie Burke also comes into the side for her first-ever start for the Waratahs on the left wing, with Miller shifting to full-back. Faliki Pohiva and Ruby Anderson are also added to the bench.
Waratahs Women’s head coach Michael Ruthven insists his side still have plenty to work on and praised Leaney for her outstanding form over a long period of time.
“We are excited for the 23 players named to take on the Brumbies this weekend in Canberra. We welcome back Faliki Pohiva and Ruby Anderson to the team this week and look forward to their positive impact,” Ruthven said.
“It is important we build on the positive start in Round 1 and know there are some areas of our game that we need to tidy up, in order to make sure our performance evolves from last week.
“We are extremely proud of Kaitlan Leaney reaching 25 caps this weekend. Kaitlan has been a consistent high performer in our program over a number of years and her influence on the team, both on and off the field, and is fitting of a really strong team performance this weekend.”
There is one change in the front-row from last weekend’s win, with Merlo coming in to make her first start of the season in all-Wallaroo front-row alongside Brianna Hoy and Bridie O’Gorman.
In the second-row, Leilani Nathan played in her first competitive game in 428 days last weekend and partners Leaney once again on Sunday.
Piper Duck retains her place at blindside flanker, having scored a try in her 25th cap against the Fijian Drua, while captain Chancellor also crossed the whitewash and is named at openside. Nicole Nathan, twin sister of Leilani, takes her place at number eight.
In the halves, Piper Simons and Pleuni Kievit both impressed on their Waratahs debuts in Round 1 and will maintain the partnership on the weekend.
Rosie Ferguson and Georgina Friedrichs continue in the centres, with Friedrichs dotting down twice against the Fijian Drua and is now just two short of 20 in Super Rugby Women’s.
With Caitlyn Halse suffering an injury in Round 1, there is a shift around in the back three, with Miller moving to full-back after two tries and a 100% record from the tee in Round 1 taking her points tally out to 22, the most ever by a Waratahs player against the Fijian Drua. That means Burke makes her starting debut on the left wing, with Milly Whitaker retaining her place on the right wing.
On the bench, Wallaroo Pohiva is added as a prop replacement, with Anderson also set to make her first appearance of the season. Lusiana Vesikula is the outside back replacement, having become the 10th youngest woman to debut for the Waratahs last weekend (18 years, two months, 24 days).
ACT Brumbies Women v NSW Waratahs Women
Round 2, Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s, Sunday 14 May, 2.05pm kick-off AEST, live on Stan Sports
Viking Park, 4 Amsinck St, Wanniassa, ACT 2903
Starting XV:
- Brianna Hoy
- Brittany Merlo
- Bridie O’Gorman
- Leilani Nathan
- Kaitlan Leaney (vc)
- Piper Duck
- Emily Chancellor (c)
- Nicole Nathan
- Piper Simons
- Pleuni Kievit
- Edie Burke
- Rosie Ferguson
- Georgina Friedrichs
- Amelia Whitaker
- Desiree Miller (vc)
Replacements:
16. Nancy Volkman
17. Emily Robinson
18. Faliki Pohiva
19. Grace Gillies
20. Ruby Anderson
21. Taj Heald
22. Martha Harvey
23. Lusiana Vesikula
