Kaitlan Leaney will captain the Waratahs Women for the first time on Saturday against the Western Force at Tompkins Park (4.05pm kick-off AEST, live on Stan Sport).
Leaney, 25, skippers the side in the absence of Emily Chancellor, who is featuring for the Barbarians Women against Wales at Allianz Stadium Twickenham at the weekend.
Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis comes into the team for her first appearance of the season following a knee injury. Ellis, 18, is one of three changes from the Round 2 win against the Brumbies at Viking Park, with prop Faliki Pohiva and Taj Heald also making their first starts of the season.
Head coach Michael Ruthven was looking forward to his team returning to action after no fixture in Round 3, while also praising Leaney for her performances in a Waratahs jersey this season.
“The group have returned physically and mentally refreshed after a bye and are looking forward to the game against the Force,” Ruthven said.
“We are really excited for Taj (Heald) who earns a starting opportunity this week. She has contributed really positively since joining our team and we know she will have a big influence on the game. Faliki (Pohiva) comes into the starting team which gives us some real punch to start the game, while Waiaria (Ellis) returns after injury and we all know the capacity she has to influence a game of footy.
“Kaitlan Leaney will captain the team this week in (Emily Chancellor) Chance’s absence. Kaitlan has been a very consistent performer and leader for us in the early rounds and her form warranted the opportunity to lead the team this week.”
Pohiva will earn her 15th Super Rugby Women’s cap at tighthead prop and takes her place in an all-Wallaroo front-row alongside Britt Merlo and Brianna Hoy.
The partnership of Leilani Nathan and Leaney continues in the second-row. Leaney was immense in the win against the Brumbies, with two tries, 22 carries and 15/15 tackles made. While Nathan has a great record against the Western Force, scoring three tries so far in her career.
In the back-row, Heald will make her first start in Super Rugby Women’s at openside flanker. Originally a junior at Souths Rugby Union in South Australia, Heald arrived at the Waratahs in the off-season after a previous stint at the Western Force. She lines up with Piper Duck and Nicole Nathan in the back-row.
Piper Simons and Pleuni Kievit are again selected in the halves, as per every other game this season. As are Rosie Ferguson and Georgina Friedrichs in the centres. Friedrichs scored a hat-trick in the competition’s semi-final at Leichhardt Oval last season.
In the back three, Ellis starts in the 15 jersey, pushing Desiree Miller out onto the wing, with Amelia Whitaker retaining her place on the right wing. Ellis started at full-back in the Wallaroos’ last game, the historic Anzac Day Test against the Black Ferns at Sunshine Coast Stadium but has yet to play for the Waratahs this season.
On the bench, Bridie O’Gorman is named as prop replacement, with Edie Burke the outside back replacement after her first start in Round 2.
The Waratahs are yet to lose against the Western Force in Super Rugby Women’s winning six from six games
Western Force Women v NSW Waratahs Women
Round 4, Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s, Saturday 27 May, 4.05pm kick-off AEST, live on Stan Sport
Tompkins Park, Palmrya Rugby Club, Perth
Starting XV:
- Brianna Hoy
- Brittany Merlo
- Faliki Pohiva
- Leilani Nathan
- Kaitlan Leaney (c)
- Piper Duck
- Taj Heald
- Nicole Nathan
- Piper Simons
- Pleuni Kievit
- Desiree Miller (vc)
- Rosie Ferguson
- Georgina Friedrichs
- Amelia Whitaker
- Waiaria Ellis
Replacements:
16. Nancy Volkman
17. Emily Robinson
18. Bridie O’Gorman
19. Grace Gillies
20. Ruby Anderson
21. Martha Harvey
22. Lusiana Vesikula
23. Edie Burke
