Wallaroos lose Caitlyn Halse but regain Maya Stewart for Scotland Test
The Wallaroos have been forced to leave out star fullback Caitlyn Halse for Saturday's Test against Scotland at Sydney's Stadium Australia due to concussion symptoms. The team has, however, regained experienced winger Maya Stewart, who returns to the starting XV after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
The Wallaroos have suffered a blow with the loss of star fullback Caitlyn Halse for Saturday's Test against Scotland at Sydney's Stadium Australia. Halse is unavailable due to concussion symptoms.
The 20-year-old's withdrawal is a significant setback, but the Wallaroos have received a boost with the return of experienced winger Maya Stewart, who has recovered from an Achilles tendon injury. Stewart, a 27-Test veteran, has been named in the starting XV.
Her inclusion sees Desiree Miller move from the wing to fullback in place of Halse. In the forward pack, captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona and Pia Tapsell will swap positions in the back row, starting at blindside flanker and number eight respectively.
Eva Karpani and Cecilia Smith have returned to the match-day squad on the reserves bench, which also features fresh faces Allana Sikimeti and Piper Simons.
"We have maintained considerable selection consistency throughout the WXV, strategically strengthening our cohesion and combinations," Rugby Australia's director of women's high performance, Tim Walsh, said in a statement.
"During the WXV we have layered specific areas of our game to build stronger performances each Test."
"We have selected a balanced 23 armed with leadership, power, strength and speed."
The Wallaroos are chasing back-to-back wins over Scotland, having triumphed 30–10 in Edinburgh late last month. The two sides will also meet in Canberra on October 23 to conclude their WXV Global Series campaigns.
Saturday's match is part of a rugby "quadruple header" at Stadium Australia, featuring the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks, as well as matches for the Australian women's and men's sevens teams.
The world champion Australian women's team will play arch-rivals New Zealand, while the men's squad faces two-time Olympic champions Fiji.
Wallaroos squad (1-15): Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), Piper Duck, Pia Tapsell, Samantha Wood, Waiaria Ellis, Amelia Whitaker, Faitala Moleka, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Desiree Miller
Reserves: Tania Naden, Allana Sikimeti, Eva Karpani, Jemma Bemrose, Emily Chancellor, Lily Bone, Piper Simons, Cecilia Smith