Millie Boyle has been named in the starting line-up of the match-day 23 for the Australia’s opening pool game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
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Head coach Paul Verrell announced the squad on Tuesday ahead of the team’s clash with the host-nation Irish squad at the University College Dublin Bowl on Thursday.
Two debutants have been named in the starting XV, with Australian Sevens star Mahalia Murphy named on the wing and Western Australia’s Trilleen Pomare set to steer the side from flyhalf.
Australian Sevens Olympic Gold Medalist Shannon Parry will captain the side, with fellow Gold Medalist Sharni Williams and Queensland hooker Cheyenne Campbell named as vice-captains.
Campbell will be joined by Liz Patu and Hilisha Samoa to form an all Queensland frontrow, while Chloe Butler and Boyle will be the starting lock pairing.
Boyle will run on in the number five jumper after earning a starting spot during the Four Nations tournament.
She has been one of the young guns impressing the coach as a new wave of emerging players steadily make their impact on the top squad.
The coach said the Irish contingent were a strong opponent, but had faith in his charges to get the job done.
“The team have been hard at work since we came together at Narrabeen over a week ago, and we’ve put together our strongest team to take on the tournament hosts,” Verrell said.
“We’ve made nine changes from the side that ran out against Canada in our final match of the Four Nations tour in New Zealand, and we added a fair amount of experience into the side with the return of our Sevens players and Mollie.
“There has been a lot of exposure of the Women’s game locally in the lead up to the tournament, and after a week of preparation in Ireland, the team are hungry to get out on the field.
Verrell said it had been the best lead-in training for the Wallaroos to date, with a great platform laid during state-based training and the Four Nations tour.
“Facing Ireland first up will be a challenge, but it will also provide our girls the chance to set the tone of the tournament and produce a solid performance against the home-side in front of their fans.”
Only early-risers with a Foxtel subscription will be able to catch the game live as it goes to air at 4am on Fox Sports.
The Aussies will compete as part of Pool C, which also includes France and Japan.
The team will back up to play France on Monday and Japan next Friday (local time) to see if they can clear the group stage.