Round 2 Western Force W v Queensland Reds W

International trio to debut as Force team list named for Super W clash

Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 10:58 AM
Ben Somerford

The Western Force have drafted Sealua Leaula into the starting XV for Saturday’s Round 2 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s clash with the Queensland Reds at HBF Park.

Manusina Samoa utility back Leaula made an impressive impact off the bench in the Round 1 win over the Melbourne Rebels with a try and replaces winger Haylee Hifo who is unavailable due to head injury protocols after scoring in her debut.

Japan international prop Hinata Komaki, Manusina Samoa international lock Alanis Toia and Tongan PacificAus Sports scholarship holder Siutiti Ma’ake come into the team list as reserves to make their Super W debuts.

The Force opened the Super W season with a 36-12 bonus-point victory over the Rebels at HBF Park last Friday.

Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 2:05pm, is part of a double-header with the Force-Reds’ Super Rugby Pacific men’s game commencing at 4:35pm.

The double-header is themed Kids’ Round with the first 1,500 kids through the gates at HBF Park to receive a $20 food and beverage voucher to spend at the game. The vouchers will be distributed at Gate 1, via the Western Force Cheer Crew.

The game will be live on Stan Sport, while there will be regular updates @WesternForce on social media.

Game details

Western Force v Queensland Reds

HBF Park, 2:05pm WST

Live on Stan Sport

Force Team List

1. Alapeta Ngauamo
2. Sara Cline
3. Natsuki Kashiwagi
4. Michaela Leonard
5. Rosie Ebbage
6. Brooklyn Teki-Joyce
7. Anneka Stephens
8. Tamika Jones
9. Samantha Wood
10. Nicole Ledington
11. Rosie McGehan
12. Trilleen Pomare (c)
13. Sheree Hume
14. Saelua Leaula
15. Aiysha Wigley

16. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke
17. Hinata Komaki*
18. Harono Te Iringa
19. Pia Tapsell
20. Alanis Toia*
21. Lucy Dinnen
22. Renae Nona
23. Siutiti Ma'ake*

* Potential Force debut

Reds

1. Madi Schuck
2. Tiarna Molloy
3. Charli Jacoby
4. Deni Ross
5. Aleena Greenhalgh
6. Lucy Thorpe 

7. Grace Baker* 

8. Jemma Bemrose 

9. Sarah Dougherty 

10. Carys Dallinger 

11. Ivania Wong 

12. Cecilia Smith 

13. Alan Elisaia
14 Shalom Sauaso 

15. Lori Cramer 


17. Liz Patu 

18. Maletina Brown
28. Theresa Soloai
19. Ashlee Knight
24. April Ngatupuna
20. Ava Wereta
21. Caitlin Urwin 

22. Dianne Waight**

*Reds debut


** Potential Reds debut

After noticing her in a 7's Tournament telecast last year I have been excited about watching Shalom Sauaso play XV's.
Last week, coming off the Bench, I was not disappointed!
She is an absolute weapon and at currently only 16(!) she is a massive star for the future if we can keep her from Mungoball and the NH,

Queensland Reds make changes for Round 2 of Super Rugby Women's

Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 10:54 AM
Reds Media Unit

Schoolgirl Shalom Sauaso has been promoted to the starting side for the Queensland Reds’ clash against the Western Force on Saturday in Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s.

The 16-year-old from Ipswich State High School made an instant impact on debut off the bench against the Fijian Drua last Sunday with a storming run by three defenders to the tryline.

Sauaso has been named on the wing for Saturday afternoon’s 4.05pm AEST match at Perth’s HBF Park, the first leg of a double-header with the Reds-Force to follow in Super Rugby Pacific.

She’ll have the comfort of six Wallaroos in the backline around her, including outside centre Alana Elisaia, who is returning from suspension.

Reds head coach Grant Anderson said a spot in the side had to be found for the youngest member of the Reds squad after her debut.

“In the 30 or so minutes that Shalom played against the Drua, she showed a real maturity and made some strong carries with excellent post-contact metres. We’re keen to see her start,” Anderson said.

“Caitlin (Urwin) had a very good game herself and she’ll be used off the bench this week.” A beaming Sauso was wearing numerous lolly leis around her neck post-match, a show of celebration from family and friends in Pasifika culture.

“I’ll never forget that feeling (when scoring the try). To get around the girls who have helped me learn this code made the moment even more special,” Sauaso said.

“I’m super-grateful for the opportunity the Reds have given me. Honestly, it’s one of my biggest achievements so far.”

Anderson has made four changes to the starting side. It also reflects losing three players to ankle injuries in centre Mel Wilks, No.8 Doreen Narokete and flanker Carola Kreis.

In a remodelled backrow, Grace Baker has been selected to make her debut, Lucy Thorpe will start and Jemma Bemrose will shift to No.8 after an excellent Reds debut against the Drua.

On the bench, April Ngatupuna will revert to a reserve backrower role.

The return of experienced prop Theresa Soloai will stiffen the front-row depth from the bench while there is also a chance for Bond University winger Dianne Waight to make her Reds debut as a pacy replacement.

“Jemma was one of our best against the Drua. She led our stats for tackles and she had a high workrate generally,” Anderson said.

“Lucy had good lead-up form in the trials and Grace has the excitement of a debut ahead.

“We had some good scrums against the Drua but it is an area to work on for more consistency. Theresa, at prop, brings physicality and valuable experience from the bench.

“If we can win a good share of clean ball, we have the backs to do some damage. We’ve worked at reducing our handling errors and the team is excited to step up again.”

There were some excellent signs against the Drua. Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer was a strong voice from the back. She produced a sharp 50:22 kick to get the team on the attack and tackled bravely to stall several Fijian attacks.

Queensland Reds v Western Force
Saturday 23 March 


HBF Park, Perth 


4:05pm AEST 


Watch live via 9GEM and Stan Sport

1. Madi Schuck – Bond University – Alexandra Hills SHS – Redlands 

2. Tiarna Molloy – Easts – Warialda State High School – Inverell Highlanders 

3. Charli Jacoby – Bond University – Bartlett High School, USA 

4. Deni Ross – Wests – Oak Hill College 

5. Aleena Greenhalgh – Wests – Shalom College Bundaberg 

6. Lucy Thorpe – Bond University – Queen Elizabeth High School - Tynedale 

7. Grace Baker* - Bond University - Miami SHS Helensvale Hogs

8. Jemma Bemrose – Bond University – Elanora SHS – Palm Beach Alligators 

9. Sarah Dougherty – GPS – Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay 

10. Carys Dallinger – Easts – Manukura School, NZ – Fielding Yellows, NZ 

11. Ivania Wong – Sunnybank – Balmoral SHS 

12. Cecilia Smith – Sunnybank – Leeton High School 

13. Alan Elisaia - Wests - Cleveland SHS

14 Shalom Sauaso – Sunnybank – Ipswich SHS – Marist Ryze 

15. Lori Cramer – University of Queensland – Kelvin Grove State College 


17. Liz Patu – Wests – Corinda SHS 

18. Maletina Brown – Easts – Kingston College – Logan Saints 

28. Theresa Soloai - Easts - Holland Park SHS

19. Ashlee Knight – Wests – Superior Senior High School, USA 

24. April Ngatupuna – Easts – Porirua College, NZ 

20. Ava Wereta – Bond University – King’s Christian College – Coomera Crushers 

21. Caitlin Urwin – University of Queensland – St Patrick’s College – Gympie Hammers 

22. Dianne Waight**- Bond University - Southport SHS

*Reds debut


** Potential Reds debut

Rosie McGehan will be lining up opposite Shalom Sauaso to good young wingers duking it out in their second cap each.

Rosie looks like a power winger who (of she's being coached right) will look to run over the top of people Sausao looks like a speedy hotstepper, so it should be an absorbing battle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GIGS20

Rosie McGehan will be lining up opposite Shalom Sauaso to good young wingers duking it out in their second cap each.

Rosie looks like a power winger who (of she's being coached right) will look to run over the top of people Sausao looks like a speedy hotstepper, so it should be an absorbing battle.

---

Agreed, McGehan is a great prospect.
Sauaso is a nuggety little unit, I don't think I'd like to try tackling front on, but yeah equally adept to leaving you grasping at air...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burgs

Agreed, McGehan is a great prospect.
Sauaso is a nuggety little unit, I don't think I'd like to try tackling front on, but yeah equally adept to leaving you grasping at air...

---

Looking at last week, Rosie doesn't want to show her too much sideline. She's got the long loping strides and once she gets going is quick enough but needs some work off the mark.

On the bright side, she's big and tough and, as long as she's not caught out of position, should cope really nicely with the front-on situation.

"Rare talent" Sauaso elevated as Reds look to bounce back against Force

Thu, Mar 21, 2024, 10:00 AM
Lachlan Grey

Wallaroos flyhalf Carys Dallinger has backed schoolgirl Shalom Sauaso to excel in her starting debut against the Western Force this Saturday.

16-year-old Sauso made an immediate impact in the Reds 32-21 losss to Fijiana last week, breaking five tackles and scoring a brilliant solo try in a 37-minute cameo at Ballymore.

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Speaking to media this week, Dallinger noted the irony of an Ipswich State High School student starting for Queensland in Super Kids Round.

"She always comes in laughing about how kids (at school) are giving her stick about all her Insta followers. We give it back to her as well saying she’s only a kid but then she shows us up at training," Dallinger said.

But Shalom's selection is no laughing matter.

She's already stamped her mark in age-grade rugby, most recently at the Global Youth 7s, and is attracting interest from all rugby codes ahead of her maiden start - this time as winger in a potent back-three trio with Wallaroos Ivania Wong and Lori Cramer.

"She's one of the most insane kids I’ve ever come across. She's exceptionally talented, she can kick, pass, run, she can do it all," Dallinger said.

"She’s an awesome kid, takes things with a grain of salt. If you show her something she picks it up straight away."

In a statement, Reds head coach Grant Anderson said a spot in the side "had to be found" for Sauaso against the Force.

“In the 30 or so minutes that Shalom played against the Drua, she showed a real maturity and made some strong carries with excellent post-contact metres. We’re keen to see her start,” Anderson said.

Bond University flyer Dianne Waight is another winger to watch after being included for a potential debut against the Force while backrower Grace Baker is set for her first Queensland cap.

Dallinger said her side was hungry to right last week's wrongs with a more clinical performance in Perth.

"We held with (Fijiana) for majority of the game and just let it slip at the end there."

"It was just our ball security, we had a lot of turnovers from either being stripped, knocked on or dropped cold, so that’s a really easy fix going into this week’s game."

Emerging local Super W talent excites Force vice-captain Leonard

Thu, Mar 21, 2024, 5:00 PM
Ben Somerford

Western Force vice-captain Michaela Leonard says she’s excited about the development of emerging WA locals Sammie Wood, Nicole Ledington and Rosie McGehan.

The backline trio were instrumental in Friday’s 36-12 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Round 1 of the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s, which comes ahead of a tough Round 2 clash with 2023 runners-up Queensland Reds.

Fly-half and Aranmore College product Ledington was named the AFGRI Force Player of the Match for setting up several tries, while Kalamunda scrum-half Wood had a hand in a few too.

Wood, 19, debuted in the final round of last season before spending time in New Zealand working on her craft in New Zealand in the off-season.

Kalamunda outside back McGehan, who graduated from the Fortescue Academy, scored two tries in her debut in Round 1, winning plenty of admirers.

“They’re incredibly talented athletes coming through, as you mentioned WA locals, through the Academy system,” Leonard said about Wood and McGehan. “They’re two really exciting players to watch over the next few years.

“Sammie Wood particularly this year has come out of the off-season break, you can see how much work she’s done to develop her tactical to knowledge and using that to help us review and preview teams as well.

“The performance both girls put on last weekend is just the start and they’re only going to grow as the season continues.”

Wallaroos lock Leonard, who turned 29 earlier this month, also heaped praise on n.10 Ledington, who has played 10 Super W games for the Force having debuted in 2021.

“Nicole is another really exciting young player coming through,” Leonard said.

“She’s been part of the Force system now for a few of years now. This year, in particular, she’s really starting to find her voice as a game driver and direct the whole team, and the forwards in particular around the park.

“Great vision for the game, great ability to move the ball, shift the ball and put others into space. I’m really excited to see how she grows over the rest of the season and the coming years as well.”

Saturday’s game is part of a Super W and Super Rugby Pacific double-header, with kick-offs from 2:05pm and 4:35pm respectively.

The Reds, as 2023 grand finalists, represent a major test for the emerging Force side which Leonard was excited to take on.

“We did lose to the Reds last year, they made it to the grand final, so they’re a formidable team to come up against,” she said.

“But we’ve made some recruitments and some big changes in our program and squad this year and I think we’re feeling confident about how we’ve gone so far in pre-season games and Round 1 last week that we can get the job done.

“The mood in the squad this week after last weekend’s win is really positive. Everyone is excited to come out and build on the things we did well and fix the improvements we need to make. We’re really excited for the doubleheader at HBF Park.”

The double-header is part of Kids’ Round, where the first 1,500 kids through the gates at HBF Park will receive a $20 food and beverage voucher to spend at the game. The vouchers will be distributed at Gate 1, via the Western Force Cheer Crew.

The double-header will be live on Stan Sport, while there will be regular updates @WesternForce on social media. The SRP men’s game will also be live on 9GEM.

Western Force 24 d Queensland Reds 14

A great result for the girls, mighty efforts by many and a couple of sad serious injuries.
Siutiti Ma'ake will be strong cover for Rosie McGehan (knee) with local code hoppers Numi Tapaea and Zoe Gillard in the running for a Bench Debut.
You would assume Pia Tapsell's elbow will see her out for some time, with likely the imposing Tongan Seneti Kilisimasi for a Bench Debut or local product Keira MacAskill coming in to add to her 7 Caps.

Force secure historic win over Reds to move into second spot

Sat, Mar 23, 2024, 4:28 PM
Nick Taylor

Western Force scored an historic first Buildcorp Super Rugby Women's win over the Queensland Reds, beating the visitors 24-14 at HBF Park on Saturday.

The Round 2 victory kept them in second place behind the Waratahs on points difference heading into next Saturday's crucial away clash with third-placed Fijiana Drua.

The second consecutive win was set-up by a strong forwards performance with three tries coming from the pack.

Prop Natsuki Kashiwagi and hooker Sara Cline gave the Force a 14-7 half-time lead after the Reds' No.2 Tiarna Molloy had given her side an early lead.

After the break reserve hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke added her name to the scoresheet while winger Siutiti Ma'ake made sure the backs had a look-in.

Force coach Dylan Parsons made a handful of changes from the squad that opened the season with a 36-12 win over the Melbourne Rebels.

Utility back Sealua Leaula started on the right wing after coming off the bench against the Rebels, replacing Haylee Hifo who was unavailable after going through head injury protocols.

Japanese international prop Hinata Komaki, Manusina Samoa international lock Alanis Toia and Tongan PacificAus sports scholarship holder Ma’ake were all on the bench to make their super W debuts.

Parsons said they would celebrate the win but would quickly come back to earth for the next game.

"We can do so much better," Parsons said.

"We will enjoy the moment and the emotion around it but when he we look at the footage we know there's a lot to get better at and need that going forward.

"Bonus points are key for this competition, two from two with a bonus point in hand puts us in a strong position but this competition can change pretty quickly."

Parsons said the forwards were proving to be a strength.

"Our preview was we wanted to go after the Reds forward pack," he said.

"We felt that was an opportunity. The impact squad we bring on, the forwards, is our strength. It's definitely a strategy of ours."

The first half ebbed and flowed in an arm wrestle with the Force under early pressure, finding themselves behind after just two minutes.

A handling error compounded by a penalty gave the visitors an opportunity for three points but they turned it down and took a line-out where Molloy was on the back of a strong maul to crash over, converted by Lori Cramer.

The Force hit back eight minutes later.

They took a Reds line-out near their line and after some close passing prop Kashiwagi crashed through. Scrum-half and player of the game Samantha Wood added the extras.

After the early setback the Force stepped up with some huge hits in defence, forcing errors, and looked keen to spread the ball wide.

They were also on the end of some strong Reds tackles as they tried patiently to force their way through the visitors' midfield.

They took the lead after they rumbled a huge, unstoppable, rolling maul 23-metres from a line-out where hooker Cline went over. Wood converted from wide.

Both sides tested the referee's patience before the break, the Force conceding eight penalties, the Reds seven.

The visitors started the second-half strongly but were met by more bruising defence and the Force worked their way into the Reds 22-metres.

The arm wrestle continued and the Force threatened to break the Reds line a number of times.

The pressure finally told and from a line-out it was the forwards who went to work again, Malcolm Heke at the back of a rolling maul to score.

The Reds hit back with a long range try, Ivania Wong finding a hole in the defence to feed Caitlin Urwin. Carys Dallinger converted.

Buy the home side increased their lead when Ma'ake was on the end of a lovely cut-out pass to score in the corner.

The win came at a cost with injuries winger Rosie McGehan (knee) and back-rower Pia Tapsell (elbow).

Western Force 24

Tries: Kashiwagi, (10'), Cline (27'), Malcolm Heke (59'), Ma'ake (69')

Conversions: Wood (2/4)

Penalties: Nil

Queensland Reds 14

Tries: Molloy (3'), Urwin (66')

Conversions: Cramer (1/1), Dallinger (1/1).

Penalties: Nil

Our AFGRI Player of the Match, Samantha Wood! ���� Congratulations on being named our MVP for Round 2 and well done on the historic win today �� AFGRI Equipment Australia

Posted by Western Force Rugby on Saturday, March 23, 2024