The 2026 season was unique in Wallaroos history, with milestones for both individual players and the team as a whole, a year of transition to full professionalism.
Their latest clash in Canberra marks a full-circle moment after kicking off the season in the Australian capital seven months ago. With Eva Karpani hitting 50 caps and the squad set to bid farewell to Emily Chancellor and Cecilia Smith, preparations have taken on a different feel for the Wallaroos’ most capped player, Michaela Leonard.
Leonard herself became the first Australian to earn 50 runs when she ran against Scotland last month in Edinburgh at WXV Global Series action, and since this year was such a significant change, this week came with a lot of thinking.
“This was definitely the second week in Test match preparation history,” Leonard said RugbyPass. “There was definitely a reflection of the journey, and where the game had come in the time that myself and players like Eva and Chance were playing the game.
“Shansa and I were talking about it just yesterday; how we used to play two Test matches, four Test matches a year when we started. Now we play 10 games a year.”
“We see a lot of players who are not far off that 50 mark. Bridie (O’Gorman) is not far. Kaitlin (Leaney), not far, Freddie (Georgina Friedrichs).
“We will start to see a lot more players playing better, gaining more experience and increasing our depth and knowledge at Test level as a nation.
“The feeling in the group is really positive. Coming off the back of two wins has put us in a good position for this week, but there’s also a lot from last game that we want to improve on.”
“The band has done really well to still stay focused and treat the week like any other and really put it first. Milestones definitely make it feel a little more emotional and a little more special.
“I think everyone really focuses on celebrating every moment and enjoying every time we got together on the field or in the hotel.”
Leonard also took time to recognize Karpani, Chancellor and Smith, who have all been mainstays alongside the 31-year-old since her debut in 2019.
“Eva has reached 50 appearances, she has been part of this group consistently for the last eight years,” said Leonard. “(It’s) a huge milestone for her, only the second one to do it on our team is really special.
“We talk about work ethic, high standards, love of competition and growth and wanting to get better every day. I think both of them (Chancellor and Smith) in their own way embody what it means to be a Wallaroo.”
“Emily Chancellor shows that tenfold on and off the court; sacrificing what it takes to put her teammates and the team first.
“You see that in Cee every day. She’s been away from her bug (daughter, Ruby) for many years and she’s doing it for the passion and love of this game and being a part of this team.”
“(They’re) two players we’re really grateful to have in this environment; ones we’ll certainly miss going forward.”
Smith and Chancellor have been named to start the final of the three-match series against the Scots in Canberra, with the Wallaroos coming off the back of an impressive 56-12 win in Sydney last week.
However, the Scots are likely to go into the match hungry to end the year on a positive note, and with the Wallaroos aware of the weapons they represent after falling behind at half-time in Edinburgh, Leonard expects a tough encounter. And a chance for the women in gold to progress towards an 80-minute performance.
“The result (in Sydney) really didn’t reflect how challenging Scotland are as a team to play against and how physical (they are),” Leonard said. “We saw that especially in the first half when they were at home in Edinburgh.
“We know they will come out firing, wanting to improve on last week’s result and go home with a win under their belt.
“I think (for us) it’s just coming out and fixing our execution, being a little more clinical around the breakdown and crash area.
“I think we’re definitely getting better, putting those performances together for longer periods of play and less of those lapses over the course of 80 minutes.
“I think we’re not far from that, to get that ability to play at this level and what’s needed for 80 minutes, learn how to come back and reset when we make mistakes, but also make sure we don’t let other teams pile on top of our mistakes.
“The more games we have with combinations, the more we see it improve.”
While what lies behind this match for Leonard and the team is still uncertain, Director of Women’s High Performance Tim Walsh confirms the Australian program will begin an integrated women’s program with Australian Weeks ahead of the 2027 season.
Next year will also see a new head coach in Sione Fukofuka – a welcome addition after the Valaroos had a rotation of interim coaches throughout 2026.
The details of how that all-day program will work and what it will look like are yet to come, but Leonard knows that ending this year with a bang will do a lot for this group as they look to an exciting new chapter in the team’s history.
“We definitely hope to see the number of games continue to grow,” Leonard said. “The amount of time we have together in a professional environment continues to grow, and the numbers and milestones add up.
“Looking at next year and the next three years leading up to the home World Cup, I think it’s going to be a key change for the Wallaroos, as a team and as individuals, but also from a programmatic perspective.
“A good win on Friday night would be pretty special, not only for Eva, Cee and Chance in their big games, but as a group to round out this transfer window.
“We’ve had a pretty different year with a lot of changes. I think the group has done really well coming together and continuing to grow over the last few months.”
“Those girls who have made such a huge contribution to our game here in Australia – a win would be a really nice way to round it off.”
