New Wallaroos prop Sally Fuesaina is hoping her tight-head education can help her push to feature in next year’s World Cup.
The loosehead prop is one of two new additions to Jo Yapp’s side to face Scotland on Sunday (AEDT) to decide the WXV 2 title.
Fuesaina debuted for Australia at the start of the season against Canada and featured in every game of the Pacific Four.
The Brumby would drop out of the squad for the July series and was preparing for an emotional return to Samoa with Australia A.
However, she would receive a sudden Wallaroos call-up after an ACL injury to Brianna Hoy days before she was set to return to play in front of friends and family in Apia.
“It’s really special because my background is Samoan and I do speak the language so it’d be good to go back and play in front of my people,” she told Rugby.com.au in August as she prepared to make the trip.
“Australia is where I live and being Australian is a big part of me. When I look at it, it’s my first home and Samoa was my secondary so bringing both cultures together is really special.”
Fuesaina finds herself battling with the likes of Hoy, Alapeta Ngauamo and backrower-turned-prop Lydia Kavoa for a spot in the wider Wallaroos squad, with Yapp settled with the Bridie O’Gorman-Eva Karpani starting combination.
It led the loosehead prop to delve into making the switch to the other side of the scrum to add further s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to her game.
The 32-year-old has gone under the wing of the reigning Wallaroos Player of the Year to learn how to play tighthead.
Whilst she stays on the loosehead side for Sunday, Fuesaina is hoping it’ll give her an added edge as she looks to live out her World Cup dream next September.
“They’re two totally different positions. Loosehead (prop) you’re locking down with your hooker, rather than a tighthead yes heavy chest down, keeping the loosehead from popping you back up on the scrum. I guess you’ve got to be a pest on the field when you’re tighthead like Eva (Karpani),” she joked
“I’m a loosehead in Super but transitioning was a Wallaroos decision so I can play both and learn too in case of any injuries.
“(Eva’s) been a real role model with the way she puts herself on the field. She’s really hungry for the ball and makes a lot of tries for the team. She’s really present and just a strong person.
“…(World Cup’s) the big goal for me. It’s still building steps to get into the main squad to go to the World Cup. It meant a lot to be building and working with the Wallaroos girls.”
