Wallaroos Won't Back Down From 38-Win England

When the Wallaroos take the field against England this Sunday, they'll face a team that hasn't lost in 38 straight matches. But instead of fear, Australia's women's rugby players are bringing quiet confidence and determination.

England's Red Roses are the reigning World Cup champions with an intimidating resume: eight consecutive Six Nations titles, five Grand Slams, and a crushing 47-7 victory over Australia in last year's World Cup. They're ranked number one in the world for good reason.

Yet debutant winger Amelia Whitaker isn't fazed. "Obviously England is number one, but this week I feel like we've really rallied together so I think we're up for the task," she said.

Reserve forward Jemma Bemrose, who might make her Test debut off the bench, echoed that sentiment. "They've got a strong reputation, but I'm just really excited to embrace the challenge."

Assistant coach Mike Ruthven believes his team has found opportunities. "We know what's coming, but we think we've identified a few things that we've been really able to target and have a crack at."

England's dominance didn't happen by accident. The Rugby Football Union invested wisely, offering full-time contracts to 32 players and pouring $27 million into community programs and $45 million into their professional league over ten years.

The investment paid off spectacularly. A record 81,885 fans packed Twickenham to watch England win the World Cup final, and star player Ellie Kildunne finished second in BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Award, outpolling Formula 1's world champion.

Why This Inspires

Australia is taking notes and building something special. Rugby Australia is shifting the Wallaroos to a full-time program ahead of hosting the 2029 World Cup on home soil, appointing successful coach Tim Walsh as director of women's high performance.

Walsh acknowledged to ABC Sport that while Australia has the talent, they need the "infrastructure for them to be able to excel." Ruthven sees England as the gold standard worth chasing, noting their players compete in 20-plus domestic matches annually.

The Wallaroos know Sunday's match in Salford is a massive challenge. But they've reminded themselves it's a "two-horse race over 80 minutes."

"If we can go out and deliver on the things that we've talked about during the week and compete really hard, stranger things have happened, right?" Ruthven said.

Sometimes the greatest inspiration comes not from winning, but from refusing to back down.