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AAP
AAP
Melissa Woods

Discipline a focus as Wallaroos ready for US battle

The last time the Wallaroos played the US the match ended in a high-scoring draw. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The Wallaroos will tighten their discipline as they look bank their first win of the Pacific Four Series when they face the United States.

The Australian women and the hosts will meet in Kansas City in Missouri on Saturday morning (AEST) with both coming off opening round losses in the four-team rugby tournament.

The match represents the Wallaroos' best chance of a win, with defending champions New Zealand and world No.2 Canada the other sides. 

In last week's 24-0 loss to Canada the Australians gave up a whopping 19 penalties and lost two players to yellow cards.

Wallaroos
The Wallaroos will look to play more disciplined rugby against the US. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The last time Australia and the US met, in a pool match at last year's Rugby World Cup in England, the teams drew 31-31.

In that clash the Wallaroos were also pinged 13 times, letting their opponents back into the match in the second half on the back of their poor discipline.

Winger Maya Stewart said the issue had come up following the Canada match.

"Yeah, it's definitely a talking point - you can't be winning a Test match with 19 penalties so that's definitely something we're looking at this week," the 26-year-old said.

"Obviously we took a massive step forward with defence, but to be able to sort of reduce the amount of those (penalties) and not piggyback teams down the field will be super important for us so leading it into USA.

"We're looking to tidy up as a team and hopefully there'll be a whole lot less of that and a whole lot more playing inside the 22 for us."

Naden
Tania Naden returns to the Wallaroos side to play the US after recovering from a knee injury. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)

Backrower Dillyn Blackburn and fellow Queenslander, centre Ava Wereta as well as ACT scrumhalf Ella Ryan are in line to make their international debuts after being included on the bench for match.

World Cup hooker Tania Naden is back in the starting side after overcoming a knee injury.

"The clashes between both sides of late have been close, competitive and we expect the same on their home turf in Kansas," said interim Wallaroos coach Sam Needs.

"It's really exciting to have three debutants in our 23, and we look forward to seeing them make the most of their opportunities at the next level."

Wallaroos: Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Tiarah Minns, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), Emily Chancellor, Piper Duck, Samantha Wood, Nicole Ledington, Desiree Miller, Sidney Taylor, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Faitala Moleka. Res: Adiana Talakai, Faliki Pohiva, Bridie O'Gorman, Michaela Leonard, Dillyn Blackburn, Ella Ryan, Ava Wereta, Waiaria Ellis.

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