SOUTHERN Inland women's rugby union coach Andy Bedford says his squad will benefit from expanding their schedule this season, starting with Saturday's road clash against Canberra heavyweights Uni-North Owls.
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After playing the Owls, unbeaten in the Canberra women's premiership, Southern Inland will set their sights on playing a Hunter squad in Newcastle in a curtain raiser before a Wallaroos-Japan Test match on July 13.
"It's nice we've got a couple of games because we can learn a lot from this weekend and take it into that," Bedford said.
"Last year we learned a lot and weren't able to test it out in another game.
"It will be a very big test. If we can match it with them (Owls), we know we're travelling pretty well."
Last year's event was a trial for the Brumbies Super W team, and was the first time the side had competed in the 15-a-side format after playing ten-a-side at local level.
"For the forwards the biggest adjustment is the amount of bodies in the ruck. Every ruck is a big contest for the ball," Bedford said.
"For the backs, it's the physicality of the next level and not as much as much space to work with.
"(Number eight) Harriet Elleman, who played Super W for the Brumbies for the Brumbies last year, will be pretty important for us, and fly-half Holly Stephens and inside centre Amelia Lolotonga can do damage with some good ball.
"I definitely think some of our girls are more suited to the 15-a-side game, they just don't have access to it in the local competition."
Southern Inland women's rugby union squad to play Uni-Norths Owls in Canberra on Saturday: 1 Ashley Pike (CSU), Amy Boylan (Wagga City), 3 Julia Gouot (CSU), 4 Ivy Merlehan (CSU), 5 Monique Toppin (Tumut) 6 Tiffany Furniss (WAC), 7 Ally Reid (Albury), 8 Harriet Ellema (WAC), 9 Kellie Allcorn (Wagga City), 10 Holly Stephens (Waratahs), 11 Andrea Kirkby (Waratahs), 12 Amelia Lolotonga (Griffith), 13 Zarah Besseling (WAC), 14 Olympia Achillea (Albury), 15 Megan Pearson (Hay), 16 Susan Curby (Albury), 17 Krystelle De Meyer (Griffith), 18 Georgia Boschke (WAC), 19 Ellie Burnett (WAC), 20 Kiahan Bellchamers (Tumut), 21 Chantelle Meintjes (WAC), 22 Elizabeth Young (WAC), 23 Emma Patterson (Tumut), 24 Shane Freeman (Tumut), 25 Chloe Holgate (Wagga City).
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