In-form Queensland Reds hooker Tiarna Molloy is confident the team’s grit in tight finishes will be an asset in Sunday afternoon’s big clash against the Western Force at Ballymore Stadium.
The equation has become simple…the winning team gets to host a semi-final the following weekend in SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s.
The Reds got home 26-22 over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra last weekend and produced a stunning 22-19 win over the Fijian Drua in Lautoka to launch the season.
The stable Reds have made just two changes in the pack for the meeting with the Force with lock Veneta Teutau starting and former Wallaroo Sarah Riordan returning at No.8 after a week off.
“We’ve had a couple of tight finishes on the road against the Drua and Brumbies and got home. It shows the trust we’ve built in each other and the environment we train in is setting us up for success,” Molloy said.
“We did make it hard for ourselves in Canberra at times. We’ll hold on to what we did well to win and work hard this week to execute in other areas.”Molloy has been a powerful contributor all season with her set piece work and powerful charges. She backed up to finish off a key long-range try against the Brumbies.
“We have some unreal attacking players so I’m always trying to work hard off the ball to be in the right place for moments like that, for the team” Molloy said.
The try came just minutes after young speedster Piper Flynn scored.
“I’m so happy for Piper…first touch, first try, first game,” Molloy added of the Reds latest debutant on the wing.
Molloy was honest when asked what had been learnt six weeks ago when the Force came to the same turf at Ballymore and won 41-12 in a trial.
“Last time, they beat us in physicality. It is up to us to try to dominate in that area on Sunday,” Molloy said.
“Earning that home semi is definitely the goal.”
The Reds women had five Tuesday night hit-outs with controlled contact against the Brisbane Grammar First XV boys’ team.
“It was all aimed at lifting our physicality. There were some big hits from the boys for sure…and they got some as well from us,” Molloy said.
“It was good to get physical at training and not against teammates. I think it was a positive for us and the Grammar boys got something out of it too.”
Reds coach Andrew Fraser said Molloy had been a high performer all season.
“Tiarna was on the Wallaroos bench for a string of Tests last season without getting a minute and I think that put a fire in her belly,” Fraser said.
“She has excelled for us. That’s from the gym, her strength levels, the way she is contributing on the field and her professionalism generally. It’s a credit to her.”
SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s
Sunday, March 30
1:05pm (AEST)
Ballymore Stadium
Live on Stan Sport
1 Bree-Anna Browne
2 Tiarna Molloy
3 Eva Karpani
4 Tiarah Minns
5 Veneta Teutau
6 Jemma Bemrose (cc)
7 Carola Kreis
8 Sarah Riordan
9 Layne Morgan
10 Lori Cramer
11 Ivania Wong (cc)
12 Shalom Sauaso
13 Faythe Manera
14 Caitlin Urwin
15 Charlotte Caslick
Reserves: 16 Zophronia Setu, 17 Cristo Taufua, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Deni Ross, 20 Zoe Hanna, 21 Nat Wright, 22 Carys Dallinger, 23 Piper Flynn
