ANALYSIS: The Wallaroos of 2025 are a vastly different prospect to the squad that overachieved across the Tasman in 2022.
Ahead of Australia's last Rugby World Cup campaign, no player had reached 30 Test appearances.
Watch the 2025 Rugby World Cup live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Former prop and captain Liz Patu was the first Wallaroo to reach this milestone and did so during the 2022 tournament opener against New Zealand.
It's a stark contract to the record-breaking 567 caps coach Jo Yapp will call upon to help break out of Pool A and into the quarter finals.
10 of Yapp's 32 women in England have since matched Patu's 30 internationals - including 40-Test veterans Ashley Marsters and Trilleen Pomare - and this Australian squad averages 17.7 caps across the board.
Of the Wallaroos with over 30 caps, six are forwards with Michaela Leonard, Eva Karpani, Bridie O'Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney and Emily Chancellor joining Marsters in an experienced pack while Pomare is well supported by Georgina Friedrichs, Lori Cramer and Layne Morgan.
36-cap halfback Morgan is one of the 17 women returning from the 2022 Rugby World Cup squad and told rugby.com.au her side's "strong core" was primed deliver in England.
"Being a part of the squad when Liz Patu actually got her most capped and playing with her and wondering when I would reach that was something that I thought would be in years to come, and for it to become a reality in less than three years is just so amazing," Morgan said.
"It shows the exposure, the growth, and the building of the Australian game and the global game for women, and it's something so exciting that I'm so lucky to be a part of and to have those girls that have done it beside me here as well in England for the World Cup.
"It's just something so special that we've really built something together and you can see a strong core of the girls going forward in the Australian team."
Morgan, 26, had just five Tests and a solitary start before her first World Cup in 2022.
Now, she's the Wallaroos most experienced halfback ever and fifth on the all-time caps list behind teammates Marsters (41), Pomare (40), Michaela Leonard (38) and Eva Karpani (37).
"(A second World Cup) definitely feels just as special. It's something that doesn't come every day or every year, so having every four years, it's such a special moment that comes in your rugby career, and I think it's definitely not to be taken for granted," Morgan said.
"I'm so excited to go show what our team and our country has done in rugby and how we've built from New Zealand, but also it's so amazing to see the growth of women's rugby from New Zealand to England and seeing the numbers increase in attendance, the amount of people, the competition that's risen as well.
"The other teams are so competitive, and there's going to be a brand new top six in the world - it's going to be a really hard competition." Fresh from attending the official Rugby World Cup launch in Manchester, Morgan told rugby.com.au excitement was high in camp Wallaroo after flying in last week ahead of their opening clash with Samoa.
"The opening ceremony definitely starts to make it feel real, seeing all the countries come together, having the welcomes, and having the ceremonies where the Rugby World Cup merchandise is out loud and proud," Morgan said.
"Seeing the green, yellow and purple that they're representing the World Cup colours around, it's just amazing and getting to see everyone that you know from all the different countries makes it a bit surreal - it gives you that goosebump that it's getting started.
"It's definitely been awesome being able to set our roots in Manchester before game week because it helps with our jet lag.
"It's a big, long journey over here, so making sure we adjust to the times, getting our sleep right, making sure that we're in our best condition before the game is coming is so important, and having the luck to train in the weather, see what the fields are like, see what it's like around and not get too overwhelmed in the first week has been amazing."
The Wallaroos open their Rugby World Cup campaign on Saturday 23 August at 9pm AEST against Manusina Samoa live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
