Australia’s Wallaroos have never beaten their New Zealand counterparts in 12 tests but experienced back-row forward Mollie Gray believes they are in good shape to cause an upset on the eve of the two-test series between the rival nations.

The Wallaroos play a warm-up fixture against Auckland on 18 October before taking on the Black Ferns in back-to-back tests at Eden Park in the space of four days, with the first fixture, on 22 October, acting as a curtain-raiser for the Bledisloe Cup clash between the All Blacks and the Wallabies.

While New Zealand’s men will be hoping to set a new world record for consecutive test victories by a tier one nation with victory over their rivals in green and gold, a piece of history is also within Australia’s women’s grasp as they attempt to end their 22-year wait for a win against the Black Ferns.

Having made her debut in 38-3 defeat in Rotorua in 2014, Gray knows that will be no easy task, however the amiable 27-year-old says they are more than capable of getting a positive result and building on the feel-good factor created by the Australia women’s gold medal-winning exploits at the Olympic Games in Rio.

“It is unfortunate that we have never beaten New Zealand before but I think we have a really solid team this time around – a mix of experience, youth and former sevens players - and we’ve really put the hard work in," she said.

“I think the main thing when get out there is not to focus on the result but the process, making sure we do right thing at right time on the field. We are definitely capable of coming away with a win, we just need to pull it all together on the day.”

CAUGHT UNAWARES

Exactly half of the 26-strong squad are uncapped players, as was Gray when she last ventured over the Tasman Sea for an international. It was an experience she’ll never forget.

“I debuted against New Zealand in 2014 and it was definitely an eye opener. I was a bit younger and a bit naïve about the whole thing and I didn’t really know what was walking into, I was like a deer caught in the headlights.

“I feel more prepared this time around, both physically and mentally. I know what to expect of them and I know what I am all about as a player and what our team is like.

“It is good to have experience of playing them before and hopefully those of us who were there in 2014 can steer the new girls in the right direction.”

Having once been deployed on a six-month tour to Afghanistan as part of the Australian Defence Force's artillery training team, Gray is used to being exposed to new and challenging environments.

Now a recruitment officer, Gray has made the switch back to 15s after a 12-month stint with the Australian women's sevens squad. "Unfortunately, I didn't make the squad to Rio but it was a really tough squad to crack and obviously the girls that went to the Games did brilliantly. It is awesome that I have 15s to fall back on."

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[HIGHLIGHTS] Australia and New Zealand win at WRWC 2014
Australia and New Zealand win in the final round of the Women's Rugby World Cup to finish seventh and fifth respectively in Paris.

The Sydney-based player says there is added excitement within the squad this year with the prospect of playing in front of a Bledisloe Cup crowd and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 less than a year away.

BLEDISLOE BONUS

“I am grateful for any game I can play for Wallaroos but to play prior to the Bledisloe is even better," she said. "I’ve have got lot of friends and family coming over and it’s going to be really exciting and there is definitely going to be a lot of hype around it.”

Victory would arguably eclipse the achievement of Australia’s women in winning the first gold medal on offer in rugby sevens, which Gray says has been a game-changer for the sport in her country.

“There’s been a massive snowball effect. Girls who had never previously thought of playing are now taking up rugby," she revealed.

“I’ve just been back in Newcastle for a week’s training and friends who are involved in the Union there say it is booming, they’ve started up a few junior teams as hundreds of girls are now playing. Achieving what the girls in Rio achieved has put women’s rugby on the map.

“Regardless of whether they play sevens or 15s, it is great.”

Australia’s tour to New Zealand forms a key part of the side’s preparation for WRWC 2017.

The Wallaroos finished a disappointing seventh at the last tournament in France, having won the bronze medal four years before, and are intent on an improved showing in Ireland.

“I don’t think any of us were happy going from third to seventh,” said Gray. “I think we just needed a bit more time together leading into the last World Cup.

“With this tour, the Nationals early next year and the Tri-Nations against New Zealand and Canada, I think we’ll definitely be better prepared this time around.”

Wallaroos NZ schedule:
18 October 2016: Trial Match - Auckland v Wallaroos XV, Eden Park
22 October 2016: 1st Test - New Zealand v Wallaroos, Eden Park
26 October 2015: 2nd Test - New Zealand v Wallaroos, Eden Park