Waaka clash readies Wales star for Jillaroos

When Wales take on the Jillaroos at Commbank Stadium on November 1, at least one member of the Dragons team insists she won’t be overawed.

“I’ve been fortunate, I went to a union World Cup,” said half Ffion Lewis, who played against Kiwi Ferns contender Stacey Waaka at the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2022.

“We had New Zealand in our pool. That was extremely difficult. We played against them twice. I’ve been fortunate I’ve experienced that top end and experienced that pressure so I kind of have an idea of what to expect in intensity."

Lewis uses the word “difficult” rather than scary or impossible.

She’s had her share of difficulties off the field too, after all, having started in rugby union, tried rugby league, returned to union as a fulltime member of the Wales national squad and - most recently - playing her first game for her country in three years (a 14-0 league loss to Canada in Neath) following an ACL injury.

Inspired to pursue a sporting career by her brother, James ‘Flex’ Lewis, who beat a long standing body building record held by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the US, Ffion also had a well-publicised battle with endometriosis, a painful abdominal condition affecting women.

But now at 30 years-of-age, she feels it’s her duty to put her own battles aside for a squad which lacks the sort of experience she has amassed.

“I didn’t expect to be returning in a World Cup season in league,” she said. “I was out injured for a year and a half but I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.

I think it’s an exciting time for Wales rugby league going into the World Cup.

"As much as (the Canada game) didn’t go our way, we’ve got two, three months now to make sure we are really working hard and become as clinical as possible going into what is going to be a really, really hard three games.

“It’s a huge opportunity. Wales going to the World Cup for the first time? That’s huge.”

Aside from Australia, the Welsh are pooled with England and Samoa.

Playing the likes of the Jillaroos in Australia or the Black Ferns in New Zealand, there is a specific mental approach required, she reasons.

“So as long as we are in the fittest shape possible going into that tournament …. as long as we’re performance-focused rather than outcome-focused, I think we’re going to be happy," she said.

In the 2021 rugby union tournament, Lewis played against Waaka, who was in the centres for New Zealand - the position the Olympic gold medallist is now starring at for the Warriors and hopes to play for the Kiwis Ferns at RLWC26.

“The experience was incredible," Lewis said. "New Zealand as a whole champion rugby.

"Even though you’re in their home ground, if you do something well as a nation they’ll always get behind you. The majority of us had never been to New Zealand before.”

And if she becomes the first Welsh woman to play at both league and union World Cups, she’ll be surrounded by team-mates who have never been to Australia.

“I don’t think many (have been). Fortunately I went with Wales and played sevens in Australia. I’ve done the journey so I kind of have an idea of what to expect. There may be some who have never travelled that far before.

“So there will be a lot of barriers and there will be new things that we have to overcome as a group but again, we’re in a position where we’re an amateur international side in regards to where we are performance-wise compared to other nations.

You mention Australia … rugby league’s huge there. We have to be realistic in our expectations.

"There will be a fair few new caps, girls where this is a new environment for them. As I said, it’s just make the most of the opportunity.

“It does come from experience. When I was a young 20 or 21 year-old getting capped … the crowd gets behind you and the nerves and the pressure you put on yourself … it does come with experience knowing how to deal with those pressures.

“What you do off the field helps you on the field massively.  It’s easy to get lost in the event, which could be a barrier for us, a lot of us (having) our first experience at this level.

“But we can only control what we control. If I’m in a position where I get selected for that, hopefully my experience from previous whole months (away), I can pass on to these girls and help as much as possible.”

For the record, New Zealand beat Wales 56-12 in Auckland and 55-3 in Whangārei. Which leaves the question: what will be more ‘difficult” - the Black Ferns in Auckland or the Jillaroos in Sydney?