Kiwi-born Liz Patu named new Wallaroos skipper

Meet Liz Patu.

She's the Kiwi-born, new Wallaroos captain who wants to lead a breakthrough victory against New Zealand in a historic home Bledisloe Cup double header on Saturday.

Wallaroos skipper Liza Patu is determined to upset the Black Ferns in Sydney on Saturday.

Wallaroos skipper Liza Patu is determined to upset the Black Ferns in Sydney on Saturday.

The Wallaroos will play a Bledisloe Cup curtain-raiser for the first time on home soil when they host the Black Ferns at ANZ Stadium.

Patu, 29, was born in Auckland and raised in Samoa, before she migrated to Australia in 2004 and made her Wallaroos debut at the 2014 Rugby World Cup.

The hooker was left "speechless" when Australian coach Dwyane Nestor named her skipper at their camp in Canberra on Monday.

Australia are winless in 15 attempts against the Black Ferns, including a record 67-3 thumping when the sides met in the only other Bledisloe curtain-raiser at Eden Park in 2016.

But Patu is determined to break the duck against her birth country in what would mark the biggest win in the Wallaroos' 49-Test history.

Patu emphasised she's ready to bleed green and gold, with the 20-Test veteran confident they can take down the reigning world champions.

"We’ve looked at few of their clips with set pieces but we’re focusing on ourselves and just want to put on a really good show this weekend," Patu said.

"It’s going to be challenging but I do love a challenge and it’s going to be a really good game. It’s been awesome getting the girls to gel together this week.

The Wallaroos are looking to beat New Zealand for the first time on Saturday,

The Wallaroos are looking to beat New Zealand for the first time on Saturday,

"It’s very exciting [captaincy]. I’m speechless, it’s something I didn't think I’d get and I have big shoes to fill.

"It does have its challenges, I’m just trying to have the girls doing what we need to do and learning new plays with new coaches and getting all the young ones up to speed."

Wallaroos centre Sarah Riordan made her debut at the forgettable Eden Park Test two years ago, but said she's now better prepared to face the world's best.

"I definitely know the pressure that comes with the Bledisloe and playing in big stadiums in big games. Hopefully I can pass that on to the new girls who don’t really know what they’re in for," Riordan said.

"It’s nice to finally get a match at home in front of a crowd and just getting our game out there, I can’t wait for it.

"They are an amazing outfit and world champions, so we respect what they have and who they are as a team but we’re really focusing on ourselves.

"We know what they’re capable of, so it’s time for us to put together with what we’ve got and showcase it.

"You can match anything as long as you put your mind to it. We’re all good at rugby, that’s why we’re here, so I think it’s just about coming together as a team."

Riordan said the camp at the AIS had been more mental than physical, which she believes is the key to beating New Zealand.

"It’s more mental preparation which I think is a really big key when it comes to playing these big games," Riordan said.

"Physically we’re all ready but I think it’s that mental side we’ve got to overcome."

The 26-year-old Queenslander said the inaugural Super W season this year has better prepared them for the toughest test in world rugby.

"Super Rugby laid a really good platform for us to prepare for Tests. It makes us play at a higher level and a better level for longer, which we weren’t really exposed to before," she said.

"It’s just the next step up we’ve got to go now, it’s still a really big step but we’re not coming straight from clubs games now, we’re coming from really competitive good rugby."

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