She broke the hearts of Australia’s women’s sevens team at last year’s Olympics, now rugby’s biggest global star will be out to land an early dagger in the Wallaroos’ preparations ahead of their clash at this year’s World Cup.

That’s right Ilona Maher, whose 4.9 million Instagram followers dwarfs the All Blacks (2.6m), let alone Beauden Barrett (737k) and Siya Kolisi (1.4m), will line up at outside centre against the Wallaroos for their second Pacific Four Series encounter in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

The tackle-busting back was well known on the sevens circuit for years, but her stardom exploded at last year’s Olympics where she went from a few hundred thousand followers to millions overnight.

That rise came after the USA’s length-of-the-field try in the dying seconds denied Australia bronze at the Paris Olympics and put the sevens team and, indeed, Maher on the USA map.

Her stardom saw Bristol Bears throw big coin at her over the past ten months and the American’s arrival saw Ashton Gate packed to the rafters with fans eager to catch a glimpse of the game’s newest global star.

Ilona Maher celebrates after beating Australia to claim the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics at Stade de France on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Now, she’ll be tasked with containing the Wallaroos’ backline, which showed glimpses of what they were capable of against New Zealand despite their defeat last weekend in Newcastle.

The Eagles are also eager to get back in the winner’s circle, having lost to Canada 26-14 earlier this month.

But despite being ranked three places lower than the Wallaroos on the standings in ninth, they’ll take confidence in the fact they finished over the top of their Pacific Four rivals last year by shocking Jo Yapp’s side 32-25.

The disappointing defeat came as the Wallaroos’ set-piece was once again exposed.

One year down the road though and Yapp will be hopeful that they can now handle what the Eagles will throw at them, particularly with the pack another year experienced and some quality additions in the backline.

Yapp has made four changes from the side that lost 38-12 last weekend, with loose-head prop Bree-Anna Browne and hooker Tania Naden joining Eva Karpani in the front-row.

Ashley Marsters has been recalled to the starting side after scoring against the Black Ferns last week. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

The other change in the forward pack sees Ashley Marsters start ahead of Emily Chancellor at openside flanker.

The final change sees Caitlyn Halse return at fullback, which sees Faitala Moleka shift to fly-half and Tia Hinds drop out of the squad.

The bench has a combination of youth and experience on it, with 18-year-old Waratahs loose-forward Ruby Anderson named to make her debut.

The Wallaroos have won just twice from eight meetings with the Eagles and they will meet each other later this year at the World Cup – a match that looms as a defining one if they hope to progress into the knockout stages.

“There were some positive signs last week for us to build on and also some areas we have needed to hone in and really focus on,” Yapp said.

“USA will provide us with another challenge on Saturday and given we play them at World Cup it will be a good test to see where we’re placed.

“Caitlyn Halse returns from injury this weekend and we’re also excited for Ruby Anderson to make her debut.

“The Wallaroos haven’t played in Canberra since 2008 so the players are looking forward to playing at GIO Stadium for the first time.”

WALLAROOS vs USA EAGLES

Wallaroos (1-15): Bree-Anna Browne, Tania Naden, Asoiva (Eva) Karpanii, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu (c), Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Layne Morgan, Faitala Moleka, Desiree Miller, Cecilia Smith, Georgina Friedrichs, Charlotte Caslick,  Caitlyn Halse
 
Replacements: Katalina Amosa, Bridie O’Gorman, Faliki Pohiva, Emily Chancellor, Ruby Anderson, Natalie Wright, Trilleen Pomare, Lori Cramer