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AAP
AAP
Sport
Ben McKay

Batibasaga benched for Wallaroos RWC QF

Iliseva Batibasaga crosses to score Australia's opening try in the Rugby World Cup win over Wales. (Andrew Cornaga/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Try-scoring halfback Iliseva Batibasaga has been benched for the Wallaroos' Rugby World Cup quarter-final against tournament favourites England.

Batibasaga, who kicked off the scoring in Australia's crunch win over Wales last weekend, will start as a reserve, with coach Jay Tregonning instead opting to start with Layne Morgan at No.9.

Captain Shannon Parry, who will lead the Wallaroos again, said Morgan had been picked for her first start of the tournament because her qualities particularly suited the English match-up.

"Her distribution is very good, but it's more about her speed to get into the ruck and get ball out," she told AAP.

"We're looking to play a bit more of an up-tempo game."

Tregonning has made three changes and a minor reshuffle to his ranks for Sunday's match at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

Lori Cramer shifts to the wing in the absence of Ivania Wong, with Pauline Piliae-Rasabale back in the starting XV at fullback after two matches as a reserve.

Wong suffered "a bump" in training to rule her out, Parry said.

Grace Kemp will make her first start in New Zealand despite a 70th-minute yellow card that added some late jeopardy in the Wallaroos' win over Wales.

Last-up starter Atasi Lafai drops out of the matchday squad.

Mahalia Murphy and Cecilia Smith have been called up to the reserves, with each in line for their first appearance of the tournament.

After badging their main training session as 'Test Tuesday' through the tournament to date, the Wallaroos have now shifted to 'World Cup Wednesday' as they look to cause a mighty upset.

England are on a world record 28-Test winning streak, and are yet to concede a single point at the World Cup inside the opening 20 minutes.

The Red Roses have never failed to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup and have beaten Australia in each of their five career meetings.

"There's no pressure on us. We can just go out there and play footy," Parry said.

"Records are meant to be broken. So let's try to do that this Sunday."

Tregonning said his side had firmly embraced the underdog tag, just as they did ahead of their Eden Park opener with New Zealand.

"Our mindset is the same as it was for the opening game. There is no pressure on us, the pressure is on England to perform," he said.

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