Sarah Riordan had every reason to be disappointed. Gutted.
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The powerhouse centre, who is coming back from a shoulder reconstruction, was overlooked for a place in the Wallaroos match-day squad for the Test against Japan at No.Sportsground on Saturday.
Gone, a chance to play in front of family and friends at a venue where she began her rugby career with Wanderers as a 15-year-old.
She was offered a chance to leave camp and play a game to hasten her progress back in to the top 23.
Instead, she chose to stay and work with the two debutants who are filling her position.
"That is amazing team attitude," coach Dwaye Nestor said. "It was a completely selfless act. I knew Sarah was a great human being but she capped it off with that. Her response to not getting selected brought a lump to the throat of the coaches. The girls will be anxious because it is their debut. Sarah will be a steadying influence for them."
Riordan, 27, is based in Brisbane where she is a truck driver for the Army. She made her test debut in 2016 but is yet to play a game on home soil.
"It was a very tough call," Nestor said. "It probably came down to two things. We wanted to give the young girls an opportunity. Also for Sarah, she is coming back from a shoulder reconstruction. She has played a bit of club footy and it is a case of getting her back to where she wants to be. She is quite hard on herself and wants to perform really well. It's about getting her back into that shape. Sarah is a valuable member of this time on and off the field."
