Wallaroos captain Ash Hewson believes Australia can top their pool at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in what she says will be her last major tournament.Â
The Wallaroos have drawn hosts Ireland, France and Japan in their pool and will begin their campaign in Dublin on August 10.Â
![Last tournament: Wallaroos player Ash Hewson.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170703105319im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/0/f/4/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx0g9p.png/1498630239593.jpg)
The side struggled on a recent trip to New Zealand though, losing by big margins to England (53-10), New Zealand (44-17) and Canada (45-5), but Hewson is adamant that top spot is achievable.Â
"We've got a good chance of topping the pool," she said. "I feel we're on par with France and Ireland and with Japan as well, we've got to give them respect. We've got the team that can do the job and top our pool. You do wear the scars of any loss, but with every loss always comes plenty to learn from."Â
![Rio to Dublin: Shannon Parry is in the World Cup squad after winning gold.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170703105319im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/0/f/3/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx0g9p.png/1498630239593.jpg)
Coach Paul Verrell agrees and says the team learnt plenty from their tough defeats across the ditch and will be ready to compete come August.Â
"We're expecting to get through and hopefully top that pool ... we definitely can," Verrell said. "Once you're in the top four you don't know what can happen."Â
Australian sevens Olympic gold medallists Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry were named in the Wallaroos' 28-woman squad on Wednesday.Â
The Wallaroos recorded their best result at a World Cup when they finished third in 2010 and will be looking to improve on their seventh placing at the last instalment in 2014.
Hewson competed at both of those World Cups after beginning her Test career in 2009, but the 37-year-old concedes this will be her last in the green and gold.Â
"This is going to be my final World Cup … it'll be a little bit of a swansong," she said. "If we can get through the groups and then match them in the semi-finals, it'd be a good way to go out."Â
Parry said the Wallaroos, who are ranked sixth in the world, could slip under the radar and will relish not having the same pressure on them as top teams.Â
"At the end of the day, we're the underdogs," Parry said. "The pressure is on the host nation and the pressure is on the big powerhouse nation in France."Â
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