Cheers: how hospitality helps Halse's rugby journey

When star fullback Caitlyn Halse isn't touring Europe with the Wallaroos or running around with a football, she's working at her local pub.

While it seems serving drinks, scrambling to get orders in, and washing the glassware might not necessarily benefit one's rugby career, the 20-year-old believes otherwise.

"There's a lot of chat that goes on around what you need to do with managers and stuff between your co-workers," Halse told AAP.

"Then obviously on the field, communication is one of the most important things. If you're not talking, you don't know what's going on outside you."

Halse plans to use those hospitality communication skills again when she takes the field against Scotland in Australia's final Test of the European leg of the WXV series in Edinburgh on Sunday (AEST).

She wouldn't be surprised if the manager or one of her friends at the pub where she works displays a photo of her playing rugby.

But what would give her more satisfaction is if the Wallaroos secure a victory for lock Michaela Leonard, who will become the first woman to play 50 Tests for Australia.

Halse and Leonard are particularly close, because Leonard captained the fullback's first Test in 2024.

"I was 17 or 18, and she would always just have a quick word to me, give me some confidence and tell me about what I do best," Halse said.

"'Mac' is one of those leaders in the team that you can look for on the field when you need something.

"She's one of the hardest-working players in the squad. She's always running, doing extras in the gym, doing extras on the field."

While Leonard will bring up a significant milestone, the Wallaroos have made a flurry of changes for the Edinburgh clash, with prop Brianna Hoy coming into the starting side because of a back injury to Allana Sikimeti.

Back-rowers Emily Chancellor and Lily Bone are additions on the bench, along with front-rower Martha Fua, prop Bridie O'Gorman, and Queensland Reds captain Jemma Bemrose.

The changes come as the Australians look to bounce back from a 29-26 loss to France last weekend, when they failed to defend a 19-point lead.