“Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse. Playing cricket is not.”
Thankfully, Wallaroos prop Bree-Anna Browne hasn’t endured the same wartime anxiety that provided the context for Australian fighter pilot Keith Miller’s legendary quote.
But, as a corporal in the Australian Army, Browne has a similar handle for putting sport, work and life into appropriate perspective.
Watch every match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 streaming live and on-demand on Stan Sport with Wallaroos matches also live on the 9Network and 9Now
Bree-Anna Browne of Australia poses for a portrait in Manchester. Getty
The 28-year-old from Toowoomba attended her second Rugby World Cup opening ceremony on Sunday as Jo Yapp’s squad was officially welcomed at Manchester Town Hall.
Browne was also a member of the Wallaroos 2022 World Cup squad but she did not take the field in New Zealand.
She is determined to contribute more in England after recovering from an ACL injury that ruled her out of the 2024 season.
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Lori Cramer and Bree-Anna Browne of the Reds celebrate. Getty
“It’s a privilege to go to any World Cup, but to go to your second one, I think there’s a little bit more pressure,” Browne told reporters ahead of the opening match against Samoa on Saturday.
“The pressure is there, definitely, but we’re leaning into it.”
Browne has already beaten Samoa this year while playing for Australia A.
Siokapesi Palu of Australia during the Women’s Rugby World Cup opening ceremony. Getty
She thanked her employers for giving her the best opportunity to shine.
“I’m on duty technically when I’m over here, which is absolutely awesome,” Browne said.
“They are a big supporter of women’s rugby in general, but a big supporter of me.
“They’re tuning into all the games. They’ve got them down pat as to what time they need to watch. One of my sergeants that I’ve worked with this year, he’s over in York at the moment. He’ll be over to watch us play, which is really, really awesome that a small workplace like that can really get behind you and support you.
“It means the absolute world.”
Browne said her work was beneficial to her athletic pursuits.
“There’s a lot of high pressure situations where you need to be calm, under pressure to think clearly, to react. Being a corporal in the army, I have to give commands to my soldiers. So for me, I have to be level headed. I have to be calm.
“I have to assess the situation to be able to clearly give them orders.
“That’s something that I take on the field. When moments are heightened or things aren’t going our way, I am able to be calm and assess the situation, figure out what I need to do or maybe the team needs to do and go from there.”
The Wallaroos were set to train on Monday as part of a community engagement open training session at Bowden Rugby Club.
They play Samoa at Salford Community Stadium on Saturday with kickoff at 9pm AEST.
Australia reached the quarter-finals at the last World Cup and were beaten by England.
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025
Saturday, August 23: Wallaroos v Samoa, Salford Community Stadium, Manchester – 9pm AESTSunday, August 31: Wallaroos v USA at York Community Stadium, York – 4.30am AESTSunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove – 2am AEST