Speaking to the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner on the eve of her World Series tilt against Spain, the former Batemans Bay athlete said the summer heat took a moment to adjust to.

“It is 34 or plus degrees every day,” she said from France on June 23.

“It was a massive difference between being here and being in Australia.”

However, since arriving on Monday evening, the squad has made the most of the weather and acclimatised.

“We have had training and been out and about,” Staples said.

“At the moment it just feels normal.

“I am feeling pretty good ... probably a little bit nervous. but I have had a really good week of training and eased into conditions here in France.”

The real heat comes on Saturday evening, Eastern Standard Time, when the green-and-gold gals run onto the field, out to whip Spain – again.

Earlier in the series, in Canada, Staples scored the opening try in the first game and crossed the line again in the second half to help Australia to a 26-0 win against Spain.

“We beat them pretty convincingly,” Staples conceded, but that should not be misconstrued as complacency.

Staples said team meetings were used to pore over analysis, videos and statistics, regardless of which side the Aussie’s were squaring up to.

“We prepare as much as possible, whether it is for someone at the bottom of the table, or someone at the top,” she said.

“Hopefully at the weekend we can pull something off and come back with a big win.” 

Staples, who famously made the switch from netball to rugby a few short months back, is having a blast with the squad.

“They are all a great bunch of chicks,” she said.

“I cannot fault them. They have been very good with helping me with my progress over the past few months and preparing for these tournaments.

“It has been a good transition for me, coming from another sport.”

She credits personal coach and exercise physiologist Justin Lang with smoothing the path.

“I have always wanted to represent Australia, but in the past months, my path has changed,” she said.

“Netball would have been awesome. I did achieve quite a bit, but in the past two years I was looking for a change. I was losing a bit of love for netball. 

“He (Lang) helped me with a pathway. He is half the reason why I am here (in France). He has put a lot of effort and time in for me and helped me hone my skills and got me up to the standard I needed.

“I had to make sure I could catch left and right and pass left and right.”

Watching her pass left and right – and any other way she wants to – on Saturday and Sunday night will be proud parents Wayne and Lily Staples – from a Denhams Beach winter.

“They are over the moon for me at the moment,” Staples said.

“They are just proud parents.

“I keep in contact with them every week; they like to know how I am going and how I am feeling.”

The former Carroll College student says Cronulla may be home at the moment, but Batemans Bay was still “home-home to me”. 

It does not hurt to have a mother who is a professional counsellor.

“Mum always wants to know if my well being is on point and if I am doing okay and how is my mental space,” Staples said.

She will have plenty of people from the Eurobodalla backing her as the game goes live on www.worldrugby.org tomorrow.

“Thank you for the support and tune in,” was Staples message to fans.

“It would be great.”