WXV2 and WXV3 – First Day
The two opening matches showed WXV up in its brightest and most concerning lights.
WXV2: South Africa v Japan
As expected this became a battle between Bok power and Japanese speed plus agility. The Sakura won the opening skirmishes, using very quick links and intelligent use of turnovers.
They switched an attacking line-out back inside for a concerted drive, but was the grounding secure? Yes, though there was a nudge forward straight after. (Try Kotomi Taniguchi, the hooker) 0-7
The Boks responded at once. They exploited a scrum penalty to drive at the line, and captain Aseza Hele made the touchdown. (5-7) Her team were intent on making their superior weight tell, but faults in handling and kicking were ruthlessly exploited. Ayasa Otsuka collected a delicate grubber by Haruka Hirotsu over the line. 5-12
Back to the other end, and it was Chumisa Qawe who provided the last thrust. (10-12) More quick accurate links got the Sakura over the line again, but the call was ‘held up’.
As the half drew to a close, the Bok pack got to work again – no question of letting the ball go wide – and Sanelisiwe Charlie burst over the line. At last Jacomina Cilliers struck the ball true. 17-12.
The Boks just got away with another TMO verdict behind their line (no clear grounding). The half ended apptopriately with Libbie Janse van Rensburg calling a mark near the same spot.
Half-time 17-12
A central question was whether the Boks’ large pack would find the pace telling.
There was no change in their opening phases – all forward power – but the ball suddenly spun wide to Ayanda Malinga, and she ran in untouched. 24-12
Would the Sakura wilt? No! The Boks fell off-side behind yet another slow box-kick from Tayla Kinsey. A fine kick to the corner helped No 8 Saito force her way over. 24-17
Japan were back to their best, quick movements, constant support and control of the ball. The pack even drove the Boks back eight metres in a rumble, and it was Saito with her second. 24-24
The first card of the day came somewhat surprisingly to No 10 Otsuka, who went in carelessly to a ruck. Yellow. The extra payment came at once: try to Vainah Ubisi. 31-24
To their great credit the Sakura countered at once. Penalties put them on the hosts’ 5-metre line. The pack couldn’t maintain control in the rolling drive, and twice they were over hasty and knocked on.
Then, as Otsuka reappeared, Manami Mine added another try after more efficient approach work by the pack.
Now came the extra excitement we’re getting used to: a TMO intervention, a clear obstruction let a Japanese player make a half-break in the build-up. 31-24 still.
In the closing moments it was all Japan. They messed a move up as a lateral move was nearly shunted into touch. Van Rensburg hoofed a long clearance that was knocked on way down field. The tension had brought the Springbok staff to their feet.
Once more the time still allowed by World Rugby for a line-out to be formed saw the clock slide past 80 minutes, and the hosts had the throw. Inevitably they lost possession; the Sakura attacked, but an extra roll on the floor gave away a penalty. Cilliers hoofed the ball into the stand.
High tension to the end.
Result: South Africa 31 Japan 24
Player of the Match: Chumisa Qawe
Teams
South Africa
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie 2 Roseline Botes 3 Babalwa Latsha 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain) 5 Vainah Ubisi 6 Sizophila Solontsi 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa 8 Aseza Hele 9 Tayla Kinsey 10 Nadine Roos 11 Ayanda Malinga 12 Chumisa Qawe 13 Eloise Webb 14 Jacomina Cilliers 15 Libbie Janse van Rensburg
16 Micke Gunter 17 Yonela Ngxingolo 18 Azisa Mkiva 19 Anathi Qolo 20 Catha Jacobs 21 Anathi Qolo 22 Unam Tose 23 Zintle Mpupha
Japan
1 Sachiko Kato 2 Kotomi Taniguchi 3 Wako Kitano 4 Yuna Sato 5 Otoka Yoshimura 6 Masami Kawamura 7 Iroha Nagata (captain) 8 Seina Saito 9 Moe Tsukui 10 Ayasa Otsuka11 Komachi Imakugi 12 Haruka Hirotsu 13 Mana Furuta 14 Misaki Matsumura 15 Sora Nishimura
16 Asuka Kuge 17 Manami Mine 18 Nijiho Nagata 19 Kyoko Hosokawa 20 Jennifer Nduka
21 Megumi Abe 22 Rinka Matsuda 23 Kanako Kobayashi Referee: Maria Latos (DRB)
WXV 3: Spain v Madagascar
This game was of a different order, the nursery tinies against the high school girls. Right at the start two imperfect kicks by Makis showed the gap in skills. Clara Piquero ran in the first try inside two minutes. The newcomers suffered two yellow cards as tthey tried to stifle Spain’s all-court game.
By half-time las Leonas had wrapped up 45 points. It was Claudia Pena’s turn to add a try two minutes from the restart. In no time Piquero had a hat-trick to her name.
We had our drama on 63 minutes: Spain obstructed near the oppostion’s line. The long penalty kick was knocked on and the ball was allowed to lie all forlorn on the ground. Veronique Rasoanekena hacked it on, chased and thought she made the touchdown. But the TMO disagreed – a knock-on, so a great moment for the minnows was dashed.
Now it was Maider Aresti Felix who went in dangerously. Fortunately for her, the bunker decision remained a yellow. In the last quarter the game bcame more disjointed. The reserves took their time settling down, but the Makis had some reward for their efforts; they almost shared possession. But the scoreline told a different tale.
Maria Calvo had the final try when, straight from a line-out, she founnd nobody in her path till it was too late.
The clock beat Spain to the 90 points; they had to be satisfied with their thirteen tries.
Result: Spain 83 Madagascar 0
Player of the Match: Clara Piquero
Teams
Spain:
1 Ines Antolinez Fernandez 2 Cristina Blanco (captain) 3 Sidorella Bracic Rodriguez 4 Nadina Cisa 5 Lourdes Alameda 6 Lia Pineiro 7 Maria Calvo 8 Carmen Castellucci 9 Anne Fernandez de Corres 10 Amalia Argudo 11 Clara Piquero 12 Zahia Perez 13 Claudia Cano 14 Claudia Perez 15 Claudia Pena Hidalgo
16 Maria Roman Mallen 17 Maria del Castillo 18 Laura Delgado 19 Elena Martinez 20 Alba Capell 21 Lucia Diaz 22 Maider Aresti Felix 23 Martina Marquez Alpanel
Madagascar:
1 Mamisoa Rasoarimalala 2 Nanou Razafializay 3 Fenitra Razafindramanga 4 Oliviane Andriatsilavina 5 Sarindra Sahondramalala (captain) 6 Sariaka Nomenjanahary 7 Delphine Raharimalala 8 Laurence Rasoanandrasana 9 Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina 10 Marie Bodonandrianina 11 Zaya Fanantenana 12 Zaya Fanantenana 13 Valisoa Razanakiniana 14 Veronique Rasoanekena 15 Tiana Razanamahefa
16 Miora Rabarivelo 17 Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi 18 Felana Rakotoarison 19 Eleonore Rasoanantenaina 20 Volatiana Rasoanandrasana 21 Vonjimalala Ranorovololona 22 Olivia Hanitriniaina 23 Voahirana Razafiarisoa
Afterthought
The result tells us more about WXV’s problems than Madagascar’s. Mis-matches of this sort are bound to continue until more nations are able to get practical progammes in place. The Makis played with enthusiasm, but lacked both fitness and a number of basic skills.
One question that needs answering: why was it thought appropriate for them to be set against Spain, surely the strongest unit in WXV3, in the first game? If the schedule was entirely arbitrary – a hand drawing a name from a bag – then fair enough. Otherwise it would have been a kindness to give the newcomers a less testing game to start.
