WXV2 – Round Two Matches
Australia v South Africa
Unlike their male counterparts, these two teams have met rarely, not since the 2014 World Cup. So well done WXV!
It was vital for the Boks to avoid infringements. They bad been fragile in that department, and sure enough, their first offence led directly to a try by Siokapesi Palu inside three minutes. 7-0
Maya Stewart takes some stopping. She stepped past the first tackle, offered a shoulder to the second and could still feed Georgina Friedrichs with a scoring off-load. 14-0
At once the Boks were in the game. Unam Tose charged down Caitlyn Halse’s clearance and was over. (14-5) Tries were raining in. Ash Marsters made a break and it was Eva Karpani’s turn. 21-5
Another dramatic moment: a Bok’s clearance kick didn’t find touch. The Wallaroos countered with expert handling and Cecilia Smith flung herself over the line. Then the TMO: she lost control as she dived off the 10-metre board! No try. An immediate pay-back: the Bos attacked vigorously and Sinazo Mcatshulwa forced her way across. 21-12
Just on the 40 minutes the Wallaroos got the bonus fourth try their speedy combinations deserved. They started from half-way; Desiree Miller made the break and fed Layne Morgan who was brilliantly stopped an inch from the line by the covering Ayanda Malinga, but Miller was there to dot down.
‘But you’re forgetting the TMO!’ Oh, sorry. A knock-on, no try, no bonus-point.
Half-time 21-12
At once things went awry for Australia. Atasi Lafa went high at a tackle: yellow. They weathered the storm well and, while still down to 14, created space for Miller to get outside the Bok defence and sprint over. That was the price for not putting a defensive penalty into touch. Moleka’s kick hit the post and out. 26-14
Miller made another much longer break to show her stamina. The Aussies were making the Boks pay for errors. A turnover gained them an acre of ground and a penalty. Quick hands delivered the ball to Stewart, and that was their fifth. 33-12
The Boks fought hard to reach the opposition line again, but Nolusindiso Booi was held up. A moment later a switch run by Zintle Mpupha did the trick. 33-19. Could the Boks at least find a bonus-point fourth? They had six minutes.
On 78 minutes they achieved it, on the end of a rolling maul; Azisa Mkiva responsible. 33-26
Once more we entered a post-80th minute phase of demented action. The Boks played like furies. Time and again they were held on the line. On 83 minutes the Wallaroos at last won a penalty under their posts; another outstanding action by Ash Marsters. Touch meant safety.
Result: Australia 33 South Africa 26
Player of the Match: Desiree Miller
Australia
1. Bridie O’Gorman 2. Tania Naden 3. Eva Karpani 4. Kaitlan Leaney 5. Michaela Leonard (captain) 6. Siokapesi Palu 7. Ashley Marsters 8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra 9. Layne Morgan
10. Faitala Moleka 11. Desiree Miller 12. Cecilia Smith 13. Georgina Friedrichs 14. Maya Stewart 15. Caitlyn Halse
16. Tiarna Molloy 17. Lydia Kavoa 18. Allana Sikimeti 19. Atasi Lafai 20. Lucy Dinnen 21. Samantha Wood 22. Trilleen Pomare 23. Lori Cramer
South Africa
15. Eloise Webb 14. Jakkie Cilliers 13. Zintle Mpupha 12. Chumisa Qawe 11. Ayanda Malinga 10. Nadine Roos 9. Unam Tose 8. Aseza Hele 7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa 6. Lusanda Dumke (captain) 5. Vainah Ubisi 4. Danelle Lochner 3. Babalwa Latsha 2. Roseline Botes 1. Sanelisiwe Charlie
16. Micke Gunter 17. Yonela Ngxingolo 18. Azisa Mkiva 19. Nolusindiso Booi 20. Catha Jacobs 21. Sizophila Solontsi 22. Felicia Jacobs 23. Byrhandre Dolf
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Afterthoughts
It was a delight to see a decent crowd at the Athlone, and they knew how to enjoy themselves. World Rugby will be pleased too.
Both managements will have a lot to say to their charges during analysis.
Scotland v Japan
These two sides have met several times, the Sakura beating the Scots in Glasgow five years ago. Bugt this time last year it was a 38-7 romp for the Thistles.
It was all Scotland at the start. Francesca McGhie, far from her starting position, was sent through a hole and over the line. 7-0
Kicking is such a central basis for game-control. Sakura had great difficulty clearing their lines as the Scots pressed.
It took them 13 minutes to get into Scotland’s half. Moe Tsukui chipped a clever ball over the top; Rinka Matsuda collected and ran, but the cover defence was too quick for her.
The dangers of the long kick: Lisa Thomson pumped another one downfield; Sora Nishimura picked her spot and delivered a 50/22 into empty Scottish heathland. But a catch and drive splintered and it was time for a water-break (27 degrees).
The Scottish pack drove too early at a scrum; Tsukui tapped and the Sakura advanced to the line. Seina Saito got the vital score. 7-5
Another searching chip by Tsukui nearly brought a second. Chloe Rollie could only knee the ball, then had to rush back to stop Matsuda. She conceded a 5-metre scrum. Japan were right on top, making three thrusts to the line. Brave tackling stopped them, then they fell foul of the familiar call ‘held up!’
Scottish defences got their reward. Just before the break excellent links saw McGhie finding Alex Stewart in support on the outside – how did she get there? – and she cantered over unmarked.
Half-time: 12-5
Another attempted Sakura drive disintegrated, and the Scots survived. Then came a sequence of technicalities. A scrum moved pre-entry; penalty to Japan because it was Scotand’s second offence. A throw-in concedes a free-kick: the Sakura forwards moved pre-throw. All in the name of speeding the game up. And Rachel Malcolm took the chance to have an extended chat with the referee.
A penalty in front gave Otsuka three points and a reward for desperately hard work by her team. 12-8
As Scottish reinforcements appeared, their fortunes changed. Clean clear-outs let Leia Brebner- Holden send out a stream of quick passes and Rhona Lloyd was the beneficiary. Meryl Smith struck a beauty. 19-8
An error by Louise McMillan at a line-out proved costly. She held an opponent’s arm as she jumped. Japan took a quick line-out and were over. Try Iroha Nagata. 19-13
The last five minutes were crucial for both sides: Japan, one score to equalise; Scotland, an essential bonus point to claim top spot. They attacked, but gave away a penalty after getting close.
They were negligent. After an injury pause they didn’t expect a tap and go. A low kick brought the Sakura well into the attacking half.
With two minutes to go the Scots conceded their 11th penalty, but somehow Evie Gallagher ripped a maul ball clear and galloped away. The game was safe, but not that bonus-point.
Result: Scotland 19 Japan 13
Player of the Match: Meryl Smith
Teams
Scotland
15. Chloe Rollie 14. Rhona Lloyd 13. Meryl Smith 12. Lisa Thomson 11. Francesca McGhie
10. Helen Nelson 9. Caity Mattinson 1. Leah Bartlett 2. Lana Skeldon 3. Christine Belisle 4. Louise McMillan 5. Sarah Bonar 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) 7. Alex Stewart 8. Jade Konkel
16. Elis Martin 17. Anne Young 18. Lisa Cockburn 19. Eva Donaldson 20. Evie Gallagher 21. Leia Brebner-Holden 22. Emma Orr 23. Lucia Scott
Japan
1. Sachiko Kato 2. Asuka Kuge 3. Wako Kitano 4. Yuna Sato 5. Otoka Yoshimura 6. Masami Kawamura 7. Iroha Nagata (captain) 8. Seina Saito 9. Moe Tsukui 10. Ayasa Otsuka 11. Komachi Imakugi, 12. Haruka Hirotsu 13. Mana Furuta 14. Rinka Matsuda 15. Sora Nishimura
16. Kotomi Taniguchi 17. Manami Min 18. Yuka Sadaka 19. Sakurako Korai 20. Jennifer Nduka 21. Megumi Abe 22. Minori Yamamoto 23. Kanako Kobayashi
Referee: Zoe Naude (South Africa)
