Australia had to defend for their lives at the end, but they hung on to beat a never-say-die Springbok Women’s team by 33-26 (half-time 21-12) in a pulsating WXV 2 clash in front of a big crowd at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 October, 2024.
With rain coming down later in the match after high temperatures hit Cape Town earlier in the day, it was the Wallaroos who kept the heat up to record victory, but the South Africans deserve credit for their tenacity. Spurred on by a very noisy crowd and with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi in attendance, the Bok Women came very close in the end and salvaged two bonus points in the process.
The Bok Women had very few answers for the Australians’ pace and slick handling, while the Wallaroos also played most of the rugby in SA’s half courtesy of some good kicking downfield by Faitala Moleka (flyhalf).
While South Africa can rightly feel they didn’t get enough reward for their strong scrum, they worked very hard and carried strongly, but they were also guilty of soft moments on defence and, while they missed too many lineouts, they kept the Aussies busy with some strong runs and kept on fighting until the end.
Unfortunately, they were on the backfoot from the start, with the Wallaroos scoring two tries in the first eight minutes, by Siokapesi Palu (flanker) and Georgina Friedrichs (centre), both converted by Moleka to make it 14-0.
The Bok Women hit back with a first Test try by Unam Tose, which was also South Africa’s first five-pointer against Australia, when the nuggety scrumhalf charged down a kick straight after the restart. Nadine Roos, who took over the kicking duties after Jakkie Cilliers left the field injured, missed the conversion, but the hosts were on the board.
Australia scored their third try three minutes later when Eva Karpani (prop) ran a great line to go over under the uprights, but the Bok Women were not done yet and with less than 10 minutes to go before half-time, Sinazo Mcatshulwa (flanker) crashed over for their second try.
Roos converted the try which came after the Bok Women showed great patience on attack, with the forwards keeping hammering away until the smallest of gaps opened up.
Australia went over right at the end of the first half, but the try was disallowed by the TMO, their second of the match which didn’t stand, and the teams went into the changerooms with the visitors leading by 21-12. It could have been more, but the Wallaroos had two tries disallowed by TMO calls.
With rain starting to come down, the Wallaroos started the second half like they finished the first and despite a yellow card for a high tackle, their wings, Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart, exploited space out wide for tries in the first 15 minutes of the half, pushing their lead out to 33-12.
Photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby via Getty Images
Most supporters would have felt it was game over, but South Africa refused to lie down and after a period of sustained pressure in the Aussie half, Zintle Mpupha (centre) finally crashed over from a straight run off Roos, who added the conversion to make it 33-19 with seven minutes left on the clock.
Micke Gunter’s try off the back of a brilliant maul and Roos’s conversion made it a seven point game in the 79th minute, and from the restart the South Africans worked their way upfield, making 80m to within a meter of the Aussie tryline before they conceded another penalty for sealing off, handing the victory to the Wallaroos.
South Africa 26-33 Australia
Springbok Women 26 (12) – Tries: Unam Tose, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Zintle Mpupha and Micke Gunter
Conversions: Nadine Roos (3)
Australia 33 (21) – Tries: Siokapesi Palu, Georgina Friedrichs, Eva Karpani, Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart
Conversions: Faitala Moleka (4)
Springbok Women XV vs Japan in Cape Town on Friday, 27 September, 2024
15. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies)
14. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)
13. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached)
9. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies)
8. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames)
7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province)
6. Lusanda Dumke (Captain, Bulls Daisies)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies)
4. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women)
2. Rosaline Botes (DHL Western Province)
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies)
Replacements
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies)
17. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies)
18. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province)
19. Nolusindiso Booi (DHL Western Province)
20. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women)
21. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies)
22. Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames)
23. Byrhandre Dolf (Bulls Daisies)
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 World Rugby Women’s WXV 2 Tournament in Cape Town
Friday, 27 September: South Africa 31-24 Japan (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September: Australia 37-5 Wales (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September: Italy 0-19 Scotland (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October: Wales 5-8 Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October: Japan 13-19 Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October: South Africa 26-33 Australia (Athlone Stadium)
Friday, 11 October – 16h00: Wales v Japan (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October – 14h00: South Africa v Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October, 17:00: Australia v Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Pre-WXV Match Schedule at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town
Saturday 7 September: Springbok Women 59 – 17 Barbarians
Thursday, 19 September: Springbok Women 36 – 19 Spain
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Springbok Women No. 8 Aseza Hele grinds forward in spite of the defensive efforts of Australia, during their second WXV 2 tie. The visitors dominated the match from the starting whistle but had to fight off a strong finish from the Bok Women to earn their second win on the road in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 October, 2024. Photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby via Getty Images
Photo 2 Caption: Australia’s Faitala Moleka pauses to receive the ball, her four conversions exacting a heavy toll on SA. Photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby via Getty Images
Photo 3 Caption: A patriotic turnout of home supporters enthusiastically cheered every move the South Africans made. Photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby via Getty Images
Photo 4 Caption: Australia’s superiority kept the Bok Women in defensive patterns for substantial parts of the encounter. Photo: Johan Rynners – World Rugby via Getty Images
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