A week after celebrating their greatest win, the Wallaroos repeated the dose by pulling off a remarkable win over Wales on Friday night in Auckland.
Despite going down to 13 players in the second half because of a red card to Siokapesi Palu and yellow card to Sera Naiqama, the Wallaroos overturned a 14-8 deficit by scoring 17 straight points to record a stunning 25-19 victory.
The Wallaroos didn’t make it easy for themselves, with ill-discipline and poor decision making proving costly.
That much was true at the death, as Welsh playmaker Lleucu George made replacement back-rower Ashley Marsters pay for booting possession away by successfully pulling off a 50-22 in the 80th minute.
After scoring three tries off the back of rolling mauls, including a penalty try in the 47th minute that saw Naiqama sent to the sin bin and their third try to Kelsey Jones 30 minutes later, Wales was rewarded with another rolling maul penalty.
It allowed Wales to kick for the corner, where they could attempt to maul for victory.
But in a sudden change of events, the Wallaroos managed to repel the powerful Welsh maul and bring it down legally before Hollie Davidson blew full-time.
While there were some unruly scenes at the collapse of the maul, the Wallaroos saved their biggest celebrations when Davidson’s confirmed full-time.
Kaitlan Leaney of Australia celebrates victory in the WXV1 match between Australia Wallaroos and Wales at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on November 03, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
The victory, which came a week after their upset 29-20 win over France and was watched by Rugby Australia chief-executive Phil Waugh, ensured outgoing Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning bowed out a winner in his 16th and final Test in charge.
“We probably let ourselves down in terms of discipline but props to the girls for that Aussie battler attitude,” Wallaroos skipper Michaela Leonard said.
“With 13 on the field we kept working and it came out in our favour.”
Leonard paid tribute to her outgoing coach’s efforts over the past two years in charge of the Wallaroos.
“Jay’s been incredible for this group,” she said.
“He came in when we were in a transition period, we had a lot of our older, more experienced girls retire, and work towards a bit more of a professional platform.
“He’s done really well with an inexperienced, young group of players to build our confidence, teach us how to be professional on and off the field, and to keep us building and I think you can see that over the past 12 months.”
Tregonning, who will return to the classroom next week but wants to stay involved in high-performance rugby, paid tribute to his bench.
“Our finishers were outstanding when they came on and did a really good job,” he said.
“Obviously a couple of players down there for a part of the game and one player down for a fair chunk. We’d been talking about effort and it was obviously evident today.”
The Wallaroos scored first in the 17th minute when Maya Stewart crossed out wide.
Maya Stewart (L) and Laurie Cramer scored tries for Australia in their win over Wales at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on November 03, 2023 in Auckland. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Her try came after Palu, who up until her red card was one of her side’s best, had carried strongly out wide to lay the platform and combine nicely with outside centre Georgina Friedrichs.
Wales hit back 10 minutes later when hooker Carys Phillips scored from the maul.
An error from the kick restart allowed the Wallaroos a prime opportunity to strike back.
Moments later, Kiera Bevan didn’t support her weight at the breakdown and was pinked. That allowed Carys Dallinger to step up and give the Wallaroos an 8-7 lead after 32 minutes.
The Wallaroos had a late chance to turn territory into points when Wales were penalised again, but Naiqama’s infringement at the maul ensured they went into half-time with the narrowest of leads.
That looked like biting them in the backside when Palu was shown a straight red card for making direct contact with the head of fullback Jasmine Joyce in an upright tackle in the 42nd minute.
While the Wallaroos managed to deny Wales to begin with, it wasn’t long before the pressure began to tell.
Wales kicked for the corner and once again kept the ball tight in their maul and Naiqama infringed by illegally collapsing the maul in the 47th minute.
It meant the Wallaroos didn’t just lose the lead, but they were down to 13 too.
Step up tight-head prop Eva Karpani, who fresh the back of her hat-trick against France got the ball from the back of a maul herself five minutes later and ran straight over replacement halfback Megan Davies and took two others with her to score.
The Wallaroos threatened when Stewart found some space out wide, but Wales’ defence rallied.
Marsters then came up with one of the plays of the match, as she got on the ball at the back of a maul and won a penalty for her side.
While the lineout was overthrown, Dallinger cleaned it up beautifully and got her side on the front-foot when she made a break centre field and combined with Friedrichs.
Not long after, Dallinger, whose right-foot is one of her strengths, put the ball on the toe for Stewart and replacement outside back Lori Cramer was on the spot to pounce on the crumbs to score.
Some good hands from the Wallaroos’ backline then saw Ivania Wong score their fourth try.
Wales didn’t go away, as Jones scored to give them hope in the 77th minute.
Indeed, it looked like Wales would steal it at the death.
But the Wallaroos held on to finish their year on a high.
With Waugh sitting in the stands, the win could prove bigger than first meets the eye too.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Hopefully but the reason we have the problem with the mens T2 is for the same reason we have the problems with the women. Currently you have the 6Ns in Europe and then once Russia comes back you have a 4N is D2. Over the next few years you will see the 4Ns become 6Ns and maybe even see teams like Spain get a team in the URC women or atleast a team in the European cups that will come about 2-3 years after the URC is established. WR want to grow the game in the regions but that is not going to work. While Colombia and Brazil can push each other neither are going to get up to the standard of the WC and without WXV (if America's lose their sport in WXV 3 in the playoff) Who will they play when the best teams will be from Europe who would also be competition with them for the WXV space. Keyna were roundly beaten by Spain so what level of competition will SA get to stay in WXV if they are playing teams like Kenya while Ireland (who most likely will be in WXV2 are playing 5 games only against WXV2 or WXV 1 sides). What about USA. They will get 6 games against WXV1 sides which is great but you also need more games against teams you are expected to win or learn to build leads so you need teams above and below you. What I think will happen is that if WR does nothing then SA women will join Europe either in the 6Ns (as an 8Ns) or will pay to join the Division 2. South Africa (13) would play v Spain (12) , Russia (14), Netherlands (15) and Sweden (19), is better than Kenya (23), Madagascar (27), Cameroon (30). Even if we had a P4 D2 you would have USA(9) in D1, D2 Japan (11), SA (13), Samoa (16) Fiji (17), could even add in Hong Kong (18), Kazakhstan (20). Right now like the u20s mens you will see any team that displaces Spain in Europe will be just as good while for Kenya and Colombia they only need to be better than a team outside the top 20. If Spain get into the WXV 2 (they would be favourites with Fiji for promotion) while everyone else is only worried about a team outside the top 20 the European team would come in the highest ranked team in WXV 3 on their debut. Like Oz moving to Asia in Soccer SA would see moving to Europe while harder to get into WXV as a winner would would out better than staying in Africa not having to worry about qualification until its to late. South Africa is going to be part of a professional women's league but will not be in the P4 but Oz, Canada and USA won't have that but are locked in.
moaman
Roar Guru
Just in case there will be no article covering it I'd like to congratulate the England team on their comprehensive victory. Worthy and formidable winners of the inaugural WXV comp.
moaman
Roar Guru
I agree that they can and do pull off bone-crunchers but there have been a plethora of high tackles too and plenty of cards.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Thanks I must have missed that.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Womens rugby in this country is RA's chance to jump on board a booming opportunity. Growth in numbers, ability, games... everything is deadset there to grow this game. Don't mess it up. Get on board.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Agree there are a few structural issues with WXV and some changes required. But in reality by holding the tournaments it highlights what the issues are. It will take a while to bed it down.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Have to say for me I think the last 2 weeks has been the highlight of the rugby season.
moaman
Roar Guru
Great result for your mob Hugh! :thumbup:
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Reffing was very poor around the ruck, Holly let the Welsh slow it down big time. Halfback was grabbed at numerous times & players walking around while still bound disrupting ball coming out freely to name a few. Even Leonard had a word to her about it. Holly was good in other areas though.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
With the Eng v Nz game finishing off the season I think Oz can be happy with the results. Finishing 3rd only missing out on 2nd by points. I had them down for fighting it out with Wales for the wooden spoon so very impressed with them. Disappointed by France and New Zealand. WXV 2 shows the gap in Womens rugby with Scotland and Italy getting max points (15) while the other 4 got 16pts between them. Europe get three teams in WXV 2 following Ireland winning WXV3 only struggling against Spain. Colombia I think now play the highest ranked team not in it which is either Russia or Netherlands. While the P4 is good it will only help those 4 countries and leaves SA, Japan, Fiji/Samoa to try improve without regional games against better sides. The problem WR has is there are 3 European teams all ranked higher than the bottom 3 teams in WXV 3 and I'm not sure WR want 9 European teams in the WXV but without meaningful competition that is what will happen. I think China sat it out this year but the simple facts is that Spain had to play the two other best teams in WXV 3 while Fiji played the two worst yet Spain almost finished first.
vonManstein
Roar Rookie
Girls showing the boys what desire, application and ticker looks like. Bravo Wallaroos.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hughi, haven’t you heard? The Wallabies failed due to the systems. Obviously Women’s Rugby in Oz has vastly superior systems…… On a serious note, hopefully RA come through with the funds our Women need.
graymatter
Roar Rookie
All I can say is that the Wallaroos were brilliant and thank %^^&%& Eddie Jones was no where near them! One thing's for sure Rugby isn't dead in the womens arena. Well done girls, you've shown the boys how to play the game!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
A great win to the Wallaroo's as they maintain their unbeaten run over the Welsh. Some very good individual performances overall, but even after the final whistle they still showed the Welsh they did have some fire in their bellies. Even the replacement Wallaroo halfback, had the Maori brought out of her!!
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
I watched this whole game. It was a great advertisement for the women's game and rugby in general. There was a straight red to the Wallaroos (no bunker system) fairly early on and they played as if it didn't happen. They even had a winger on the flank and smashed Wales in the scrum. There was good play all round, tension (it was a close match pretty much the whole way) and even a bit of biff at the end. Who could ask for more than that?
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
She was great in the last game too. Once she gets a little momentum she looks unstoppable. They need to start calling her The Juggernaut!
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Loving these matches, and it’s notable that the women can pull off bone crunching tackles that stop momentum and prevent the offload while still bending at the hips. High tackles are much more of a rarity in the women’s game, so cards decide almost none of the results. I hope young players are taking their cues from the women rather than the men!
Hughi
Roar Rookie
I had to check I was on the correct story, didn't get it and thought you were serious. Eddie did say he had more serious matters to attend to at the Coogie interview. Guess he didn't realise that the girls were playing so well they needed an injection of afl or ping pong to bring them down.
JC
Roar Rookie
Karpani is a genuine superstar!
JC
Roar Rookie
Inspiring work by the players and coaches. The last two matches have been a real tonic for Aussie rugby. Stan really should consider putting these Tests on free-to-air. Best wishes and thanks to Jay Tregonning.