Australia’s Wallaroos have flexed their muscle with a magnificent victory over Japan on Friday night. Grace Hamilton was stunning, and she claimed three very well deserved tries in the 43-point win.
Final score
Australia 46
Japan 3
Fresh off a 29-point win, the Wallaroos will look to clinch the two-match international series when they play Japan at North Sydney Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7pm (AEST).
Last week’s game was their first of the year, but the Wallaroos did enough to beat the Japanese in Newcastle. It was the Sakura’s first game since the 2017 World Cup, and their loss was not for lack of effort.
It marked the Wallaroos’ first ever win at home, which is understandable given many of their games have been against New Zealand.
These teams have only clashed twice, and the Aussies took the silver both times.
Dwayne Nestor has made two changes to the starting XV for their return to North Sydney Oval, the scene of their first test match.
Lori Cramer moves off the bench onto the left wing, where she replaces Mhicca Carter. The other change is Eva Karpani, who moves to tighthead after making her debut off the pine last weekend.
For Japan, Sachiko Kato replaces Makoto Ebuchi at loosehead, and Moe Tsukui takes over at halfback from Megumi Abe. Komachi Imakugi will start on the left wing in place of Anna Kasai.
On the other wing, Minami Shikao takes over from Eriko Hirano. Minori Yamamoto will wear 15 instead of Ria Anoku, who drops to the bench.
Prediction
The Wallaroos struggled to find their groove at times last week, but showed enough to beat Japan. The Sakura will be more confident this time round, but the Aussies should win.
Australia by 16.
Time: 7pm (AEST)
Venue: North Sydney Oval
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
TV: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports
Australia
1. Emily Robinson
2. Averyl Mitchell
3. Eva Karpani
4. Michaela Leonard
5. Alisha Hewett
6. Millie Boyle, (vc)
7. Emily Chancellor
8. Grace Hamilton (c)
9. Cobie-Jane Morgan
10. Trilleen Pomare
11. Lori Cramer
12. Ariana Hira Herangi
13. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea
14. Samantha Treherne
15. Mahalia Murphy
Substitutes
16. Ashley Marsters
17. Liz Patu
18. Christina Sekona
19. Rebecca Clough
20. Shannon Mato
21. Georgia Cormick
22. Arabella McKenzie
23. Mhicca Carter
Japan
1. Sachiko Kato
2. Maiko Fujimoto
3. Saki Minami
4. Wako Kitano
5. Kie Tamai
6. Misaki Suzuki
7. Kyoko Hosokawa
8. Maki Takano
9. Moe Tsukui
10. Mana Furuta
11. Komachi Imakugi
12. Ayaka Suzuki
13. Hinano Nagura
14. Minami Shikao
15. Minori Yamamoto
Substitutes
16. Ayumu Kokaji
17. Yuka Igarashi
18. Ayano Sakurai
19. Ayano Nagai
20. Eriko Hirano
21. Megumi Abe
22. Moe Nagaoka
23. Ria Anoku
charly_777
Guest
Pretty blonde! if you go out with her and you look for a second another girl ... she injures you! Haha
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Just watched this again, maybe the skills coach could work with the men.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Well done girls !
Olly
Roar Rookie
Really impressed with the coverage of this game. The post-game coverage is very professional.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Wow, what a game. Australia ahead by a margin at halftime, the second half was scoreless for a long time, but the Wallaroos broke the deadlock and ran away with it, at North Sydney Oval. Grace Hamilton was stunning, and she claimed three very well deserved tries in the 43-point win. Thanks for joining me tonight. FULLTIME: Australia 46 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
8th phase. 9th, and they're so close now. They had space out wide, but shut down now. Ticks over to the 12th phase. Ripped away! Maul is called, and it didn't come out. FULLTIME!!! Australia 46 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
60 seconds to go. Japan with a scrum, left hand side of the field. Fed and won. Suzuki cut through, Nagura. Marsters makes a tackle, Igarashi. Siren sounds. 80' – final play. Australia 46 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Lineout won, Hamilton carries it, with Sekona. Japan deserve a try here, but may not even touch the ball! Carter, and wide to Cramer. Lost ball, Japan now move it wide again. Penalty Japan, they go quickly. Abe. Penalty to the Japanese. They opt the scrum. 79' Australia 46 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Kick was successful. Five minutes left, with the kickoff now. Wallaroos edge it forward. Marsters secures the penalty. Not long to play now, Australia chasing 50. 77' Australia 46 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Fakaosilea, McCormick. McKenzie. Now Japan has it, but pipped out, Leonard goes on such a run, and popped up. Now Boyle capitalises: TRY! Wallaroos are on fire at the moment!! 74' Australia 44 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Kick is good! 73' Australia 39 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Conversion off target. Kicked off, Fakaosilea running it back. Marsters, and Hamilton now picks up loose ball, and runs it up. Carter, put down inside the Japan half. McKenzie, Sekona. Carter, Hamilton again. Hamilton's been so involved tonight. Wallaroos edging closer. 7 out. Marsters, Sekona. Hamilton broke free, she gets a hatrick! And well-deserved too!! 71' Australia 37 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Australia get it back, the Wallaroos go one phase at a time, and now are within striking range on the line. Marsters won the turnover. Now Hamilton...barges over, and the ball is down! First points of the second half! 68' Australia 32 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Off the scrum, Carter to Treherne. Chancellor. Suzuki, and the Wallaroos are building. McKenzie. Patu taking a hitup. McKenzie threw a pointless offload which is ruled forward. We'll play from there, with a scrum. 65' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Not long remaining on the card. 39 seconds. 63' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Murphy coming from the field. Carter comes on, she was good last week. Hira Hirangi. Pomare clears, can't find touch. Japan using the ball in midfield, maul now...ripped away by Boyle. Penalty as well! 63' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Scrum fed, and won. Spurted out the back, so off we go. Japan to the left, almost to the 22. Solid hit, ball comes free. Off a Wallaroos player. Scrum Japan. Midway 22 and attacking 10. Suzuki. Hosokawa. Japan still with it. To the 22, Furuta having a run. Hosokawa again, Pomare made that tackle. Inside pass, penalty now Japan. Tap and go, Suzuki taking it forward. 11 out. Wide now, but stolen back by the Aussies. Marsters. Chancellor for Australia, Murphy carrying it again. Loose ball, dropped by Patu. Japan edge ever closer. Now they look wide, and Megumi Abe. Wide to Suzuki – tackled over in the corner – DROPPED! 61' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Yellow card to Cramer. Who does the kicking for Australia now? 54' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
Japan carrying it up, off the scrum. After a few phases, we now check for a shoulder charge. There's an argument to be made, for sure. 54' Australia 27 Japan 3
Tom English
Roar Guru
A shame for Samantha Treherne, who just did so well. The second half remains scoreless. 53' Australia 27 Japan 3