The Wallaroos secured a hard-fought 33-26 victory over South Africa, setting up a showdown with Scotland for the WXV 2 title in Cape Town. Jo Yapp’s team started strong, racing to a 21-5 lead within the first 15 minutes. Despite having opportunities to widen the gap, a combination of errors and the physical play of the South African team kept the match competitive.
Tries from Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller threatened to put the game out of reach, but South Africa mounted a late comeback with two tries that had them pushing for a draw in a thrilling finish. Ultimately, Ash Marsters became the hero of the match by making a crucial steal on the line, also tying the record for the most caps by an Australian player.
This victory places Australia at the top of the WXV 2 standings, setting the stage for their upcoming clash with Scotland next Sunday to determine the champion.
The match began at a frantic pace, mirroring the Wallaroos’ performance against Wales in their previous outing. Coach Jo Yapp noted the intense atmosphere and acknowledged the physical challenge posed by the Springboks.
“We always knew that the Springboks would come out hard at us. They’re a very physical side and they definitely didn’t disappoint,” Yapp stated after the match. “In the first half, we had opportunities to exploit the wide areas and managed to move the ball effectively, but a couple of disallowed tries kept South Africa in the game.”
Yapp expressed pride in her team’s resilience and ability to secure the win, emphasizing the commitment displayed by the players, which she believes is difficult to teach and comes from a desire to work hard for one another.