The Wallaroos secured a hard-fought 33-26 victory over South Africa, ensuring a showdown with Scotland for the WXV 2 title in Cape Town. Jo Yapp’s team started strong, quickly racing to a 21-5 lead within the first 15 minutes.
Despite several opportunities to increase their lead before halftime, a series of mistakes and the resilience of the physical South African team kept the match competitive. Tries from Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller seemed to secure the win, but the hosts mounted a late comeback with two tries that put pressure on the Wallaroos.
In a dramatic finish, Ash Marsters emerged as the key player, making a crucial steal on the Australian line and tying the record for the most caps by an Australian player. With this victory, Australia now sits at the top of the WXV 2 standings and will face second-place Scotland in the final round next Sunday to determine the champion.
The match started with a frenzied pace as the Wallaroos continued their momentum from a previous game against Wales. Coach Jo Yapp remarked on the exhilarating atmosphere and acknowledged the challenge posed by the Springboks, highlighting their physical play throughout the match.
Yapp noted that the team had opportunities to score but faced setbacks when two tries were disallowed due to grounding issues, which kept South Africa in contention. She expressed pride in her team’s determination to fight back and secure the win, commending their ability to work hard for one another—a quality that is difficult to coach but crucial to their success.