The Wallaroos secured a hard-fought 33-26 victory over South Africa, setting the stage for a showdown with Scotland for the WXV 2 title in Cape Town.
Under the guidance of coach Jo Yapp, the Australian team started strong, racing to a 21-5 lead within the first 15 minutes. Despite several opportunities to advance their margin before halftime, turnovers and the physicality of the South African side kept the game competitive.
Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller’s tries seemed to put Australia in a comfortable position, but the hosts mounted a late comeback that made for an exhilarating finish. South Africa scored two late tries, threatening to equalize. However, Ash Marsters made a pivotal steal at the line, matching the record for most caps by an Australian player.
With this victory, Australia now sits atop the WXV 2 standings and will face Scotland, who is in second place, next Sunday in the final round to determine the champion.
The match began with high intensity as the Wallaroos maintained the momentum from their previous game against Wales. “It was an incredible atmosphere. We always knew that the Springboks would come out really hard at us. They’re a very physical side and they definitely didn’t disappoint,” Yapp reflected after the game.
She noted that despite creating chances, having a couple of tries disallowed allowed South Africa to stay in contention. Yapp expressed pride in her team’s resilience and their ability to fight for the win, crediting their determination and camaraderie as key factors that were challenging to coach but rewarding to witness.