The Wallaroos secured a hard-fought 33-26 victory over South Africa, ensuring that they will face Scotland for the WXV 2 title in Cape Town. Jo Yapp’s team started strong, quickly establishing a 21-5 lead within the first 15 minutes. Despite opportunities to increase their lead before halftime, mistakes and a tenacious South African squad kept the match competitive.
Tries from Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller seemed to set the Wallaroos on course for a decisive victory, but South Africa mounted a late comeback, scoring two tries that challenged the Wallaroos in a thrilling conclusion. Ultimately, Ash Marsters emerged as the hero, making a critical steal on their goal line and tying the record for the most caps by an Australian player.
This victory places Australia at the top of the WXV 2 standings, where they will battle second-placed Scotland in the final round next Sunday to determine the champion.
The match began at a frantic pace as the Wallaroos continued their momentum from the second half against Wales. Coach Jo Yapp reflected on the game, noting the intense atmosphere and acknowledging South Africa’s physicality throughout the match. “We always knew that Springboks would come out really hard at us. They’re a very physical side and they definitely didn’t disappoint,” she said after the match.
Yapp added that while her team had opportunities to widen the gap in the first half, disallowed tries due to grounding errors kept South Africa in contention. She expressed pride in her team’s resilience and their commitment to each other, highlighting that such determination is difficult to teach in coaching.