The Wallaroos secured a hard-fought 33-26 victory over South Africa, setting up a clash with Scotland for the WXV 2 title in Cape Town. Led by coach Jo Yapp, the team started strong and quickly established a 21-5 lead within the first 15 minutes.
Despite several opportunities to widen their advantage before halftime, the Wallaroos struggled with mistakes and faced stiff resistance from a determined South African team. Notable tries from Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller appeared to give Australia a commanding lead, but the hosts staged a late comeback that kept the match thrilling until the end.
In a tense finish, South Africa scored two late tries, creating a dramatic scenario as they sought a draw. However, Ash Marsters emerged as a hero for Australia, executing a vital steal on the goal line, while also tying the record for most caps by an Australian player.
With this win, Australia now leads the WXV 2 standings, preparing to face Scotland next Sunday in a decisive final round match.
Coach Jo Yapp reflected on the match, acknowledging the challenging atmosphere and physicality of the Springboks. “We always knew they would come out hard at us. They definitely took the game to us for the full 80, which was tough,” she remarked. Yapp also expressed pride in her team’s resilience, especially when a few tries were disallowed, noting that it was their collective hard work and desire to support one another that ultimately led to the win.