Scotland v Japan

15:15

Thanks for joining us!

Well, that’s our time bringing fans the live action in Cape Town over. Thanks for joining us, it’s been a blast!

What a fantastic time Scotland Women have had in South Africa. Whilst our fate for taking home the WXV2 trophy will be determined by the score line between Italy and USA, this has been a great campaign for Scotland.

You won’t want to miss out on the action when Scotland return in the 2024 TikTok Six Nations. There’s nothing like being there…

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79'

THAT WAS ORR-SOME!

Whilst the maul comes to ground, Caity Mattinson shoots the ball to Emma Orr, who is fast as lightning to break through the line and dot down. UNREAL!

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Mastercard Player of the Match

Many congratulations to Helen Nelson who was named the Mastercard Player of the Match today.

78'

Japan not rolling

Scotland continue to attack and gain ground, searching for the space to break through. Japan are penalised for not rolling away, and Lisa Thomson kicks to the five metre line for a line out.

COME ON SCOTLAND LET’S WRAP THIS UP WITH ANOTHER!

67'

SARAH BONAR!!!!!

SARAH BONAR!!!! What a way to make an impression from the bench.

Japan look to kick through Scotland’s defence, but the towering heights of Sarah Bonar make it only too easy for the lock to stretch and steal the ball before dancing through the defence and sailing across the whitewash, in stuff that looked like the work of the late great Doddie Weir.

Meryl’s kick across the sticks sails through. This is much more like it Scotland!

74'

Ellis on for Lana

That was some shift from try scoring Lana Skeldon today. She makes way for Ellis Martin.

80'

SCOTLAND’S 6TH CONSECUTIVE WIN!!!

SCOOOOOTLAND! What a second half-performance that was!

Scotland leave Cape Town three from three. Time will tell tomorrow if they will leave with a trophy. Either way, what an win that was today!

65'

Changes to Scotland’s front row

CB and Leah Bartlett exit for Lisa Cockburn and Anne Young. Great work out there today!

73'

Japan continue to search for points

We’re well into the final ten minutes of this game, with Japan continuing to ask questions of Scotland’s defence but they get no answers.

54'

TRRRRRYYYYYY!!!!

Scotland’s scrum continues to perform well, and the wheels are in motion as we push deeper into Japan’s territory.

The forwards worked phenomenally hard to carry Scotland to within stretching distance of the line – CB, Jade, Bonz all crashing through! Caity is quick to recycle the ball and a miss pass from Helen Nelson to Chloe Rollie, then finds Coreen out wide to dot down.

WHAT A TRY!!!

61'

ALL ABOARD THE LANA TRAIN!

The forward make light work at the line out with a beautifully controlled maul that sees Lana Skeldon dot down for the third time in the WXV2 tournament!

Helen’s conversion is good and our lead has been extended by 19 points!

62'

Helen’s job here today is done

Some great work from Nelly today, she makes way for Meryl Smith who joins the field.

49'

Scotland make their presence known

Scotland are really back in this.

Whilst defending their try line, Lisa Thomson read Japan’s play like a book and intercepted the ball.

Play was taken from left to right, with Coreen Grant breaking the gain line with a fantastic run down the left wing. But a fumble of the ball at the break down, Scotland are penalised for a knock on.

The play since has been pretty back and forth, but what a great opening 10 minutes for Scotland!

45'

Fran off for HIA

Fran has come off for a HIA and Coreen Grant joins the field.

42'

EMMA ORR APPRECIATION POST!

YAAAAAASSSSS!!!!!! THAT’S WHAT WE DO!

Scotland have maintained possession throughout the opening two minutes of the second half and have spread the ball fantastically across the field.

Emma Orr glides through the defence after an excellently timed pass from her centre-partner Lisa Thomson.

Helen adds the extras and Scotland take the lead!

50'

Scotland subs

Sarah Bonar, Jade Konkel and Caity Mattinson join the field to replace Louise McMillan, Rachel McLachlan and Mairi McDonald. Great shift girls!

Japan are replenished to 15 as Sachiko Kato’s spell in the sin bin is up.

42'

PENALTY TRY!

SCOTLAND SCRUM IS THE DEFINITION OF DOMINANCE!

The clock keeps rumbling, and Japan are penalised continuously. Referee Kat Roche blows the whistle, awarding Scotland a penalty try. Sachiko Kato of Japan has been shown a yellow card and they will start the second half a player down.

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Time to play the final 40. LET’S GO GIRLS!

Half-time is over. We’ve got the wind behind us and a one player advantage. COME ON SCOTLAND!

38'

Japan have the scrum

The line out was great, but Japan shut down the maul to win a scrum.

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All level at half-time

It really is all to play for in this second half as we go in at half-time 7-7.

39'

The tables turn in the final minutes

Japan get the ball out of their scrum quickly with Seina Saito crashing into contact. But Helen Nelson gets herself over the ball to win a penalty, and Scotland go for a scrum.

COME ON SCOTLAND!!!!

37'

ADVANTAGE!

WOW, WOW, WOW! Now we’re cooking. The attacking play is really coming together for Scotland. Fran beats about four defenders, bodies literally hanging off her!

Referee Kat Roche takes us back for the advantage, so Lisa Thomson punts the ball into touch for a line out on the 5.

32'

Sooo close

Gutted! After several phases of incredible attack, with everyone chipping in to carry and break the gain line, we lose possession with a fumble of the ball between Emma Orr and Chloe Rollie just metres from the line.

We know we have this in us though, what a great few minutes of play with our first real opportunity in Japan’s half.

30'

WHAT A SCRUM!!!

Epic work from Scotland who win the scrum-penalty thanks to the fantastic control from the pack. We kick to touch and go for the line-out. Let’s goooooo!

12'

Defence keeps us out

Japan’s defence has been superb as they have kept Scotland out of the strike zone, but a high tackle to Rhona Lloyd gives Scotland the next advantage as they look to equalise the score.

23'

Japan are in our corner

It’s been a frantic five minutes of play with possession changing hands multiple times, but Japan strike the ball at to plant it perfectly in the right corner of Scotland’s try line.

Scotland will take the line out but we will have to work hard to keep hold of the ball and stop Japan from adding to their lead.

29'

Blowing a hooley in Cape Town

The windy conditions in Cape Town are making life that bit more tricky for both sides.

Whilst Japan have dominated with possession, Scotland’s defence has been solid. Let’s see what we can do in these final 10 minutes though.

3'

Nearly, but not quite

We had the vision, but windy conditions tipped Helen Nelson’s chip through into touch. Japan take the line out.

18'

Turnover!

Emma Orr was penalised at the breakdown and Japan opt for another tap and go. They came within striking distance of the try line, but a series of excellent tackles from Rhona Lloyd, Lisa Thomson and Chloe Rollie sees those chances ended.

Mairi McDonald wins us ball back at the breakdown! Fantastic work!

16'

Great defence, Scotland!

Epic work from Rhona Lloyd under the ball in the air to keep Japan from scoring!

We go to another Japan line out which was disrupted by Scotland. Great work!

5'

Scotland’s line out

Japan are back into touch, and it’s time for Scotland’s shot at the line out, which has worked so brilliantly in this WXV2 campaign.

It all goes well, but after several attacking phases, Japan win a penalty and we settle in for a scrum.

This game has had a lot of action in just five minutes!

14'

Japan’s line out inside Scotland territory

Japan turned ball over, and began marching their way back down the pitch. Running against the wind, rapid Chloe Rollie beats Japan in the foot-race to kick the ball into touch. Japan have a line out some 12 metres from Scotland’s try line. Scotland will have to defend hard.

6'

Japan are first on the board

A quick tap and go after Scotland concede a penalty at the breakdown sees Japan’s captain Iroha Magata make her way down the right wing to score the first try of the match.

The extras have been added and Japan take the lead.

But Scotland will fight back!

0'

KICK OFF! C’MON SCOOOOTLAND!

For the last time in this WXV2 campaign, we get underway as Lisa Thomson kicks us off. Let’s gooooo!

2'

Scrum time!

Well it’s been a frantic opening to the game, but we now settled down for our first scrum of the game after Japan knocked the ball on in attack. We’re inside Japan’s half, so let’s see what we can do.

12:55

Flower O’ Scotland!

We’re nearly underway in Cape Town! The teams are out, and we’ll now have the anthems.