Match Report: Australia 31-22 Scotland

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 12: Lana Skeldon of Scotland runs with the ball from Tania Naden and Eva Karpani of Australia during the WXV 2 2024 match between Australia v Scotland at Athlone Sports Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Rynners - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The game’s opening try owed much to the pace of Australia winger Desiree Miller as she took flight from distance, running an inside-to-out line and dotting down, with Faitala Moleka converting from wide [7-0, 13 mins].

Their second was born of the same style, but on the right-hand wing. This time, winger Maya Stewart took advantage of good work by centre Georgina Friedrichs to ease home, Moleka again converting [14-0, 18 mins].

And a devastating nine-minute period saw the Wallaroos go over again, when Moleka’s clever grubber was collected by centre Cecilia Smith and once more converted [21-0, 22 mins].

Scotland stemmed the tide with territorial advances but could not find the consistency of attack that onlookers have become so accustomed to seeing. In the end, the rumblings of a Scottish revival came from the grunt of the front row.

After Emma Orr pounced on a knock-on advantage, Leah Bartlett carried twice for 10 metres to put the Aussies on the back foot inside their 22, before Sarah Bonar went again. Bartlett was on hand, with the help of her forward band, to then force her way over, with Helen Nelson converting from in front of the posts [21-7, 29 mins].

And from the kick-off, Australia flanker Siokapesi Palu was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Bartlett, to leave them down to 14 players for the remainder of the half.

Scotland didn’t wait long to make good the extra player, scoring a wonderful try of their own. Chloe Rollie fed Evie Gallagher, who spun to allow enough time for Rollie to wrap her run around, and the full-back flashed over [21-12, 34 mins].

It was Australia’s time to try to stop the rot, but Moleka’s penalty from 30 metres, after an offside, was short and wide.

A breathless first half drew to a close, with the Antipodeans protecting a nine-point lead heading into the final 40 minutes of the competition.

Half-time: Australia 21-12 Scotland

If the penalty count in the first half erred on Scotland’s side, it was a different tale after the break, as Australia transgressed at will around the breakdown. Time and again, Scotland went in search of the try they needed to provide a better chance of victory.

They couldn’t have done much more in the first 15 minutes of the second half and eventually, their patience was rewarded when Anne Young reached out from close range to replicate the efforts of her loosehead colleague Bartlett. Nelson’s conversion missed [21-17, 53 mins].

It was Australia’s time to rally and their cause was aided when Emma Orr was adjudged to have gone high on a head-to-head tackle with Stewart as the hour mark approached – worse came when the centre’s colour was upgraded to a red five minutes later.

Still, Scotland’s spirit remained, even intensified. Against numerous close-quarter phases their defence refused to wilt, with one particular example ending in an Australian knock-on after a remarkable, sapping period of pressure and probing.

Down to 14 for the duration, Scotland seemed galvanised if anything, Rollie’s foray into the Aussie 22 laying the platform for a scarcely believable turnaround. A player down, Nelson saw Francesca McGhie out wide on the left and the winger coasted over to give her side a one-point lead with little over 10 minutes remaining [21-22, 69 mins].

But the pendulum swung once more. An offside against Caity Mattinson was to afford Moleka another chance at three points, bang in front, but play was called back when McGhie was retrospectively yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on. Moleka dispatched the penalty goal [24-22, 74 mins].

A proper ding-dong Test match had one last act as Ashley Masters burrowed over with both teams out on their feet after a draining contest [31-22, 80 mins].

Full-time: Australia 31-22 Scotland

Australia:  Caitlyn Halse, Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Cecilia Smith, Desiree Miller; Faitala Moleka, Layne Morgan; Bridie O’Gorman, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu, Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra.

Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Sally Fuesaina, Alapeta Ngauamo, Atasi Lafai,, Lucy Dinnen, Samantha Wood, Trilleen Pomare, Lori Cramer.

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders), Coreen Grant (Saracens), Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders), Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers); Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers); Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears), Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm – captain (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)

Replacements: Elis Martin (for Skeldon, 78 mins), Anne Young (for Bartlett, 50 mins), Christine Belisle (for Clarke, 50 mins),(all Loughborough Lightning), Louise McMillan (Saracens) (for Donaldson, 41 mins), Jade Konkel (Harlequins)(for McLachlan, 53 mins), Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders) (for Brebner-Holden, 50 mins), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (for Thomson, 66 mins), Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury).

Referee: Clara Munarini (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Zoe Naude (RSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aneka Fick (RSA)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
Mastercard Player of the Match: Maya Stewart (Australia)