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Wales get WXV humbling by Australia in Cape Town
By AAP
The Wallaroos have earned swift and comprehensive revenge over Wales, powering to a hugely impressive 37-5 victory to kick off their WXV2 tournament challenge in style.
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A dazzling individual try from the halfway line from the quicksilver Maya Stewart capped off the Australian rugby women’s terrific second-half display in Cape Town on Saturday.
Just eight days after suffering their first ever loss to Wales on their British Isles tour, the Wallaroos, inspired by a superb fly-half display from teenager Faitala Moleka, looked a completely different outfit, scoring six tries in a scintillating display of running rugby.
Four of those scores came after the break, as the Wallaroos amassed 27 points without reply – a far cry from their historic last-gasp loss to the Welsh in Newport.
Halfback Layne Morgan set the ball rolling with a sniping try in the opening minutes, though hooker Carys Phillips crashed over from a driving maul on the half-hour to make it look as if all the pre-match predictions of another close contest would come to pass.
But a magnificent, barnstorming run from Australia prop Eva Karpani, in which she crashed through three defenders, on the stroke of halftime changed the dynamic of the match.
The Wallaroos emerged in electric fashion after the break, with Moleka kicking a penalty before the livewire winger Stewart raced clear down the right edge for the first of her two tries.
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Try scorers Faitala Moleka and Eva Karpani were outstanding for the Wallaroos. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
The 19-year-old Moleka herself and replacement Lori Cramer then both dotted over for scores as the Australians, off the back of their scrum mastery, began to attack without inhibition and quite dominated.
It all culminated in Stewart’s dazzling tour de force from the halfway line, as she took Moleka’s neat offload, sliced between two Welsh markers, slalomed through two more defenders and careered to the line with another despairing tackler hanging off her.
I have just read the Wales will be playing the Red Roses at the Principality Stadium in the 6N. I applaud the ambition but I suspect that they will be fortunate to get 25,000 there which will still make it appear that the Stadium is empty. 15,000 of that will be Red Roses supporters who come across the bridge. I hope I am wrong but I don't think it is yet time. I have been to two Red Roses matches at Twickenham and they have been a great day out. I wouldn't want the Wales experience to fall flat.
I see your point, I think it is a good move in that you have to start somewhere, The RR played in front of small crowds at Twickenham before the ground swelled in time for the men's kick off. The first 7s series tournament I attended at Twickenham I think there was around 10,000 attendance, up until last year when it was cut from the circuit it was the best attended of all the venues with all three tiers near to full.
Wales well beaten. To me, their issue is the flair to get over the line. Their forwards are competitive, except with the Red Roses, Canada and France, but the backs don't have the necessary spark so they are often playing catch up rugby. You cannot blame their defeat on a couple of players missing, you have to front up with whoever is available. Australia started to unlock some of their potential. but it was only against Wales. Still pleased for Jo Yapp.
I always enjoy reading your comments here and I think you post on other sites, you are knowledgeable about the game. I don't accept though that Wales don't have the spark in the backs, the issue I see is that the backline is starved of possession. Their players play for their clubs and Jaz Joyce obviously in 7s but not just in this match, they only seem to receive the ball when fielding kicks from the opposition or in retreat.