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Wallaroos claim quarter-finals spot in shaky win over Wales

The Wallaroos celebrate their win against Wales. Photo by Fiona Goodall - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Australia flirted with late disaster before finding a pathway into the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, beating Wales 13-7 on Saturday.

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The Wallaroos are into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after clinging on for a 13-7 victory over Wales.

Two converted Lori Cramer penalties were the difference in Whangarei, where Australia underwhelmed on their way to a tight victory.

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Australia were dominant in possession but disjointed in attack, scoring just once despite 12 visits to the Welsh 22.

Running into the wind, Australia boasted a 10-7 lead at half-time, with Iliseva Batibasaga’s fifth-minute try cancelled out by Sioned Harries’ effort.

The stage was set for the Wallaroos to run over the top of Wales, but time and again Australia turned over possession in an infuriating afternoon for coach Jay Tregonning.

Kaitlan Leaney’s 70th-minute yellow card gave Wales a look at a mighty upset and their first-ever win over Australia, but the Wallaroos successfully starved them of the ball to prevail in unconvincing circumstances.

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On the bright side Grace Hamilton was immense with 16 carries, a stat she now leads at the tournament, and after back-to-back victories for the first time under Tregonning the Wallaroos are alive in the tournament.

After losing to hosts New Zealand in their opening match, Australia bounced back to beat Scotland last weekend before their Welsh triumph on Saturday.

Australia must now play a waiting game to learn their next opponents in the tournament with the top eight sides ranked from their group stage play.

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Wales, who also beat Scotland and lost to New Zealand, must wait to see whether they qualify for the next round.

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On another blustery day at Northland Events Centre, Wales enjoyed the winds at their back early but started flat-footed, allowing Batibasaga to steal a fourth-minute lead.

The half-back looked to dish from a breakdown but found no takers, spinning 360 degrees and finding a path to the try line, running in under the posts unattended.

Lori Cramer converted for an early 7-0 lead.

Australia were dominant early, with 80 per cent possession up until the moment they let Wales back into the contest.

Four phases after a lineout – the source of four Wales tries at this tournament – Harries dived for the line and found it, and soon the score was 7-7.

Bienne Terita’s barnstorming run down the middle threatened to give the Wallaroos a second try, but they had to be content with a 10-7 lead after Cramer’s late penalty.

Arabella Mackenzie went over the line shortly after the break only to be denied by stoic Welsh defence.

What followed was 25 minutes of clumsy rugby with the Wallaroos flirting with disaster.

Tregonning fumed in the box, throwing his pen in frustration as opportunities passed them by.

In the 70th-minute Leaney offered Wales a pathway to victory when she shoulder-charged Alex Callender, but the Wallaroos finished the scoring through Cramer’s boot in the 78th minute.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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