WXV2: Australia v Scotland

Australia (21) 31

Tries: Miller, Stewart, Smith, Marsters Cons: Moleka 4 Pen: Moleka

Scotland (12) 22

Tries: Bartlett, Rollie, Young, McGhie Con: Nelson

Scotland fell agonisingly short in their attempt to defend their WXV2 title, as Australia edged a gripping contest in Cape Town to win the competition.

The Wallaroos raced into a 21-point lead through tries from Desiree Miller, Maya Stewart and Cecilia Smith, before Leah Bartlett and Chloe Rollie crossed for Scotland.

After the break, Scotland piled bodies forwards and after several spurned opportunities, Anne Young crashed over from close range to bring the Scots within just four points.

Scotland appeared to have all the momentum in search of a remarkable comeback, but Emma Orr was shown a yellow card for making head-on-head contact in a tackle with Stewart, before it was upgraded to red, with the officials deciding there were “no mitigating circumstances”.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Francesca McGhie scored in the corner to put Scotland in front for the first time, but there was one more twist to come.

McGhie was sin-binned, reducing Scotland to 13 players for the final seven minutes, and it proved a bridge too far.

Faitala Moleka – who was superb off the tee – kicked a penalty to restore Australia’s lead and Ashley Marsters sealed the title win with a last-minute try.

Confident following four successive wins, Scotland started brightly in Cape Town, seemingly unburdened by the pressure of such a high-stakes contest.

They made several early visits to the Australia 22 and dominated possession and territory, but handling errors stopped them in their tracks and Australia punished those wasted chances in clinical style.

First, some lovely hands released Miller down the left and the winger showed Francesca McGhie a clean pair of heels, and just minutes later, Stewart fended off Rollie’s attempted tackle to cross for try number two.

When Smith got on the end of Moleka’s deft grubber kick to score Australia’s third try inside 23 minutes, it looked as though the game was over as a contest.

However, Bartlett forced her way over from close range to get Scotland on the board, and a wonderful team try sent Bryan Easson’s side into the half-time break with hope.

Rollie put Evie Gallagher – who was immense for Scotland – through a hole, and the number eight showed great awareness to spin and pass back to Rollie, allowing her to go over in the corner.

Scotland continued to ask questions of the Wallaroos after the interval, but lineout failings saw chances go begging in a frustrating start to the second half.

However, Young’s try ensured the pressure did not go to waste and from there, Scotland looked the likely winners.

However, Orr’s mistimed tackle and McGhie’s deliberate knock-on – either side of McGhie’s try – handed the initiative back to Australia.

Moleka’s kicking was a crucial difference between the sides, with Helen Nelson wayward off the tee, and with Scotland pinned in their own half, Marsters went over to ensure an Australian victory on the day, and in the tournament as a whole.

Australia: Halse, Stewart, Friedrichs, Smith, Miller, Moleka, Morgan; O’Gorman, Naden, Karpani, Leaney, Leonard, Palu, Marsters, Tuinakauvadra.

Replacements: Molloy, Fuesaina, Ngauamo, Lafai, Dinnen, Wood, Pomare, Cramer.

Scotland: Rollie, Grant, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Donaldson, Bonar, Malcolm, McLauchlan, Gallagher.

Replacements: Martin, Young, Belisle, McMillan, Konkel, Mattinson, Smith, Scott.