The Wallaroos secured a top-two finish in Pool A and will advance to the quarter-finals after defeating Wales 13-7 in their last pool match at the Rugby World Cup.
Australia had a lot on the line as a loss would have required results in other pool matches to be favourable for their women’s World Cup campaign to continue. With the win, the Wallaroos will finish second in Pool A behind New Zealand, securing a spot in the top-8.
Both teams went into their final pool match on four points, with a win against Scotland and a loss against New Zealand from their first two matches.
Wearing their First Nations kit, Australia was off to a great start despite running into the wind. Iliseva Batibasaga opened the score within six minutes of play followed by a confident conversion from Lori Cramer.
Wales tied the game at seven apiece mid-way through the first half, but a penalty kick by Cramer on the siren gave the Wallaroos a 3-point lead at the break.
Australia gathered momentum in the second half, mounting one charge after another and putting pressure on a solid and disciplined Welsh defence.
With tension building at the Whangārei Northland Events Centre, the Wallaroos held the slender lead throughout the second half. It was up to Cramer again to slot a penalty kick with just a couple of minutes left on the clock to seal a decisive win and secure qualification to the knockout stage for the Wallaroos.
Depending on other results, Australia might face either the lowest-ranked group winner or a fellow second-place finisher from the pool stage in the quarter-finals next weekend.
The women’s Rugby World Cup continues this weekend with every match from the Rugby World Cup being streamed ad-free, live & on demand on Stan Sport.
NEW ZEALAND V SCOTLAND (POOL A)
SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE ON STAN SPORT FROM 2:30PM AEDT
FRANCE V FIJI (POOL C)
SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE ON STAN SPORT FROM 5:00PM AEDT
JAPAN v ITALY (POOL B)
SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE ON STAN SPORT FROM 10:30AM AEDT
CANADA v USA (POOL B)
SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE ON STAN SPORT FROM 1:00PM AEDT
ENGLAND V SOUTH AFRICA (POOL C)
SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE ON STAN SPORT FROM 3:30PM AEDT
Media Release – Stan Sport