Australia’s ruthless counter-attacking prowess proved crucial as they raced away for three unanswered tries in the first half to set up a 26-12 victory over Wales in the opening Pool A clash of the Rugby Women’s World Cup.
The 2009 RWC Sevens champions surged into a 21-0 interval lead at Surrey Sports Park, but three yellow cards allowed Wales to claw their way back with a penalty try and a touchdown by replacement hooker Lowri Harries, who scored on debut.
Wales rallied in the second half with the pack dominating the Wallaroos but they couldn’t overturn the deficit.
Jason Lewis’s side fought back bravely but Australian full back Tricia Brown scored from the last play of the match to secure a four-try bonus point for the Wallaroos and condemn Wales to an empty pot.
The match was only seven minutes old when Cobie-Jane Morgan and Brown combined for Nicole Beck to dive over in the corner, with the wing then making light of the gusty wind to add the extras from the touchline.
Centre Sharni Williams crashed over to score while Morgan finished off in dazzling style to suggest the Wallaroos were going to run away with the game. But a yellow card to Alex Hargreaves halted their momentum and Wales sensed a way back.
Wales had the perfect re-start when a surging ruck was brought down illegally and a penalty try was awarded. Non Evans banged over the extras and suddenly there was a spring in the step as Wales scented a comeback.
Australia lost Caroline Vakalahi and Ili Batibasaga to the sin bin as Wales’ superior skills at the breakdown, where backrow trio Jamie Kift, debutant Sioned Harries and Catrina Nicholas worked tirelessly, began to frustrate the Wallaroos.
Wales kept plugging away and eventually Lowri Harries burrowed over from close range to give Wales a hope of rescuing a losing-bonus point but they were denied as Brown ran through a sea of red shirts to score in the corner and deny Wales any reward from a hard fought encounter.
Wales coach Lewis was a disappointed man after the game, saying, “Of course we are disappointed. Our expectations were perhaps greater than that. We knew Australia would be a good team, we knew that they would be strong and this proved to be the case. It took us a while to get into our game and it was probably not quite enough or too little too late in the game.
“[At half time] I just brought them back to the game plan and the way they wanted to play. They slightly lost sight of that in the first half and re-established this in the second period for a good second-half performance.”
Wales co-captain Mellissa Berry added: “It is a disappointing result but there still are a lot of positives we can take from it and there is still a lot of rugby left to be played in this World Cup. You can’t rest and be down about that because you know in four days time we have another game to play.
“Right now, we are disappointed, annoyed and frustrated because there were opportunities for us there to actually take the game.
“It was always going to be a hard start to the competition playing Australia… and I hink we took a lot longer to settle then they did. It did show the quality we have in our team when we settle and we get to play our kind of game.
“They are going to be one of the best teams we come up against them, so all credit to them to take the win.”
Scorers: Wales – Tries: Pen try, Lowri Davies; Con: Non Evans
Australia: Tries: Beck, Williams, Morgan, Brown; Cons: Beck (3)
