1 month ago
The Wallaroos person fallen short successful their quest for a breakthrough triumph complete Canada, but tin return bosom from a 24-0 conclusion successful their opening lucifer of nan Pacific Four rugby series.
After conceding much than 40 points successful their past 2 meetings against nan world No 2 side, nan Australian women delivered an improved capacity successful reliable conditions successful their Sacramento conflict connected Sunday.
The lucifer was delayed by much than an hr because of lightning, pinch dense rainfall still falling successful nan opening quarter.
The bedewed conditions helped nan Wallaroos put nan brakes connected Canada’s formidable attack, keeping their rivals from crossing until nan 19th minute.
Picking up nan shot astatine nan backmost of nan ruck, Saracens fastener Julia Omokhuale dived complete nan statement to unfastened nan scoring.
It looked for illustration nan Wallaroos would spell into half-time down conscionable nan 1 try, but they gave up different astatine nan 40-minute people erstwhile a turnover was scooped by Canada’s skipper Justine Pelletier. The scrum-half darted done a spread earlier offloading to flanker Pam Buisa for a 12-0 lead.
Starved of shot and section position done immoderate sloppy handling, Australia struggled to build momentum, though scrum-half Sam Wood and winger Desiree Wood did their champion to kickstart nan attack.
The Wallaroos were besides fto down by mediocre discipline, giving up 17 penalties, and had to play retired nan last 5 minutes pinch 13 players, pinch centre Celia Smith (high tackle) and replacement hooker Brittany Merlo (side entry) some fixed yellowish cards.
They continued to show up pinch immoderate steely defence, but nan diligent Canada yet collapsed done successful nan 66th infinitesimal erstwhile winger Asia Hogan-Rochester dived crossed successful nan corner.
Debutant hooker Kiki Idowu bagged her team’s 4th effort successful nan 73rd minute, nan Canadians savouring a shut-out of nan Aussies.
Wallaroos skipper Siokapesi Palu Sekona said location were positives to return distant from nan result.
“Although we didn’t get connected nan scoreboard, we applied a batch of pressure,” she said. “You tin spot pinch nan scoreboard, there’s a immense displacement from that past quarter-final crippled backmost astatine nan World Cup.”
New Zealand earlier downed USA 48-15 successful nan different fixture successful nan four-team tournament. The Wallaroos look nan USA successful Kansas City, Missouri, successful information 2 adjacent weekend.
