1
Keira Bevan inspires Wales to their first victory over Australia
By PA
A try and three conversions from captain Keira Bevan inspired Wales to their first victory over Australia in a 31-24 win which concluded with a dramatic finish.
The visitors got off to a flying start when Maya Stewart crossed for the Wallaroos’ first try after just two minutes at Rodney Parade, where Faitala Moleka added the extras.
Bevan, leading Ioan Cunningham’s side in place of the absent Hannah Jones, drew the sides level seven minutes later, converting her own effort.
It remained 7-7 at half-time, but the hosts fell behind quickly after the restart as a result of Moleka’s penalty before Wales took the lead for the first time as substitute Molly Reardon made it 12-10.
It was all square at 24-24 after Australia added tries of their own through full-back Caitlyn Halse and Tabua Tuinakauvadra, both converted by Arabella McKenzie who drew the sides level with three minutes remaining.
Just as it looked like the sides were headed for a stalemate, Kate Williams got herself over the whitewash in the 81st minute and Bevan booted the extras to seal Wales’ historic win.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Rassie Erasmus holds the solution to England's Jamie George conundrum
3
The Springboks have something you don't have
4
'I don't think Borthwick picks Willis even if he's playing in England'
5
Latest Comments
You have to have dreams to reach for the stars, but without believing it, it won't ever happen. It's one thing to say things to the media, quite another to believe what you regurgitate just for the journalists and the public. No one is fooled, and it's the one game they knew Wales will get smashed. The Boks won 10 games without being at their best. Even on their baddest day they will smash this Wales team.
I don't really blame the players. I blame the WRU. Their best players is not available due to restrictions, small change as pay and an overly believe in their own power that amounts to nothing. Get rid of them and Gatland, and maybe their will be an upwards curve. They will lose against the Boks, and also all the games in the 6N if they keep the current board. Italy will be able to smash them.
Go to commentsFrance is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.
NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.
With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.
That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.
Go to comments