Springbok Women come roaring back but Wallaroos hold on for WXV 2 victory

With rain coming down later in the match after high temperatures hit Cape Town earlier in the day, it was the Wallaroos who kept the heat up to record victory, but the South Africans deserve credit as they never gave up, scoring two late tries to salvage two bonus points.

The Bok Women had very few answers for the Australians' pace and slick handling, while the Wallaroos also played most of the rugby in SA's half courtesy of some good kicking downfield by Faitala Moleka (flyhalf).

While South Africa can rightly feel they didn't get enough reward for their strong scrum, they were also guilty of soft moments on defence and, while they missed too many lineouts, they kept the Aussies busy with some strong runs and kept on fighting until the end.

Unfortunately, they were on the back foot from the start, with the Wallaroos scoring two tries in the first eight minutes, by Siokapesi Palu (flanker) and Georgina Friedrichs (centre), both converted by Moleka to make it 14-0.

The Bok Women hit back with a first Test try by Unam Tose, when the nuggety scrumhalf charged down a kick straight after the restart. Nadine Roos, who took over the kicking duties after Jakkie Cilliers left the field injured, missed the conversion, but the hosts were on the board.

Australia scored their third try three minutes later when Eva Karpani (prop) ran a great line to go over under the uprights, but the Bok Women were not done yet and with less than 10 minutes to go before half-time, Sinazo Mcatshulwa (flanker) crashed over for their second try.

Roos converted the try which came after the Bok Women showed great patience on attack, with the forwards keeping hammering away until the smallest of gaps opened up.

Australia went over right at the end of the first half, but the try was disallowed by the TMO, their second of the match which didn't stand, and the teams went into the changerooms with the visitors leading by 21-12.

With rain starting to come down, the Wallaroos started the second half like they finished the first and despite a yellow card for a high tackle, their wings, Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart, exploited space out wide for tries in the first 15 minutes of the half.

South Africa refused to lie down though and after a period of sustained pressure in the Aussie half, Zintle Mpupha (centre) finally crashed over from a straight run off Roos, who added the conversion to make it 33-19 with seven minutes left on the clock.

Micke Gunterâ™s try off the back of a brilliant maul and Roosâ™s conversion made it a seven-point game in the 79th minute, and from the restart the South Africans worked their way upfield, making 80m to within a metre of the Aussie try-line before they conceded another penalty for sealing off, handing the victory to the Wallaroos.