Wallaroos run over Japan for first win in Ireland
The Wallaroos have secured their first win of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, running in five tries to secure a 29-15 win over Japan in their third and final pool game at University College Dublin’s Billings Park.
Samantha Treherne secured a personal tally of 14-points, crossing for a double and slotting two conversions, while Grace Hamilton, Mahalia Murphy and Nareta Marsters also crossed for tries.
Australia dominated possession in the opening exchanges of the first-half and was eventually rewarded for their patience with a try through Treherne in the 17th minute. Sarah Riordan missed the conversion, leaving the score at 5-nil.
Marsters nearly scored a 50-metre run-away try soon after, but the ball was knocked on in contact over the line.
Hamilton scored Australia’s second in the 31st minute, Treherne slotted the conversion to give the Wallaroos a 12-nil lead.
Australian Sevens star Mahalia Murphy was next to score, channeling her Sevens experience to streak away over 80-metres to score under the posts. Treherne made no made mistakes with the conversion, extending Australia’s lead to 19-nil.
Japan crossed for their first try on the stroke of half-time through prop Saki Minami. The conversion attempt from Mayu Shimizu was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 19-5 as the two teams headed into the sheds.
Australia went through phase-after-phase of attack in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Japan was the first to score in the second stanza through inside center Riho Kurogi, narrowing the margin to 19-10.
Japan crossed for their third try in the 58th minute through Number 8 Mahi Takano, narrowing the Wallaroos’ lead to just 19-15.
Marsters crossed the line in the 66th minute to create some distance between Australia and Japan on the scoreboard, but Treherne had the final say of the match, scoring her second in the 72nd minute to secure the 29-15 win for the Wallaroos.
Head coach Paul Verrell said: “It’s pleasing for the team to secure a win after two very tough losses to Ireland and France.
“The team put in a lot of work on-and-off the field this week to ensure they were the game plan and the style of Rugby we wanted to play against Japan and they executed that well.
“We can’t make the semi-finals with one pool win, but we still have a lot to play for. We’ll head to Belfast with the goal of finishing as highly ranked as we possibly can to ensure we can compete at the next World Cup.
“We also want to continue to build a team and create a Wallaroos program that girls back home want to be a part of. Participation in Rugby for females is on the rise off the back of the Sevens success in Rio, we need to ensure the 15s game is just as healthy to provide opportunities for the next generation.”
Australia’s next match will take place on Tuesday, August 22, where they will contest the fifth-place semifinals. The side will face Ireland for the second time this tournament, kick-off at 2:00 pm (11:00 pm AEST) at King’s Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
17MIN: TRY Samantha Treherne, MISSED CONV Sarah Riordan, AUS 5-0 JAP
31MIN: TRY Grace Hamilton, CONV Samantha Treherne, AUS 12-0 JAP
37MIN: TRY Mahalia Murphy, CONV Samantha Treherne, AUS 19-0 JAP
46MIN: TRY Saki Minami, MISSED CONV Mayu Shimizu, AUS 19-5 JAP
HALF-TIME
52MIN: TRY Riho Kurogi, MISSED CONV Mayu Shimizu, AUS 19-10 JAP
58MIN: TRY Mahi Takano, MISSED CONV Mayu Shimizu, AUS 19-15 JAP
66MIN: TRY Nareta Marsters, MISSED CONV Samantha Treherne, AUS 24-15 JAP
72MIN: TRY Samantha Treherne, MISSED CONV Samantha Treherne, AUS 29-15 JAP
FULL-TIME
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