Wallaroos bounce back to roll USA in Pacific Four rugby
The Wallaroos have banked their first-ever Pacific Four Series victory with a thumping 58-17 win over the United States, including a hat-trick of tries from winger Maya Stewart.
Playing in Ottawa, Australia coach Jay Tregonning was looking for a response after a 50-0 drubbing by New Zealand to open the four-team tournament and his players responded in style.
Led by the player of the match, prop Eva Karpani, who also scored a double among the nine-try haul, the Wallaroos looked a different side in front of more than 8000 fans at TD Place Stadium.
The Australian forwards laid the platform for the willing attack, with veteran back-rower Grace Hamilton using their rolling maul to post their opening try.
They used the same tactic again seven minutes later with Karpani coming up trumps, with her two tries secured by halftime when the Wallaroos led 27-5.
With the game opening up in the second half, it was the backs’ time to shine through Stewart, Ivana Wong and Georgina Friedrichs, whose try brought up the half century.
It’s the first time since 2010 the Wallaroos have hit 50 points.
Tries for Team USA were scored by lock Evelyn Ashenbrucker and a brace from winger Jennine Detiveaux in an otherwise disappointing performance after downing Australia 16-14 last year.
Australian captain Michaela Leonard hailed the fight in her team after last week’s ugly night against the Black Ferns in Redcliffe.
“The girls have worked really hard this week in actually driving the standards ourselves and expecting better of each other and challenging each other to do better,” Leonard told Stan Sport.
“I think that showed today – turning around from a 50-0 loss isn’t easy, but I think that was true Australian grit.
“It was great out there for the whole 80, the girls didn’t give up and that’s exactly what we’re about as a country and as a team.”
The USA remain winless after a first-round loss to Cana da, who the Wallaroos tackle next, also in Ottawa.
Western Force lock Leonard said she wanted to see further improvement fro m the players against the Canadians, who finished fourth at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
?”Great intensity and effort from the girls but execution still wasn’t perfect,” Leonard said.
“We’ll be going back to the training paddock this week trying to just clean up some of our shapes to make sure our role clarity is on point.
“We know Canada’s going to come out with a physical game. We also know they’re really strong in set piece so that will be a focus for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments