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Wallaroos brace for ‘a final’ with WXV 2 title on the line against Scotland

Australia players sing the national anthem ahead of the WXV 2 2024 match between South Africa and Australia at Athlone Sports Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Rynners - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Coach Jo Yapp has labelled the Wallaroos’ upcoming WXV 2 clash with Scotland as “a final” as both teams go into the Test with a chance of taking out the title. Australia are in the box seat after two bonus point wins, while Scotland currently sits in second on eight points.

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Australia were beaten in their final fixture before WXV 2 by Wales, but they had a chance to claim some revenge a week later against the same foe in Cape Town. It was a very different story the second time around with the Wallaroos racing away for a 37-5 win at DHL Stadium.

It was a phenomenal start to the tournament for the women in gold, and they backed that up with another clinical win against the host nation. Men’s captain Siya Kolisi watched on at Athlone Stadium as the Wallaroos beat the Springbok Women 33-26.

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While the WXV 2 title isn’t necessarily everything for the Wallaroos as they continue to build ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, it would be a way for the Aussies to claim some history-making recognition for the growth they’ve shown as a unit.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” coach Jo Yapp told reporters earlier this week.  “We’re ultimately in a final and they don’t come around very often.

“To see how the girls respond and take that challenge on is an exciting one.”

The Wallaroos have had to endure a lot of hardships and tough lessons this year on their way to a WXV 2 decider in South Africa. Following Yapp’s appointment in February, Australia went on to lose their first three Tests under the new head coach.

Australia failed to pick up a win in three challenging Tests during World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series, but they bounced back with a commanding 64-5 demolition of Fiji in Sydney – winger Desiree Miller stealing the show that afternoon with a four-try haul.

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That ended up being the Wallaroos’ only win ahead of WXV 2, but they’ve since won their last two Tests on the bounce. For coach Yapp, who is a former captain of the England women’s side, “It’s been a whirlwind” since taking over the Australia job.

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“Back and forth initially, and then Pac Four and obviously the other New Zealand Test matches and things and then the family came out in July,” Yapp explained.

“It’s been incredible and the kind of players and staff in Australia have been super supportive of me and my family with the move.”

But, from a players’ point of view, the 2024 international season with numerous opportunities to test themselves against some of the world’s leading rugby talent. It’s been quite rare for them to play South Africa, and the Wallaroos have only ever played Scotland on three occasions.

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But with WXV 2 pitting them up against Wales, South Africa and Scotland, this tournament has proved to be a successful opportunity for the Aussies to grow their game ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup – which they’re expected to qualify for.

“Just playing against different opposition has been really exciting for the group.

“I don’t think anyone in this group had played against South Africa before, for example; playing against the Northern Hemisphere teams.

“So, just playing different opposition as opposed to so often playing New Zealand and Fiji, and we know how they play and we know where we stand against those at the moment.

“To see where we stand from a world perspective, and to take on these teams has been really important. Just having to adapt our styles slightly depending on who we’re playing… being able to adapt between those games leading into a World Cup is really good prep.”

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Comments

1 Comment
B
BM 173 days ago

Great win over SCOTLAND AUSSIES TO WIN WXV 2 FULLY DESERVED!!! from a Kiwi Fan!

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Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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