Best of the rest

5th/8th place playoffs

Wales 7 NZ 63

Wales started well with a nice break from centre Robyn Wilkins but New Zealand were into it quickly with tries for Shakira Baker sandwiched between a good finish from Selicia Winiata.  Suddenly Wales were 17-0 down but then a great breakaway from the in form back row Sioned Harries saw them gallop back into with a great try and then conversion from Robyn Wilkins.

NZ though were straight back down the other end with Baker completing her hat-trick before a line break from Amiria Marsh helped Aroha Savage finish in the corner.

At the turnaround Wales trailed 27-7.

It was more of the same after the break as first Linda Itunu powered over for the first sore with Winiata and then Honey Hireme touched down.

When Rachel Taylor was yellow carded New Zealand scored again through Rawinia Everitt and then Baker added her fourth of the day as New Zealand made a complete rout of it as Rule added the final flourish with a great finish right at the death.

Australia 20 United States 23

ByARU Media Unit

The Wallaroos have been defeated by the USA Eagles 23-20 in the 6th v 7thplayoff match at the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The match now leaves Australia to regroup before taking on Wales in the 7th v 8thplayoff to be held Monday 18 August 12:00am AEST.

Head Coach Paul Verrell was disappointed Australia couldn’t hold onto its early lead from a late charging USA.

“I’m very disappointed that we allowed a very physical US defence to change our defensive structures.

“We ultimately let them back into the game as we didn’t match their physicality at the breakdown and didn’t maintain possession.

“The entire team is really disappointed to lose this match but we will regroup to finish this tournament on a high when we take on Wales.”

The United States opened the scoring early in the match after some infringements at the breakdown by the Wallaroos, giving the USA a 3-0 advantage.

The Wallaroos bounced back strongly scoring two unanswered converted tries to take Australia’s lead to 17-3.

The boot of Ashleigh Hewson was as accurate as it had been all tournament as she was able to keep Australia’s total advancing through her successful kicking.

The second half saw momentum to begin to swing towards their United States as their tactics began to create dividends.

A knee injury to no.8 Mollie Gray left Australia reeling as the powerful forward was unable to take part in the rest of the match.

The USA scored back to back unanswered tries that allowed them to exert the dominance their possession advantage had earned them in the second half.

With the scores locked at 20-20 in the 73rd minute both teams threw everything they had each other in attack to attempt to secure the win.

The USA Eagles though were able to hold onto possession and in the 79th minute received a penalty right in front of the posts.

With the points converted, America had the 23-20 lead, with mere seconds left in regular time.

The Wallaroos’ fighting spirit which had been evident all tournament continued to shine through with the Australian side regathering the ball of the kickoff and attacking the American line.

After 12 phases the USA finally made the mistake giving Australia a penalty after the siren to secure the draw. However the kick went wide leaving the Wallaroos to reflect on missed opportunities.

9th/12th place playoffs

South Africa 25 Samoa 24

South Africa won their first game of the competition by the narrowest of margins in a tight game in Marcoussis.

Zandile Nojoko scored first to give South Africa the lead but Samoa hit back through their impressive flyhalf Bella Milo who converted to level it up. Two penalties from Zenay Jordaan pushed South Africa further ahead but a try from Merenaite Faitala-Mariner and Milo’s convertion got them back into it.

Just before half time in an end to end finish, Rachelle Geldenhuys scored a try or South Africa before Milo herself got one back to make it a one point game at the break.

The second half was a quieter affair but a try from Veroeshka Grain put South Africa ahead and  even though Milo kicked a penalty it was enough for the Springbok women to take out the one point win.

Spain 18 Kazakhstan 5

A scrappy error-riden first half saw Spain dominate play without having any effect on the scoreboard. Chance after chance went begging due to poor passes or handling errors before Kazakhstan stole the lead in almost their only attack of the half. After 34 minutes a long kick forward was fumbled by Spain, resulting in a scrum close to the Spanish line from which the ball moved quickly to Anastassiya Khamova, who scored. Patricia Garcia pulls three points back a few minutes later, but Spain went into the break 5-3 behind.

The second half was a significant improvement, and after 53 minutes some good work by the forwards saw Lourdes Alameda finally put Spain into the lead,

Spainish possession and pressure contined to go unrewarded until the final ten minutes when first Patricia Garcia extended Spain's lead to 13-3 with a penalty, before from the final play of the game Rocio Garcia added a second Spanish try.

All in all a disappointing game, in cool, windy and damp conditions - but Spain reached the 9th place final

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