WXV Final Friday: Samoa reach World Cup
The main head line from the final Friday of WXV was Samoa qualifying for the World Cup
Published by John Birch, October 11th, 2024
6 minute read
WXV3: Samoa 46 Madagascar 15
Samoa recovered from am early reverse to score seven tries to beat the African No 2 team and win a place at the World Cup.
Claudia Rasoarimalala opened the scoring for Madagascar after just four minutes, but after that it was all Samoa. The Pacific team took the lead after eight minutes when Cassie Siataga converted her own try and after 25 minutes she scored again, despite her team being down to 13 players.
Ireland trailed 14-7 at half time with an Erin King try and the conversion from Nicole Fowley keeping them in touch with a USA side that was piling on pressure. Ireland struggled to put together phases, as they had in previous outings, in a scrappy first half.
Three second half yellow cards for the USA as Ireland continued to fight yielded a penalty try and the chance to overturn the lead with tries from Cliodhna Moloney and Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe and a conversion from Dannah O’Brien to finish 14-26 victors.
King who made thirteen carries and made seventeen tackles to add to her try was named Player of the Match.
WXV2: Wales 19 Japan 10
Wales recorded a first victory in South Africa with an all-action performance against Japan in Round 3 of WXV2 at the Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town.
The sides had only met twice before, with both nations having a win each, but Wales were well worth this win over the Sakura XV. Wales dominated territory and possession and showed real attacking intent and finished the chances they created against Japan.
Fly half Kayleigh Powell produced an impressive performance in her first start at fly half as Wales played with real width and ran Japan off their feet.
Metcalfe, again, proved what a talent she is for a 19-year-old with her attacking and defensive work for her country.
The Welsh pack laid the foundations for this win but it was the combination and forwards and backs in attack that impressed in a real team display.
Wales made three changes with Powell in for the injured Lleucu George at fly-half and prop Sisilia Tuipulotu and lock Abbie Fleming both starting. Alaw Pyrs replaced Kate Williams on the bench in a late injury withdrawal just before kick-off.
Japan had impressed in their previous two outings against South Africa and Scotland in WXV2 and posed a very different challenge in the final game of the campaign for both sides.
The reigning Asian champions started brightly with their trademark passing attacking game but Wales full-back Jasmine Joyce and lock Natalia John made two defence-splitting breaks of the game that triggered a period of pressure.
Metcalfe opened the scoring with Wales’ first try after a charge down kick to cross in the corner to make it 5-0 after 10 minutes.
Wales looked a different side from the previous two games playing with width and variation in attack and regularly tested the Japanese defence in the opening quarter.
Bevan started and finished Wales’ second try with some slick passing between backs and forwards to extend the lead. Bevan converted to make it 12-0.
Wales then showed real patience when they thought they had crossed for a third try but the referee ruled no try after a TMO review and were well worth their 12 point lead at half-time.
After the break, Japan started the second half like they did the first and attacked with real intent but Joyce intercepted a pass on her own line and raced the length of the field for Wales’ third try.
Bevan landed the conversion to make it 19-0 to Wales on the 42nd minute.
Japan crossed for a try by wing Misaki Matsumura while wing Carys Cox was down injured to make it 19-5.
Wales lost centre Hannah Bluck to a yellow card for a high tackle and went down to 14 players for a frenetic ending which saw fly half Ayasa Otsuka cross for a late try but it was too little, too late as Ioan Cunningham’s side secured a World Cup spot with the victory.