Australia has kept its Rugby World Cup quarter-final hopes alive with an inspired come-from-behind win over Scotland.
The Wallaroos walked away with a seemingly unlikely 14-12 victory at the Northland Events Centre in Whangarei having remained scoreless at halftime and well into the second half.
Despite twice seeing red, Australia fought back to score two unanswered tries and clinch the victory, aiding their ambition of a quarter-finals berth.
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The win drew the surprise of former Wallabies ace turned Stan Sport commentator Morgan Turunui, who commented, “I still don’t know how they won there,” after the triumphant return of serve by the Wallaroos.
“A bit of a nerve-wracking one,” said Wallaroos captain Shannon Perry.
“It was a really tough battle there against Scotland and they really showed us how to play footy out there today.
“Immensely proud. We gutted it out all the way to the end – an 80-minute performance – and to come away with victory is a really good reward.”
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Perry conceded the win wasn’t clean-cut but said they would take it whichever way it came.
“We didn’t probably play as good and as clinically as we would have liked to, but hey, we’ll take the points. We’re still alive in this tournament, that’s what matters.”
“It’s massive for this group. We’ve come a long way in the past 12 months and I think it just shows that hard work is finally paying off.
“It definitely wasn’t pretty out there today, but hey, we gutted it out to the 84th minute and we came away with the victory today.”
Wallaroos skittle Scotland at the try line
Scotland opened the scoring in the ninth minute courtesy of Lana Skeldon, taking them out to a 5-nil lead.
Scotland threatened to blow their lead out in the 19th minute when Rhona Llyod burst through the Australia defence, only for Lori Cramer to put in an enormous tackle just a few metres short of the try line.
In the lead up the match, the Wallaroos had bemoaned their ill-discipline. That would haunt them in the 26th minute when a penalty try was awarded.
Adiana Talakai was sin-binned for collapsing the maul, reducing the Wallaroos to 14 women and allowing Scotland to get out to a 12-nil lead.
Having been dominated by Scotland in the first half, the tide turned in the second.
The Wallaroos would have to wait until the 59th minute when a wide receiving pass out to the wing allowed Beinne Tarita to cross the chalk, which was converted by Cramer.
Wallaroos finally break Scotland defence at RWC
Come the 73rd minute, Ashley Marsters evened the scores and another conversion from Cramer gave them a two-point lead with just five minutes remaining.
After her heroics just minutes earlier, Marsters copped a red card just four minutes shy of the finish for direct head contact.
The Wallaroos thought they had the win sewn up when the siren went and the ball trickled out into touch, only for the referee to review an instance of foul play.
Having copped a yellow card in the first half, Adiana Talakai was given a red card for her second high tackle.
Wallaroos sink Scotland hearts at the death
It was a nervous wait for the Wallaroos, who infringed again and gave Scotland one last opportunity.
However, four minutes into overtime, the referee cried “strip” as Arabella McKenzie tore the ball from Scotland’s grasp.
With the ruck formed, the ball emerged and was swiftly kicked into touch, sending the Wallaroos into raptures.
Australia will face Wales in their next Rugby World Cup match on Sunday, October 16 at 1.35pm at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.
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