Scotland women and the 14 month journey – the WXV 2 Australia week: A look back at the last time the two teams met

Gary Heatly

This Saturday (4pm UK time on Saturday at the Athlone Sports Stadium and live on BBC iPlayer and RugbyPass TV) Scotland and Australia play in a game that will have a big bearing on who goes on to lift the WXV 2 title.

The teams have not met since 2022 when they were involved in a tight match in the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup 2021 played in New Zealand.

Indeed, come Saturday it will nearly be exactly two years since that clash while they are number five and number seven in the updated world rankings.

In fact, the sides have only ever met each other three times ever. Australia won 25-15 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, during the 1998 Rugby World Cup.

In 2022 in Barcelona, Spain, Australia won 30-0 in the Rugby World Cup and then there was a 20 year gap until the most recent clash.

Here is a reminder how the 2022 match played out…

Australia ended this Rugby World Cup 2021 game with 13 players, but managed to defeat Scotland 14-12 after being behind at half-time.

This was a pulsating 80 plus minutes at Northland Events Centre in Whangārei, with Scotland dominating the first half to lead 12-0.

Australia got their running game going in the second half and their pressure paid off with two converted tries to give them their first win in the tournament this year. Scotland, after a close loss to Wales in week one, picked up a second losing bonus point.

Scotland, 10th in the world rankings, took the lead in the ninth minute through a try from hooker Lana Skeldon from a driving lineout. Fly-half Helen Nelson could not convert and it was 5-0.

Sixth in the world Australia were trying to get a foothold in the game and they began getting the ball to exciting players like centre Sharni Williams and winger Maya Stewart.

However, it was Scotland who nearly went further ahead when winger Rhona Lloyd burst through only for Australia full-back Lori Cramer to deny her with a last gasp tackle.

Try number two did come in the 27th minute when Scotland used their driving lineout to good effect, Skeldon peeling off the back to power to just about get there before Lauren Jenner, the referee, awarded a seven point penalty try.

Australia were 12-0 down and, to add insult to injury, their hooker Adiana Talakai was yellow carded.

The Wallaroos skipper Shannon Parry then went off to be replaced by Ashley Marsters so that the latter could play hooker.

Australia did well to survive the 10 minutes while they were down to 14 players and, just as Parry was returning to the fray, they got themselves near the Scotland try line.

That chance was created by a great run by tighthead prop Eva Karpani, but before half-time they could not convert that territory into points while Scotland lost full-back Chloe Rollie to injury, replaced by Shona Campbell.

Australia had the wind advantage in the second period and were keen to get on the scoreboard as soon as they could.

No.8 Grace Hamilton and player of the match Karpani were the ones making good yards, but the Scottish defence was standing firm.

That was until just before the hour mark when the team created space and winger Bienne Terita, who crossed twice versus New Zealand last weekend, scored a try. Cramer converted and it was 12-7.

With 10 minutes to go that was still the score and it was going to be a tight finish.

And with seven minutes to play Australia drew level at 12-12 when Masters ran a great line and powered over for a try. Cramer converted and they were 14-12 up.

The drama continued and with four minutes to go Marsters was red carded for direct head contact with Scotland replacement Sarah Law.

Scotland tried to get the winning points, but Australia held on to win despite Talakai receiving her second yellow card and a red as a result with the clock in the red.

Scotland women’s squad at WXV 2 (uncapped in bold)

Forwards

Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)

Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)

Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)

Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)

Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester Hartpury)

Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)

Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)

Jade Konkel (Harlequins)

Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)

Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)

Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)

Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)

Louise McMillan (Saracens)

Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)

Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)

Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)

Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)

Backs

Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)

Coreen Grant (Saracens)

Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)

Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)

Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)

Rhona Lloyd (Stade Bordelais)

Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)

Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)

Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)

Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders)

Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)

Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester-Hartpury)

Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)

Scotland and Australia are pictured playing at Rugby World Cup 2021 versus Australia in 2022, thanks to World Rugby

GH Media will be covering Scotland women’s journey right through to Rugby World Cup 2025, bringing insight from within the camp throughout and featuring other parts of the game in this country too – thanks to those already supporting the content, if you or your company would like to get involved please email gary@gh-media.co.uk