Wales Women Stun South Africa

Wales Women kicked off their autumn campaign with a convincing 19-5 victory over South Africa at the Arms Park.

Rowland Phillips' side crossed for three tries in total with Jasmine Joyce, Sioned Harries and Ospreys hooker Carys Phillips all crossing while Robyn Wilkins kicked four points. All South Africa could muster was one try courtesy of Lusanda Dumke.

Wales set the tone in the early stages of the match with their scrum demolishing the South African eight.

The home sides forward set the platform for their first try with the likes of Carys Phillips and Sioned Harries making the hard yards.

With the South African defence on the back-foot Wales moved the ball wide with some slick handling from Robyn Wilkins and Alecs Donnovan putting Joyce over at the corner. The visitors enjoyed a period of possession and began to exert their physicality but the Wales defence stood firm.

Wales began to turn the screw just before the interval with their pack pushing hard on the South African line. After a couple of powerful carries the ball was spread wide with visiting centre Demi Nel putting in a try saving tackle on her opposite number Donnovan.

But Wales continued to go forward and right wing Nosiphiwo Goda was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball on the floor. Wales opted to take a quickly tapped penalty with tight-head prop Amy Evans charging over the line only to be held up.

But Phillips' side shunted South Africa backwards in the proceeding scrum with powerful No 8 Harries dragging three defenders with her over the line to extend Wales' lead. Wilkins successfully converted meaning the home side turned around 12-0 to the good at half-time.

Wales kept up the pressure in the early stages of the second half and came agonisingly close to their third try only for second-row Mel Clay to spill the ball forward with the try line at her mercy. South Africa finally won some ball and were able to exert some pressure on the Wales line.

After a period of trying to wear their hosts down with some strong carrying No 8 Aeza Hele crossed at the corner.

But the try was ruled out for a forward pass from outside half Zintle Mpupha.

South Africa continued to apply intense pressure on the Wales line resulting in Harries being sent to the sin bin for illegally slowing down the ball. The Welsh ladies' defence was tremendous as wave after wave of South African strike runners came their way.

 

But the South Africans eventually turned pressure into points when blindside flanker Dumke sneaked over from short range. South Africa's try served as a wake-up call for the hosts who began to build some pressure of their own.

There was a 10 minute break in play after Ospreys centre, Kerin Lake was stretchered from the field after a collision of heads.

But Wales sealed the win when captain Carys Phillips crossed from short range after a powerful driving lineout by the hosts.