WXV I Match Day Programme:Australia vs. Argentina

With one of the best ever Rugby World Cup having recently concluded, we turn our eyes now the WXV I for more exciting international test rugby. Today we travel all the way down under to watch the thrilling women's rugby fixture set to take place between Australia and Wales.

Fixture: Australia v Wales 

Venue: Go Media Mount Smart Stadium

Kickoff Time: 19:00 local time (GMT+13)

Referee: Hollie Davidson

Head-to-head Played: 

Played: 5 

Australia wins: 5 

Wales wins: 0 

Draws: 0

Points for: 

Australia: 124

Georgia: 25 

 
Biggest winning margin: 

Australia: 30

Last Meeting: 20 Nov 2021: Australia 13-7 - Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, New Zealand

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Debut as referee: 9 November, 2018 – England 57-5 USA

Tests as referee: 29 (25 women’s, four men’s)

 • Hollie Davidson takes charge of this fixture for the first time.

• She has only refereed Australia once before, a 47-10 loss to New Zealand in Perth in August 2019.

• By contrast, Davidson has been in the middle for Wales on four previous occasions, the most recent being their 56-12 loss to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 2021 pool stage at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

TEAM NEWS:

Australia: Head coach Jay Tregonning has made one change to his starting XV from last week’s victory over France as the Wallaroos prepare to face Wales in Auckland. Maya Stewart returns in place of teenager Desiree Miller on the wing after completing protocols following a head knock during Australia’s WXV 1 tournament-opening loss against England on 20 October. Stewart joins fellow wing Ivania Wong and full-back Faitala Moleka in the back three, with Layne Morgan and Carys Dallinger at half-back and Arabella McKenzie and Georgina Friedrichs combining in midfield.

Wales: Centre Hannah Jones will captain a Wales side with six changes to the starting line-up and one positional switch from the team that faced New Zealand in Dunedin. Two-time Olympian Jasmine Joyce moves to full-back with Lisa Neuman and Carys Cox both returning to the wings. Keira Bevan continues her half-back partnership with Lleucu George, who made her first test start at fly-half last week, while Hannah Bluck combines with her captain once again in midfield.

• Australia’s 29-20 win over France last weekend ended a three-game losing streak.

• It was the first time they had got into double figures for points scored in four matches, and only the third time in seven tests this year.

• It was Australia’s second win over France in six matches and their first in 13 years. Their only previous win came in the bronze final at Rugby World Cup 2010 in England.

• In round one, Australia lost 42-7 to England. Ashley Marsters scored Australia’s only try in the 54th minute and Carys Dallinger turned it into seven points with the conversion.

• Annabelle Codey received her second yellow card of the game after Australia scored, becoming the second Wallaroos player in less than a month to be sent off after Bridie O’Gorman against New Zealand in the O’Reilly Cup second leg on 30 September.

• Australia have scored the majority of their points at WXV 1 in the second half (24/36 – 67%) and conceded most in the first half (38/62 – 61%)