Wallaroos beat Scotland at Rugby World Cup, keep Quarter Final hopes alive

The Wallaroos have held on for a dramatic win over Scotland at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, coming back from a 12-0 halftime deficit to run out 14-12 winners.

After going down to the hosts in their opening game last weekend, the victory ensures that the Australians now have an opportunity to move through to the Quarter Final stage with one pool match remaining against Wales next Saturday.

Scotland used a strong breeze to their advantage in the first half, racing out to a 12-0 lead after two tries via the rolling maul.

Jay Tregonning's side refused to give up, and capitalised on favourable field position in the second half, with tries to Bienne Terita and Ashley Marsters giving the Wallaroos the lead late.

Two red cards in the last five minutes to Marsters and Adiana Talakai did not stop their momentum, as they continued to disrupt Scotland and ultimately held on for a remarkable win.

“I’m immensely proud – we gutted it out all the way until the end for the full 80 minutes so to come away with the win is a really good reward," Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry said.

“We probably didn’t play as clinically as we like, but we’ll take the points and we’re still alive in the World Cup and that’s what matters.

“We’ve come a long way in 12 months and I think that showed the hard work is finally paying off.”

The Wallaroos looked to replicate their fast start from Eden Park a week ago as Grace Hamilton delivered some strong carries, however Scotland held strong and eventually found their way over via the rolling maul and Lana Skeldon.

With both sides trading attacking opportunities, a great cover tackle from Lori Cramer stopped a certain try to Rhona Lloyd, who lost the ball in the contact.

Debutant Maya Stewart showed her pace, racing down a very narrow corridor on the left wing, but a mistake in the ensuing play provided a golden opportunity for Scotland to attack and build pressure on the Wallaroos goal line.

Scotland was on the board again shortly after with the referee ruling a penalty try after an indiscretion in the lineout maul – Adiana Talakai received a yellow card for her role in collapsing the maul.

The Australian forward pack began to arrest the momentum just before the break, Eva Karpani laying a marker down with a strong burst from her own half.

Karpani started the second half in similar fashion, with a bullocking run casting Scottish defenders aside to establish field position for her team and allow the Wallaroos to start building some concerted pressure.

Her front-row partner Liz Patu went close to scoring but was held up under the goalposts.

The relentless pressure from the forward pack, delivering solid hit-ups time and again, eventually found its reward when Arabella McKenzie’s long cut-out pass hit teenage sensation Bienne Terita in stride for her to dive over for Australia’s first points.

The Wallaroos refused to let up and continued to hunt for the game-winner with the injection of Ashley Marsters providing an extra lift for Jay Tregonning’s side.

The Melbourne Rebels hooker marched the ball through the Scottish defence to set up an opportunity before finishing it herself, slamming the ball down over the line minutes later.

With the scores tied at 12-12 after the try, Lori Cramer’s reliable right boot guided the angled conversion between the uprights to nudge Australia into the lead.

The game still had one last twist, with Marsters red-carded for high contact with four minutes to go.

The Wallaroos forced the mistake and a break from Trilleen Pomare meant the Scottish had to go 90 metres for the winner.

Adiana Talakai would be yellow-carded as the siren sounded, her second yellow of the game resulting in a red, reducing the Wallaroos to 13 and giving Scotland possession for one last attack.

Scotland threw everything at the Wallaroos, asking questions of a defensive line down two players, however Arabella McKenzie would prove to be the hero, making the game-winning tackle and turnover to secure a famous victory for the Australians.

AUSTRALIA 14 (Terita, Masters tries; Cramer 2 conversions) defeated SCOTLAND 12 (Skeldon, penalty tries)