WXV 2 Round Three - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: This weekend’s WXV 2 action is set for a pulsating conclusion as three teams are in contention for the title.
Scotland and Australia will play each other in the final match of WXV 2 on Saturday at Athlone Stadium.
Australia are at the top of the table with 10 points and the defending champions are second on eight points.
A win for the Wallaroos will see them hoist the trophy.
South Africa also has a chance of finishing the tournament in pole position when they take on Italy in the first match at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
The Springbok Women need to put more or less 50 past the Le Azzurri and hope that Scotland beat Australia in a very low-scoring game.
On Friday, Japan take on Wales in a bottom-of-the-table clash.
Both teams are desperate to claim their first win of the tournament.
The Sakura Fifteen suffered defeats to South Africa and defending champions Scotland.
Wales, meanwhile, were outplayed by the Wallaroos in Round One and fell short to Italy last weekend.
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The Italian job
The South Africans have sent a stern statement to the rugby fraternity with their strong performance in this tournament.
The side recorded a win over Japan in the opener and pushed Wallaroos to the end. This weekend they face a very different challenge in the form of Italy.
The last time the two sides met, Le Azurri claimed a 36-18 win in last year’s WXV 2 edition in Cape Town.
While a lot has changed since then with the Bok Women under new management, the Le Azzuri, who are ninth on the World Rugby rankings, will fancy their chances against the 12th-ranked hosts.
Nolusindiso Booi returns and will captain the Bok Women. Her return means a straight swop with Danelle Lochner, who reverts to being one of the impact players.
Experienced Lindelwa Gwala also returns to boost the Bok Women pack. Gwala has recovered from the calf strain that kept her out of the first two WXV clashes and replaces Roseline Botes at hooker.
“Whether from the bench or in the starting line-up, we have to make sure we make an impact,” Booi said when asked about making the first XV.
“We go out there and we know exactly what is expected of us.”
The skipper said the Bok Women will give it their best as they want to finish the season strong.
“This is our last game of the tournament. I think our preparation was good and we know exactly what is expected from us in terms of attack and defence.
“So we just gave to give it our all.”
She added: “We want to stick to our processes. Dominate them at the scrums and line-outs.
“Try to get more penalties and score a few maul tries.”
Final Training Session of the Season 🤩✨
Make sure to tune in and watch the #BokWomen in action on Saturday in their last game of the #WXV ⏰#MakeItCount#ETTIG pic.twitter.com/CZ8JuES1fe
— SA Women’s Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 10, 2024
The ‘final’
In the last match of the tournament, Wallaroos take on Scotland for the fourth time in the two teams’ rivalry.
They have played on three occasions with Wallaroos backing three victories and it will be the first time the two teams meet in a Test match since 2021.
Wallaroos flank Ashley Marsters will become the most-capped women’s player in Australian Rugby history after being named in the squad to face Scotland for the WXV 2 title.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made two changes for the side’s final international of the year and following back-to-back wins against Wales and South Africa.
Marsters, who made her Wallaroos debut in 2014, will surpass Liz Patu by playing in her 34th Test match at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
Born in Raratonga, Cook Islands, Marsters moved to Melbourne and started playing rugby as a six-year-old before moving through to the senior level.
She has featured in two World Cups and is eyeing a third appearance at next year’s 2025 World Cup in England.
The 30-year-old is one cap ahead of vice-captain Trilleen Pomare and two caps in front of Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard in the squad.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Ash to become the most-capped Wallaroos player of all time, taking over from the experienced Liz Patu.
“Our performances over the past fortnight have been positive but we’ll need to go to another level against Scotland this weekend.
“We want to keep our starting side as consistent as possible so Sally and Alapeta return to the bench in the only changes to the 23.
“We want to step up and improve on our last performance and if we can play at our best we can finish the year on a strong note.”
The inclusions of recalled forwards Sally Fuesaina and Alapeta Ngauamo are at the expense of Allana Sikimeti and Lydia Kavoa, who both dropped out of the team.
* All the Round Three teams and predictions are below …
Friday, October 11
Wales v Japan
(Athlone Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT; 15.00 UK time, 23.00 JPN Time)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Japan by five points
Teams:
Wales Women: 15 Jasmine Joyce, 14 Carys Cox, 13 Hannah Jones (captain) 12 Hannah Bluck, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Keira Bevan; 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Alex Callender, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Abbie Fleming, 4 Natalia John, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Georgia Evans, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Robyn Wilkins, 23 Courtney Keight
Japan Women: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Misaka Matsumura, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Seina Saito, 7 Iroha Nagata (captain), 6 Masami Kawamura, 5 Otoka Yoshimura, 4 Yuna Sato, 3 Wako Kitano, 2 Kotomi Taniguchi, 1 Sachiko Kato.
Replacements: 16 Asuka Kuge, 17 Manami Mine, 18 Nijiho Nagata, 19 Kyoko Hosokawa, 20 Jennifer Nduka, 21 Megumi Abe, 22 Minori Yamamoto, 23 Kanako Kobayashi.
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Zoe Naude (South Africa) & Aneka Fick (South Africa)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Saturday, October 12
South Africa v Italy
(Athlone Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT; 14.00 Italy time)
Prediction
@rugby365com: South Africa by seven points
Teams:
South Africa women: 15 Eloise Webb, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Nadine Roos, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Sizophila Solontsi, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21 Aseza Hele, 22 Unam Tose, 23 Byrhandrè Dolf.
Italy Women: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Francesca Granzotto, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sofia Stefan (Captain), 8 Francesca Sgorbini, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 6 Beatrice Vernonese, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 3 Sara Seye, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 1 Silvia Turani.
Replacements: 16 Laura Gurioli, 17 Emanuela Stecca, 18 Gaia Maris, 19 Alessandra Frangipani, 20 Elana Errichiello, 21 Emma Stevanin, 22 Sara Mannini, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi.
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assistant Referees: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Maria Latos (Germany)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand)
Scotland v Australia
(Athlone Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT; 16.00 UK time; 01.00 Sunday, Oct 13 AEST)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Australia by five points
Scotland Women: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, Rachel Malcolm (captain), 6 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Eva Donaldson, 3 Elliane Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartless
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Young, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Jade Konkel, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Meryl Smith, 23 Lucia Scott
Australia Women: 15 Catilyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Cecilia Smith, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Layne Morgan, 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 7 Ashley Marsters, 6 Siokapesi Palu, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Tania Naden, 1 Bridle O’Gorman
Replacements: 16 Tiarna Molloy, 17 Sally Fuesaina, 18 Alapeta Ngauamo, 19 Atasi Lafai, 20 Lucy Dinnen, 21 Samantha Wood, 22 Trilleen Pomare, 23 Lori Cramer
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Zoe Naude (South Africa) & Aneka Fick (South Africa)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
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