Perth SVNS, Day One - Women
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the women’s matches on Day One of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
Australia will head in to the event brimming with confidence – having dominated the opening two rounds with victories in Dubai and Cape Town in December.
They lead the standings, six points ahead of France and New Zealand and are set to go for a hat trick of titles on home soil where they will face Canada, Great Britain and South Africa in Pool A.
Rivals and reigning Series and Olympic champions New Zealand will meet the United States, Ireland and Japan in Pool C, while France, Fiji, Brazil and Spain will compete in Pool B.
Round 2:
Fiji 31 – 0 Spain
The first round 2 clash between Fiji and Spain got off to a slow start in the scorching Perth heat. Despite an early yellow card by the Spanish after a dangerous tackle by INGRID ALGAR.
The Flying Fijians managed to find some space through REAPI ULUNISAU and went in to the 2nd half with 7 points up.
The 2nd half the Flying Fijians found a bit more momentum and managed to score 4 more tries with REAPI ULUNISAU scoring another one to finish off a brace.
France 31 – 14 Brazil
The French dominated the early encounters in this match-up as they looked for their 2nd win of the day. They managed to score two tries before the Brazilian speedster THALIA COSTA scored at the cusp of half time to make it 12-7.
The French showed their class in the 2nd half and took the game away from the Brazilians by scoring a couple more.
THALIA COSTA managed to score a second try which will go down as consolation try for Brazil.
United States 33 – 5 Japan
It was plain sailing for the Eagles as they recorded a 28-0 first half lead with KRISTI KIRSHE scoring 3 tries. The USA used the direct route and dominated the Japanese in contact despite their aggressive line speed on defense.
Japan managed to find some space wide and get on the scoreboard in the 2nd half as KRISTI KIRSHE scores in the corner.
USA gets their first win of the day.
New Zealand 21 – 14 Ireland
The Irish came out all gun blazing in this match up and scored the first try of the game as AMEE LEIGH MURPHY CROWE finds some space out wide, putting New Zealand under some pressure early on.
The Black Ferns responded well to the challenge by scoring two impressive tries through STACEY WAAKA and JORJA MILLER.
JORJA MILLER scored another one in the 2nd half and New Zealand managed to keep out a late scare by Ireland after a try by AOIBHEANN REILLY.
Canada 26 – 7 South Africa
The Canadians got off the good start while the South Africans struggled to convert their opportunities into points.
Canada scored a first half try through KRISSY SCURFIELD and went into the 2nd half with 7 points up.
KRISSY SCURFIELD scored an early 2nd half try and South Africa managed to respond with one of their own through ZINTLE MPUPHA.
The Canadians proved too strong in the end for the Blitzboks
Australia 12-19 Great Britain
Great Britain got off to a solid start scoring the first try of the match.
Australia responded with a try of their own and then had to dig deep to go 12-7 up in the first half despite playing with one less player on the field due to Teagan Levi being sent off with a red card.
Great Britain manages to beat Australia for the first time in the HSBC SVNS series as they score 2 more tries in the 2nd half.
Hats off to the Aussies for the effort as they made GB work hard for that W. Despite being a player down for most of the match.
Round 1:
Fiji 40 – 15 Brazil
Things got underway in Perth with 4th place on the HSCBC SVNS standings, Fiji facing the South American team Brazil (8th) who looked end a nine-game losing streak against the Flying Fijian’s. The Fijians got off to a strong start with play maker ADI VANI BULEKI leading the charges, scoring a brace in the first half to take a 33-0 lead. Brazil managed to score three back-to-back tries before Fiji snuck in a final try.
France 26 – 5 Spain
The 2nd game of the day saw a very physical French side get off to a clinical start, scoring 3 unanswered tries in the first half by dominating the contact situation in every aspect of the game. The Spanish threw everything they could at the French defense and managed to break it with just less then 2 minutes left on the clock. The French responded with a final try by ANNE-CÉCILE CIOFANI to comfortably take the win at the end.
United States 14 – 19 Ireland
In this Pool C fixture things seemed evenly matched in the opening minutes but Ireland came out on top in the first half scoring two to one, AMEE LEIGH MURPHY CROWE scoring the second Irish try.
The USA fought back in the 2nd half and JAZ GRAY managed to find space to level things up on the scoreboard but seconds later MEGAN BURNS snuck in again for the Irish to establish a 5 point lead and they managed to keep out USA at the death.
New Zealand 29 – 5 Japan
The three time Sydney Champions started off their quest in becoming only the second team in HSBC SVNS history to win four consecutive Cup titles in the same country by playing Japan who brought the fight to them.
After scoring an early try the New Zealander’s struggled to keep Japan at bay and a yellow awarded to RISI POURI-LANE did not aid the All Blacks in their attempt.
The second half got off to a similar fashion with New Zealand scoring another early try but then the All Blacks shifted up a gear and washed the Japanese off the park.
Canada 12 – 14 Great Britain
Canada dominated the early contests in this match up and were rewarded with a try by ASIA HOGAN-ROCHESTER who found some space and put in a massive hand-off.
Great Britain responded with a JASMINE JOYCE try and managed to go in on top at the end of the first half (7-5).
They got then got off to as shaky start in the second half but Canada failed to capitalize on the mistakes made by GB. through
Canada managed to hang in there and score through KRISSY SCURFIELD despite giving away a number of penalties in their defensive effort.
Great Britain manages to pull this one through as ELLIE BOATMAN gets the winning score.
Australia 31 – 0 South Africa
Australia got off to a dream start as they scored two early tries, BIENNE TERITA and ALYSIA LEFAU-FAKAOSILEA going over in quick succession.
They went into the 2nd half with 3 unanswered tries as FAITH NATHAN also visited behind the try line.
South Africa did not seem to have an answer to this dominating Australian team chasing their first Cup title on home soil in six years and looking to win the opening three events of the season for the first time since 2015-16.
Australia ticked the box with a 5 try, bonus point win over South Africa.
Australia 12-19 Great Britain
Great Britain got off to a solid start with scoring the first try of the match.
Australia responded with a try of their own and then had to dig deep go 12-7 up in the first despite playing one less player on the field due to Teagan Levi being sent off with a red card for a dangerous tackle.
Great Britain manages to beat Australia for the first time in the HSBC SVNS series as they manage to score 2 more tries
Hats off to the Aussies for that effort as they made GB work that W despite being a player down for most of the match.
Pool A
Results
Canada 12 – 14 Great Britain
Australia 31 – 0 South Africa
Canada 26 – 7 South Africa
Australia 12-19 Great Britain
Pool B
Results
Fiji 40 – 15 Brazil
France 26 – 5 Spain
Fiji 31 v 0 Spain
France 31 – 14 Brazil
Pool C
Results
United States 14 – 19 Ireland
New Zealand 29 – 5 Japan
United States 33 – 5 Japan
New Zealand 21 – 14 Ireland
