Australia and Scotland set up a winner-takes-all WXV 2 finale in Cape Town next Saturday following a see-saw second round at Athlone Sports Stadium.
With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi watching on from the stands on Saturday, defending champions Scotland extended their unbeaten run in the second level, securing their fifth successive victory with a 19-13 defeat of Japan.
That was followed by a bonus-point 33-26 win for the Wallaroos against hosts South Africa, which keeps Jo Yapp’s side top of the standings; two points clear of Scotland.
In Friday’s opening match of round two Italy were made to dig deep in the closing stages to hold on to a narrow 8-5 victory against Wales.
Wales 5-8 Italy
Italy had already had a try disallowed for a forward pass when their early pressure told in the 11th minute and captain Elisa Giordano burrowed over from close range.
Beatrice Rigoni missed the subsequent conversion attempt, though, and Wales grew into the match as the half wore on.
Hannah Bluck, a late call-up to replace centre Kerin Lake, levelled the scores with five minutes left in the first half, taking advantage of some good phase play to score from close range.
Wales scrum-half Bevan passed up the opportunity to add the extras, meaning the teams headed into half-time tied at 5-5.
Rigoni found her range early in the second half to convert a penalty attempt and nudge the Auzzurre back into the lead.
The Italian playmaker then produced a stunning reverse pass to free Francesca Granzotto around 15 minutes later, but the winger ran into traffic before she could find support.
And Wales finished the match firmly on the front foot and may wonder how they didn’t find the scoring touch.
In the final minute, Ioan Cunningham’s side were awarded a penalty under the posts but turned down the kick at goal in pursuit of victory.
And following more than five minutes of attacking possession their hopes of victory came to an end when scrum-half Bevan was held up over the Italian line.
Japan 13-19 Scotland
It took Scotland less than three minutes to take the lead against Japan, as Francesca McGhie ran an incisive line before stepping covering full-back, Sora Nishimura and touching down.
Helen Nelson added the conversion, but Japan rallied and scored a deserved try just before the half-hour mark.
Scotland winger Rhona Lloyd’s attempt to prevent a 50/22 from Ayasa Otsuka presented possession to the Sakura 15s and as the ball was recycled close to the line, Seina Sato was able to power over and score.
Otsuka missed the conversion, though, and Scotland increased their lead on the brink of half-time as Meryl Smith and McGhie combined down the left wing to send flanker Alex Stewart over.
Japan cut their deficit to four points with an Otsuka penalty midway through the second half but minutes later Lloyd atoned for her earlier error to give the defending champions daylight once again.
Following a committed period of possession, it was Smith and Emma Orr who combined to give Lloyd space and time to dot down.
Smith added an impressive conversion to give Scotland an 11-point lead but that was cut to six almost immediately as Sakura 15s captain Iroha Nagata went over at the back of a lineout drive.
It set up an enthralling final 10 minutes, but Scotland did what they had to do to keep Japan out and make it two wins from two; and five from five since the start of last year’s inaugural WXV 2 tournament.
South Africa 26-33 Australia
The Wallaroos started in lightning fashion at Athlone Sports Stadium, running in three tries inside the opening 13 minutes.
Flanker Siokapesi Palu scored the first of those, burrowing over from close range, before winger Maya Stewart’s bulldozing run set up centre Georgina Friedrichs to touch down.
Faitala Moleka converted both tries to give Australia an early 14-0 lead but cheered on by Kolisi, the Springbok Women were determined not to be overwhelmed.
South Africa scrum-half Unam Tose charged down an attempted clearance from Caitlyn Halse in the 10th minute before winning the race to the bouncing ball to score.
Australia scored their third try shortly afterwards, prop Eva Karpani showing her speed to canter into a gap and under the posts from 10 metres out.
But again, the hosts refused to buckle and after Wallaroos centre Cecilia Smith knocked on over the line, they got a deserved second try before half-time through Sinazo Mcatshulwa.
Nadine Roos’ conversion cut the deficit to nine points, but Australia ultimately made sure of victory with two tries in seven second-half minutes as Desiree Miller and Stewart went over.
South Africa continued to push, though, and made sure of two bonus points the closing five minutes as Zintle Mpupha and Micke Gunte crossed the whitewash, and Roos converted both.
The hosts even had an opportunity to win it, but the Wallaroos stood firm.
