Australia held off a resurgent Japan in the second half to secure their first 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup victory with a 29-15 win in Dublin.
The Wallaroos were 19-0 up just before half-time at Billings Park after Samantha Treherne, Grace Hamilton and Mahalia Murphy ran in tries, but Japan clawed their way back to within four points with 17 minutes remaining to set up a tense conclusion to the Pool C match.
Nareta Marsters scored to calm any Australian nerves and Treherne grabbed a second try to ice the victory with eight minutes remaining and secure the Wallaroos’ first World Cup win since they beat Wales to finish seventh at the last tournament in 2014.
Victory means the Australians finish third in Pool C, ahead of the winless Japanese. France progress as group winners, while hosts Ireland held on to second place. Paul Verrell’s side will now play Ireland for a shot at fifth place against the winner of the other playoff between Canada and Wales.
“We can’t make the semi-finals with one pool win, but we still have a lot to play for,” Verrell said. “We’ll head to Belfast with the goal of finishing as highly ranked as we possibly can to ensure we can compete at the next World Cup.
“We also want to continue to build as a team and create a Wallaroos program that girls back home want to be a part of.”
