Caslick debuts but Stewart injured as Wallaroos win big
A comprehensive Test win for the Wallaroos over Fijiana has come at a cost, with star winger Maya Stewart going down with a knee injury.
Saturday's battle for the inaugural Vuvale Bowl trophy was effectively over by half-time after the Wallaroos ran in five tries to one to power to a 31-7 lead by the break.
The visitors extended their advantage further in the second half to run out 43-7 winners in Suva.
Also injured in the contest was outside centre Bienne Terita who was hurt while diving in the corner for her second try of the match in the 27th minute.
Terita lay on the turf in pain for a couple of minutes before being piggy-backed off the pitch.
Her exit brought Sevens star Charlotte Caslick into the game for her Wallaroos debut.
A W in our first Test on Fijian soil 🙌Thanks for hosting us, @fijirugby 🤝#Wallaroos pic.twitter.com/R0wCgZZ7sc
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) May 3, 2025
Australia led 19-7 at the time, and they continued the momentum on the way to the seven-tries-to-one victory.
But the win was soured by the loss of Stewart, the team's 2024 player of the year injuring her right knee and limping from the field.
"We talk about growth, and super proud of our girls. There were a few debutants, opportunities out there," Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu told Stan.
"But we've got to give credit to Fiji. They're a physical team, and in that second half you could see that."
Fiji took a surprise 7-0 lead in the seventh minute after Alfreda Fisher barged through for the opening try.
It was all one-way traffic from that point on as the visitors took control of the contest.
Fullback Caitlyn Halse managed to keep control of the ball while falling backwards to score the Wallaroos' first try in the 10th minute.
A double strike from Terita which was followed by a try to captain Siokapesi Palu gave the Wallaroos breathing space.
And when winger Desiree Miller crossed on the stroke of half-time, the Wallaroos already boasted a match-winning lead.
They scored another two tries in the second half - via Layne Morgan and Tania Naden - to run out comprehensive winners.
The Wallaroos will be back in action next Saturday when they take on the Black Ferns in Newcastle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Huge boost for Reds as Crusaders call on All Blacks
Harry Wilson has been named to start for the Queensland Reds against a Crusaders team stacked with All Blacks for their Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final. The incumbent Wallabies captain looked at long odds to play when he ran off in obvious pain late in Saturday's defeat of the Fijian Drua, just two games into his return from a fractured arm. But precautionary scans cleared Wilson to return to training this week. The influential No.8 trained on Tuesday and has been named to start in what is forecast to be a cold, wet Friday-night encounter. Wilson starred when the Reds ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last year. He has always been highly rated across the ditch, earning glowing praise from then Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, now helming the All Blacks, after his 2020 Super Rugby debut. "It's really pleasing news for us but, more importantly, for Harry. He's come through the early part of the week well," coach Les Kiss said. "He's a true competitor when it comes to battles against the New Zealand sides and their top back rows." Versatile forward Seru Uru (knee) has not been recalled despite training on Tuesday, the Reds' pack unchanged for a third straight game. Centre Dre Pakeho returns to the bench with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (HIA) sidelined, while Filipo Daugunu will start on the wing and Tim Ryan will come off the bench. The Crusaders, who won five consecutive Super Rugby titles either side of the COVID-19 impacted 2020-21 seasons, are on a 16-game finals winning streak dating back to 2016. They have never lost a finals game at home and have won 13 of their past 14 games against the Reds. Fullback Will Jordan is back, while captain David Havili returns at centre, the pair among 10 All Blacks in the Crusaders' starting 15. Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor, hunting a feel-good Wallabies recall ahead of the British and Irish Lions series, will come off the bench. "This is a strong team, and I can't wait to unleash them come Friday," coach Rob Penney said. REDS: Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell. Reserves: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan. CRUSADERS: Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan. Replacements: George Bell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Johnny McNicholl.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Yahoo
The Breakdown's Premiership team of the 2024-25 season
The Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou has been in scintillating form for Bristol Bears, and lines up at outside-centre in the Breakdown's team of the season. The Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou has been in scintillating form for Bristol Bears, and lines up at outside-centre in the Breakdown's team of the season. Photograph:Full back Santiago Carreras (Gloucester) Plenty of quality contenders – Sale's Joe Carpenter, Northampton's George Furbank and Bristol's Rich Lane – and I was also tempted to hand Alex Goode a well-deserved retirement gift. But Carreras has been an absolute joy to watch and central to Gloucester's attacking reinvention. For a snapshot check out the try he helped to start and then finished against Sale at Kingsholm in January. The prospect of him linking up with Finn Russell at Bath next season is mouthwatering. Right wing Tommy Freeman (Northampton) A season to remember for a fine player who continues to improve. There are quicker right wingers around – Saracens' Tobias Elliott, Exeter's Paul Brown-Bampoe and Leicester's Adam Radwan have all caught the eye – but none with Freeman's all-round instincts, aerial ability and deceptive strength. Fifteen tries in his past 12 games of the season for club and country is not the worst springboard into this summer's British & Irish Lions tour. Outside-centre Kalaveti Ravouvou (Bristol) The 26-year-old Ravouvou has featured in a variety of positions this season but has to be included somewhere on this team sheet. Eleven tries in 13 Premiership games – he missed the start of the campaign – tells only part of the story. Give him the ball and something special tends to happen, as underlined by his extraordinary back-handed offload to set up Gabriel Ibitoye for a try against Leicester in April. Pips his Bears teammate Benhard Janse Van Rensburg and Bath's sadly injured Ollie Lawrence. Inside-centre Seb Atkinson (Gloucester) England have been looking for young players with the skillset to fill the pivotal 12 jersey and Atkinson, still only 23, has all the necessary attributes. Strong, fit and dextrous he featured in all Gloucester's league games, contributing seven tries, and must be pushing strongly for a first Test cap on tour this summer. Suddenly, with Sale's Rekeiti Ma'asi-White and Bath's Max Ojomoh also in the frame, Steve Borthwick has intriguing options. Left wing Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol) Yes, he makes the occasional howler. Yes, he sees things differently. But Ibitoye did not finish this season as the league's joint top scorer by accident and, with the Bears preparing to face Bath in Friday's semi-final, he is not finished yet. Almost ridiculously elusive and with an astute eye for a gap, he just needs to tighten up his defence a notch. Ollie Hassell-Collins, Cadan Murley and Arron Reed are all unlucky. Fly-half George Ford (Sale Sharks) Overlooked by the British & Irish Lions but not by everyone else. While the past few seasons have had their frustrations he has been consistently influential for the Sharks this year, particularly when you dig deeper into the stats. Leaving aside the Saracens fixture in September – when he limped off after six minutes – Sale have won all but one of the other 11 league games he started. Food for thought for his former club Leicester this weekend. Scrum-half Tomos Williams (Gloucester) Ben Spencer has enjoyed another fine season for Bath and Alex Mitchell remains a class operator. In common with Carreras, though, it is impossible to overlook the whirring dynamo who has sparked Gloucester's fast and furious attacking rugby. Williams started all but one of the Cherry & Whites' games and his no-look basketball-style scoring pass to Seb Atkinson against Bristol was among the season's defining images. Loosehead prop Francois van Wyk (Bath) Francois who? This is probably a record because Van Wyk has started 13 of his 17 Premiership games this season on the bench. But once he rumbles on to the field as a specialist second-half replacement there is mostly only one outcome: the Bath pack crank things up and the opposition slowly have the life squeezed out of them. Will receive nil publicity outside north-east Somerset before this week's semi-final, but a vital cog in the Bath machine nevertheless. Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks) Could easily have gone for Northampton's Curtis Langdon or Bath's Tom Dunn, neither of whom have taken a backward step all season. Nathan Jibulu, bound for Sale from Harlequins, also looks a serious prospect. But Cowan-Dickie's career revival following a worrying neck injury has been remarkable and his recent form has also helped to drive Sale's late-season challenge. Will fancy denting a few Wallabies on the Lions' tour of Australia. Tighthead prop Thomas du Toit (Bath) The Springbok rock upon which Bath's table-topping season has been based. Every top side needs an immovable object at tighthead and Bath have not lost a league match in which Du Toit has started since the season's opening weekend. Among the nominees for player of the season and must have a decent chance of claiming the top prize on behalf of unsung front-rowers everywhere. Has also helped his teammate Will Stuart raise his game to the next level. Lock Maro Itoje (Saracens) Newly married, captain of the British & Irish Lions and now – drum roll – selected in the Breakdown's team of the season for a second consecutive year. Amid his myriad other commitments he has started 14 league games and has not been substituted by either club or country in any fixture since the end of September. That kind of durability and mental strength continues to set him apart. Lock Ollie Chessum (Leicester) Another potentially valuable Lion-in-waiting. Chessum is becoming as much of a talisman for Leicester as Du Toit is for Bath. The Tigers have lost only one league game this season in which their 24-year-old England forward has featured; if he can stay fit he should have a long and successful Test career. His battle against Sale's bruising forwards will go a long way towards determining Saturday's semi-final. Blindside flanker Ted Hill (Bath) What a vintage season it has been for back-row forwards. Sale's Tom Curry, Saracens' Juan Martín González, Northampton's Alex Coles (how good was he in the Champions Cup final?) and Josh Kemeny are all high-class operators but Hill, regularly overlooked by England, has been consistently outstanding. He can operate in the second row, soar high in the lineout, tackle like a tank and sprint like a back; not since the rampaging Tom Croft has a towering back-rower possessed such devastating pace. Openside flanker Henry Pollock (Northampton) Plenty of alternative options here as well, led by Ben Curry at Sale, Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper at Bath and Will Evans at Harlequins. But Pollock, black headband and all, has gatecrashed the England team, played in a Champions Cup final and made the Lions squad aged 20. Can also operate at No 8, where his pace off the base makes him dangerous, while his turnover ability and penchant for irritating opponents make it impossible for him to be overlooked. No 8 Tom Willis (Saracens) Made a storming start to the season and, despite also representing England and England A, possessed sufficient energy and stamina to feature in 16 of Sarries' 18 league games. Not his fault that Saracens could not quite make the playoffs but at least it gives him a slight respite before England head off on tour to Argentina and the United States. Seven tries for club and country was his best return in a season since 2020-21, when he scored eight for Wasps. Adieu, farewell The list grows ever longer. Ben Youngs, Danny Care, Dan Cole, Mike Brown and, now, Alex Goode, all distinguished England internationals who have announced their retirement from top-level rugby in recent weeks. Add Joe Marler and Anthony Watson, who walked away a few months ago, and it really is the end of an era for the English domestic game. All the above played most of their rugby for one club, never tired of the Premiership grind and, in different ways, were inspiring role models for those seeking to follow in their footsteps. Good luck to each and every one for the next chapter and thanks for the memories. One to watch The United Rugby Championship has also reached the semi-final stage with Leinster playing Glasgow Warriors in Dublin and the Bulls hosting the Sharks in an all-South African clash in Pretoria. The Sharks owe their place to a 6-4 victory in a dramatic penalty shootout when their quarter-final against Munster in Durban finished 24-24 after extra time. It again raised the issue of the best way to decide tied matches, with penalty shootouts in rugby even less satisfying than their football equivalents. Should Sharks have prevailed because they finished higher up the final league table? Or should Munster have been rewarded either for scoring 12 more tries than Sharks in the regular season, or for being the away side? Spectators should surely be served up something more imaginative: perhaps a 'golden try' with both sides reduced to 12 players if the scores are still level after 10 minutes of additional time? There are already calls to introduce a 'golden point' for the forthcoming British & Irish Lions series against Australia, with some underwhelmed by the shared series result in 2017 between the Lions and the All Blacks. Anything but goal kicks should be the organisers' mantra: rugby can do much better. Memory lane The end of the Premiership season sparks memories of great matches of the past and one that immediately springs to mind is the extraordinary comeback by Harlequins against Wasps at Twickenham on the opening day of the season in 2012. As our Michael Aylwin wrote: 'To overturn a 27-point deficit in a little over 20 minutes feels as if it is unprecedented but that is what Harlequins did here. In the 58th minute, the scoreline read 40-13 in Wasps' favour, and how the whipping boys of last season had deserved it, their wings, and Christian Wade in particular, tearing the champions to shreds for the first hour or so … As if a 40-13 deficit were not unlikely enough for the side who won the title against the side who nearly slipped off the back of the Premiership into oblivion, Harlequins somehow eventually achieved the most extraordinary of two-point wins.' Still want more? Bristol Bears clinched a playoff spot by seeing off Harlequins at Ashton Gate. Read Michael Aylwin's report. Advertisement Gloucester sealed a bonus-point win against Northampton but it was not enough for the top four, reports Luke McLaughlin. And British & Irish Lions highlights will be available free-to-air this summer. Read the exclusive story by Matt Hughes. Subscribe To subscribe to the Breakdown, just visit this page and follow the instructions. And sign up for The Recap, the best of our sports writing from the past seven days.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bristol thrash Quins to book semi-final derby spot
Gallagher Premiership Bristol (26) 52 Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6) Harlequins (12) 26 Tries: Murley (2), Dombrandt, Hammond Cons: Benson (3) Advertisement Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final at Bath in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Gate. The Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata tries. Cadan Murley's fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the break. Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart but memories of the 2021 'Bristanbul' comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five points. Advertisement However, scores from Santiago Grondona and Ibitoye settled the nerves before Benhard Janse van Rensburg brought up the half-century as the Bears booked a trip to their West Country neighbours on Friday night. Blistering start sets the tone for Bears Noah Heward made his first Bears start at full back since January after injury while Pat Lam handed Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo his Bears debut. With a semi-final spot out of reach Danny Wilson made three changes to the Quins starting XV as Jamie Benson made his first Premiership start at fly-half while Luke Northmore returned at centre and Nick David started at full back. Advertisement It took just 93 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock as quick hands from MacGinty sent Ibitoye flying down the left wing and despite some good defence from Quins near their own line, prop George Kloska plunged over near the posts, with MacGinty slotting the extras. The second try arrived inside five mins as lock Joe Batley stretched to touch down over the line after another powerful drive, with MacGinty again converting. A penalty kick into the corner and a deep lineout paved the way for Luke Northmore to cross for Quins after an angled run on 10 minutes but the try was chalked-off for a forward pass from Dombrandt, who was then held-up over the line by Fitz Harding after a bulldozing run straight from the restart. Quins got back in it on 17 minutes when Murley raced onto a clever chip forward from Benson on the 22 to catch a high bouncing ball and plunge over, allowing Benson to add two points from infront of the posts. Advertisement Bristol extended their lead just three minutes later as Harry Randall found space on the right and Fijian flyer Ravouvou raced down the whitewash to acrobatically dive over in the corner for his 11th try of the campaign, though the conversion sailed wide. The onslaught continued and Mata produced a brilliant angled run and bulldozed his way under the posts through some rather static defence for Bristol's fourth try and a bonus point on 24 minutes, with MacGinty notching the conversion to make it 26-7. Bears' 16th try bonus point of the season is a new Premiership record. Batley was denied a second try by another forward pass to the left wing before MacGinty's pass was intercepted by Hammond in midfield and a long ball out wide paved the way for Murley to step inside his man and scorch down the left from inside his own half for his 11th try of the season just after the half-hour, though Benson missed the conversion attempt from out wide. Gabriel Ibitoye beats Jamie Benson to the line and finished as joint top try-scorer with Ollie Hassell-Collins with 13 [Getty Images] Bears battle back after nervy start Six minutes after the turnaround Quins replacement Sean Kerr almost broke away but Bears won back possession and Ravouvou's break down the left and some fine passing across the width of the field paved the way for Ibitoye to stroll into the right corner for his 12th try of the campaign, a new club record, against his former club, though the conversion was unsuccessful. Advertisement Bears nerved started jangling, as memories of the 28-point collapse in the 2021 semi-final against Quins returned as the visitors notched two converted tries in three minutes. Dombrandt reduced the arrears after a slick dummy through the line from Benson created space and Quins added another from close range on 52 minutes after a break from Northmore, with Hammond diving through a crowd to touch down on the line, with Benson's third conversion making it a five-point game. The hosts could breathe again on 58 minutes when Grondona plunged over to end a series of goalline probes, with MacGinty adding the two points, and some lightning hands and feet from MacGinty saw the ball spread to Ibitoye on the left to jink his way to the line for try number 13, the joint most in the league this season, with MacGinty adding the extras from the whitewash to restore the 19-point lead and bring up 1,000 in his Premiership career for Bears and Sale. As Quins wilted in the Bristol sunshine Bears were denied a penalty try for Benson's slap into touch behind the posts, however Janse van Rensburg barged through a gap to dot down behind the posts to bring up the half-century, with MacGinty adding his sixth conversion. Advertisement The hosts saw out the final 10 minutes without further alarm to register their biggest ever win over Harlequins, secure their return to the semi-finals for the first time in four years and book a mouthwatering clash at the Rec on Friday night. 'We know how to beat Bath' Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby, told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am very proud of this group, this is probably one of the highlights of my time at Bristol Bears. "We know there's areas we can improve on. To be missing stardust players for several months at a time, the squad has really gelled together to get us through the tough times." Advertisement [On the derby date at the Rec on Friday night] "We're excited. Bath have only lost three games this year, and we've beaten them twice. "We've played them 14 times since we've been back in the Premiership, won all of them at Ashton Gate, once at the Principality and we've won more at the Rec than we've lost. "We know how to beat Bath. The challenge is it's now a semi-final. I have to get the game plan right." Quins head coach Danny Wilson said: "We started the game terribly today and it put us in a bit of a hole. "We were back in it at 31-26, but then Bristol capitalised on their opportunities. Advertisement "They are a very, very good side if you let them let rip. It has been a painful end to the season." Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, Bates. Harlequins: David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt. Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Halfpenny. Referee: Luke Pearce
