![\"Video](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/spacer-new.png\")
<\/p>\nAustralia will take plenty of confidence into the Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup, bouncing back from last weekend\u2019s shock loss to Wales with a scintillating 36-5 win over the same foe at North Sydney Oval on Friday.<\/p>\n
At Brisbane\u2019s Ballymore Stadium six days ago, the Wallaroos took an early lead before lightning struck, leading to a 35-minute delay. Wales took control from there, holding on for their first-ever win on Australian soil.<\/p>\n
It was also Wales\u2019 first win away from home in more than 800 days, with the Australians made to pay for costly mistakes in tough conditions. With that in mind, the weather forecast in Sydney might\u2019ve had Wallaroos fans feeling a bit nervous ahead of Friday\u2019s Test.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cameron Dawson on scrummaging<\/p>\n
Cameron Dawson on scrummaging<\/p>\n
Intense rain poured down from the heavens as Australia and Wales warmed up, with fans making their way into the stadium in their thousands. While conditions calmed down by the time the Test got underway, it was a talking point pre-game.<\/p>\n
Both teams managed the conditions well during the opening 40, with Jasmin Joyce flying down the left edge inside the first few minutes. Desiree Miller<\/a> secured a turnover at the breakdown, but a poor clearance from Faitala Moleka<\/a> kept the pressure on Australia.<\/p>\n Wales had lost one of their co-captains moments before that break, with No. 8 Alex Callender<\/a> leaving the contest. Replacement Georgina Evans was injected into the Test, with Wales dominating possession early on.<\/p>\n The Wallaroos had 20 per cent of possession during the first 10 minutes. Wales came very close to scoring the opener during that period, but defensive brilliance from Michaela Leonard<\/a>, Piper Duck<\/a> and captain Emily Chancellor<\/a> held a Welsh player up over the line.<\/p>\n Against the run of play, the Wallaroos were actually the first to strike on the scoreboard. After surviving relentless pressure on defence, the Australians made the most of their first real attacking opportunity \u2013 with Maya Stewart<\/a> crossing out wide in the 16th.<\/p>\n Fullback Caitlyn Halse<\/a> threw a superb cutout pass to Stewart, who marked an important return from injury with a five-pointer. Samantha Wood lined up a shot at goal from the right sideline, and with a skip and a jump, added the extras to give the Wallaroos a hard-fought 7-nil lead.<\/p>\n There was a sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu from there as Wales began to dominate possession once again, and this time it led to points. Milestone woman Jasmin Joyce made the most of a four-on-one overlap to score, running over Desiree Miller to crash over.<\/p>\n With the conversion missing the mark, Australia still held a two-point lead.<\/p>\n In their second entry into the 22, the Wallaroos scored again, this time through fly-half Faitala Moleka who stepped between two defenders en route to the try line. Wallaroos squad members in the crowd erupted, and they let out another cheer when Wood added the conversion.<\/p>\n Wood had another opportunity to add points soon after, lining up a long-range penalty attempt from about 40 metres. The scrum-half had been perfect off the boot up until that point, but this shot fell short of the uprights.<\/p>\n Australia still had the last laugh before the break, with Katalina Amosa<\/a> crashing over just before the break. With the conversion from close range, the hosts took a commanding 21-5 advantage into the sheds.<\/p>\n The Wallaroos picked up right where they left off early in the second, with powerful backrower Tabua Tuinakauvadra<\/a> adding more points to the home side\u2019s strong lead. Wood missed the mark with the conversion, but only just.<\/p>\n Tuinakauvadra completed a double soon after, benefiting from some lead-up work from Miller. The winger raced down the left edge before bumping off a defender, but an intentional knock-on against prop Gwenllian Pyrs<\/a> saw Wales go down to 14 players.<\/p>\n Australia opted for a scrum after the penalty was awarded. Wales\u2019 scrum was significantly better this time around compared to last weekend, but there was no stopping Tuinakauvadra, who peeled off the back to score the Wallaroos\u2019 fifth try in 50 minutes.<\/p>\n After controlling possession for practically 25 minutes, the Australians eventually scored again through Test veteran Ashley Marsters. With Miller failing to hit the mark from the kicking tee, the Wallaroos were one point short of equalling their record win against the Welsh.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s still time left on the clock.<\/p>\n About three minutes.<\/p>\n It seemed Marsters had scored a historic try about three minutes into the red, but the score was ruled out by the TMO for obstruction.<\/p>\n