Sports17 September, 20262 min read
Wales Thrash South Africa 50-19 in WXV Global Series Opener at Cardiff Arms Park
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Wales beat South Africa 50-19 at Cardiff Arms Park in WXV opener. Wales scored eight tries and led 38-5 at halftime.
8 outlets told this the same way.
Wales stun South Africa
Wales opened their WXV Global Series campaign with an eight-try 50-19 victory over South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park, with the scoreboard reading 50-19 under Cardiff’s Friday night lights. BBC Sport described it as a result “even the most optimistic of fans could not have predicted,” given South Africa entered ranked 10th in the world, three places above Wales.
The South Wales Argus said Wales ended a nine-match losing streak and led 38-5 at half-time, with Sisilia Tuipulotu scoring twice and Amy Williams assisting in the final try. SA Rugby magazine added that Wales raced to a 38-5 half-time lead, with the Springbok Women hampered by two yellow cards and a red card upgraded from a yellow for Danelle Lochner.
Quotes and match turning points
After the win, Wales head coach Sean Lynn said, “There have been some tough times, but you’ve got to have those adverse times,” and added, “This is just the start for us, this is going to be our new DNA.” Co-captain Kate Williams told reporters, “After all of the tough times we have been through, as a team and Welsh rugby generally, we are going to keep working for the positive feeling to continue,” while also saying, “What we want out of this WXV Series is more wins.”
In the match itself, Wales’ early momentum included Courtney Keight crossing inside the opening 10 minutes and Sisilia Tuipulotu adding a second try after taking a well-timed pass from Georgia Evans. South Africa’s response included a try from scrum-half Felicia Jacobs after a scrum close to the line, but the hosts went to the break 38-5 after Seren Lockwood, Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones and Lisa Neumann scored.
Next match and squad implications
Wales now face USA at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, 26 September, in their second outing of the new WXV campaign, with the BBC noting the fixture as part of the WXV Global Series. BBC Sport also said Lynn would be waiting on the fitness of scrum-half Seren Lockwood after she failed to return to the pitch after a head injury assessment, while Carys Cox could return to give “another exciting option in the backline.”
SA Rugby magazine reported that South Africa will need to regroup quickly with Italy next on the schedule next Saturday, after their opening WXV Global Series match ended in defeat. The WXV Global Series squads preview listed Wales’ reshuffled backline for the South Africa match, including Lisa Neumann moving to full-back and Alex Callender returning to the backrow alongside Kate Williams and Bryonie King.