Australia overcame a nervy and tentative start to the third
place play-off to beat France 22-8, scoring four first half tries
at the Twickenham Stoop to sign off from Women's Rugby World
Cup 2010 on a winning note.
The Wallaroos were already guaranteed their best ever World
Cup ranking by virtue of reaching the semi finals for the first
time, but Australia were not prepared simply to settle for fourth
place after giving England an almight scare in the semi finals.
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In the opening minutes, France made their intentions clear,
kicking for touch in the Australian half with regularity, fly half
Aurélie Bailon's boot keeping the Wallaroos virtually pinned in
their own 22. Her delicate chip was gathered in goal by Nicole
Beck, but the resultant penalty gave France a 3-0 lead.
Australia found themselves repeatedly penalised by referee
Dana Teagarden, resulting in wing Nicole Beck - one of four
nominees for the IRB Women's Personality of the Year 2010 award
which will be presented after the World Cup final - receiving an
early yellow card.
France, though, were unable to make their player advantage
count and if anything the yellow card managed to fire the
Australians into life, a flowing move involving breaks from Debby
Hodgkinson and Sharni Williams resulting in a try for centre
Cobie-Jane Morgan.
With regular kicker Beck off the field, Tobie McGann missed
the conversion and a penalty minutes later after the Wallaroos were
unlucky not to score again, Tricia Brown scything through the
defence only to be unable to find Kristy Giteau on her inside with
France clearing the danger.
France suffered a blow when flanker Claire Canal was forced to
limp off minutes later, and things got worse when Australia scored
another try, a powerful drive coming up just short, but quick ball
and awareness by captain Cheryl Soon enabled her to find flanker
Rebecca Trethowan to touch down in the corner.
Australia had the bit between their teeth and number three
followed, Beck making a break and finding Brown in support only for
the full back to fall. Her quick release of the ball and arrival of
support enabled the ball to reach Williams, who sent Morgan in
under the posts for her second.
The French, bidding to replicate their third place finishes
at the last two World Cups, did manage to stem the tide briefly but
with their tails up, Australia added another try just before half
time, a miss pass releasing Brown who stepped inside the covering
defender to race clear. Beck hit the post with the conversion, but
Australia still had a 22-3 half-time advantage.
The Wallaroos, unlike in their Pool A match against South
Africa, failed to build on that advantage despite making a number
of breaks, the French defence not allowing them the space to make
the breakthrough and as a result the two sides largely cancelled
each other out for long periods.
The scoreline would remain that way until six minutes from
time when the French finished with a flourish, replacement Manol
Andre powering over to score her side's first try. France
thought they had added another through centre Sandrine Agricole,
but she was adjudged to have been held up over the line.
POST MATCH REACTION
Australia captain Cheryl Soon: "We came here,
we made history. First would have been nice, or top two, but after
our loss against England our goal was to finish three and we
achieved that so very pleased with the result. The second half
started off a bit slow, but we picked up our game. I think we
should have just come out in the second half and put our foot on
the thread. But that's irrelevant, we won and we are very pleased
with the result. We scored with 14 on the field so it just goes to
show the depth and the skill of our team."
Australia try-scorer Cobie-Jane Morgan: "I'm pretty happy, the girls set a platform and us backs had to finish the job off. We were as hungry as any other game to finish it, but we went out there with nothing left in our tanks. Fourth wasn't enough for us today, we just had to go out there and show that we can still play and hopefully we will be better for next time. We lack in experience, but we've had girls who have felt the winnings and what it's like to win a World Cup and I think their leadership, for us young ones, was deep inside us and they just showed us the way, we just had to follow them. So I think the leadership skills of those who have been here before really helped us."
France coach Christian Galonnier: "It's certainly disappointing because when you come into a tournament obviously what you want to do is you want to win, but when you look at the evidence and the other players on the pitch, it's obvious we didn't go as far as we wanted to. Fourth place is the last of the top four teams so it's good to be on the top podium."
France wing Celine Allainmat: "I'm really disappointed because I think we had a good start but then we made mistakes and we gave them the points. The second half was better but it was too late. We used to be in third place and finishing fourth place is really disappointing. Women's Rugby is continuing to improve and the French team have to improve their rugby."
