Phillips stars as resurgent Wales make it two in a row
WALES Women won their second game in a row as they saw off South Africa at the Arms Park.
They were helped along considerably by a hat-trick from hooker and former captain Carys Phillips, who was starting an international match for the first time in 741 days.
Ioan Cunningham’s side asserted their dominance early on, controlling territory and possession for the majority of the first half against a Springbok Women’s side who were touring abroad for the first time in three years.
An early scrum penalty for the hosts saw the ball kicked to the corner, and there was only going to be one outcome when the maul started moving towards the line. Phillips was carried over to score on her first international appearance in 741 days. Elinor Snowsill added the extras.
The lead was doubled in the 14th minute.
Again, Wales were probing in the South Africa 22 before earning a scrum five metres out. From there, scrum-half Ffion Lewis found a huge amount of space around the fringe to canter over for Wales’ second score, with Snowsill again converting.
Things then went a little scrappy and South Africa battled hard at the breakdown, winning a significant amount of penalties in that department. However, Snowsill extended the lead with a penalty just beyond the half-hour mark.
Wales had plenty of chances to make the deficit even wider but they couldn’t take them and it was 17-0 at the break.
The hosts continued to dominate
in the first 10 minutes of the second half, though South Africa did get more joy at the breakdown.
But the South African defensive line didn’t hold long and hooker Phillips crossed for her second on the back of another powerful driving maul in the 50th minute.
The visitors did eventually get on the scoreboard in the 54th minute thanks to a powerful finish from wing Nomawethu Mabenge and fly-half Zenay Jordaan converted brilliantly from the touchline.
But then scrum-half Unam Tose was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and Wales took advantage.
During the sin-bin, Wales exerted more pressure in the 22 and Phillips burrowed her way over from close range to secure her hat-trick and Snowsill converted.
South Africa scored two deserved late consolation tries through Zintle Mpupha and Libbie Janse van Rensburg.