Australia inflicted a first-ever WXV 2 defeat on Scotland to secure the second-level title with a thrilling 31-22 victory at Athlone Sports Stadium.

The Wallaroos raced into a 21-0 lead in the finale in Cape Town and secured the win despite trailing 22-21 with 10 minutes to go as the defending champions finished the match with 13 players.

Both teams had their qualification for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 confirmed at the final whistle, joining WXV 2 rivals Italy and Wales in booking their tickets to England.

Earlier, South Africa saw their own slim title hopes ended by a 23-19 defeat to the Azzurre, Beatrice Rigoni kicking two late penalties to take the game away from the hosts.

Italy leapfrogged the Springbok Women on the head-to-head rule to finish third in the final standings.

Wales also climbed one place, condemning Japan to sixth as they withstood a second-half comeback from the Sakura 15s to see out a 19-10 win on Friday.

Wales 19-10 Japan

The losers of the opening match were guaranteed to finish bottom of the second level and Wales were in no mood to suffer that fate as they made a fast start in Cape Town.

Having applied good pressure to a Japanese scrum on the Sakura 15s’ five metre line, Nel Metcalfe charged down Misaki Matsumura’s attempted clearance before racing onto the loose ball to score in the left corner.

Keira Bevan missed the touchline conversion, but Wales stretched their lead in the 14th minute as slick handling from Alisha Butchers and Bethan Lewis released the scrum-half.

Bevan raced away and under the posts, before adding the extras. Lewis thought she had scored her side’s third try 15 minutes later, but TMO Chris Assmus spotted an infringement from Natalia John.

The score remained 12-0 at the break before Jasmine Joyce displayed her lightning pace early in the second half to give Wales a commanding lead.

Wales had been defending metres from their own line when Joyce intercepted Japan number eight Seina Sato and raced almost the length of the pitch to score.

Bevan again added the conversion but the try bonus point never arrived as Japan fought back, twice crossing the whitewash through Matsumura and Ayasa Otsuka.

Crucially, though, Otsuka missed both conversions and the Sakura 15s’ hopes of a comeback ultimately ran out of time.

South Africa 19-23 Italy

Chasing the bonus-point win they needed to maintain their hopes of claiming the title, South Africa took the lead early on as Babalwa Latsha powered over from close range.

Nadine Roos added the extras, but the Springbok Women lost Chumisa Qawe to a yellow card shortly afterwards and the Azzurre took full advantage as Silvia Turani burrowed over.

That was the only score the hosts conceded while a player light, however, Italy appeared to take a stranglehold on the contest with two tries at the end of the first half.

First, Michele Sillari stepped inside three South African defenders before holding off another en route to the line. Turani then crossed the whitewash for a second time.

Sillari converted the latter score to give Italy a 17-7 advantage at the break, but the Springbok Women started the second half on the front foot and cut the deficit when replacement back-row Aseza Hele touched down.

Ayanda Malinga then finished off a fine team move in the left corner, running the ball closer to the posts to allow Roos to give the hosts the lead with her second conversion of the match.

But just as it looked like momentum was swinging South Africa’s way, the Springbok Women were again reduced to 14 players as Unam Tose received a yellow card.

And Beatrice Rigoni subsequently struck the first of the two penalties that ultimately secured a hard-fought victory for the Azzurre.

Australia 31-22 Scotland

Australia needed to avoid defeat to finish their first WXV 2 campaign as champions and they started the decider at breakneck speed, building a 21-0 lead midway through the first half.

Desiree Miller continued her fine form to score the opening try in the 12th minute, taking a pass from fellow winger Maya Stewart on halfway and racing away to touch down.

Stewart wasn’t going to be outdone and got on the scoresheet less than six minutes later, fending off opposite number Coreen Grant to score in the right corner.

The Wallaroos were flying and a brilliant grubber kick from Faitala Moleka found Cecilia Smith to dot down their third try with less than 22 minutes on the clock. Moleka added her third conversion to take Australia’s lead to 21-0.

However, Leah Bartlett burrowed over just before the half-hour mark to get Scotland on the scoreboard and after Siokapesi Palu was sent to the sin bin, Chloe Rollie added a second try.

That made the score 21-12 at the break, and it was the defending champions who struck first in the second half as replacement prop Anne Young went over.

Lisa Thomson missed her second conversion,though, to leave her side four points adrift and Scotland were sapped of further momentum midway through the second half as Emma Orr was shown a yellow card that was upgraded to red.

Remarkably, it was Scotland who scored next though as Francesca McGhie went over after a number of phases to give her side the lead for the first time.

Nelson missed a tough conversion to leave the Scottish lead at one point before McGhie was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, leaving her side with only 13 players.

Moleka kicked a penalty to nudge her side back in front before Ashley Marsters went over from close range in the final play.