Wallaroos win 38-31 in Canberra as Cecilia Smith is sent off in final match
Australia beat Scotland 38-31 in Canberra on Friday in a women's rugby union match, and retiring centre Cecilia Smith was shown a red card in her final Wallaroos appearance but received a standing ovation.
The victory completed a three-game sweep over Scotland and the contest featured biting accusations alongside a string of cards; Australia produced plenty of classy moments but again lacked discipline around tackles and the ruck. The match also marked farewells for Smith and Emily Chancellor, with Smith ending a 34-Test career and Chancellor signing off in her 42nd Test after debuting in 2018.
Australia led 14-0 early but trailed 17-14 at half-time after a run of penalties allowed three successive Scottish tries. The Wallaroos regained control in the second half and moved 38-24 in front when captain Siokapesi Palu finished a long-range effort.
Discipline shaped the closing stages: the hosts received four yellow cards and Scotland had two players sin-binned. Smith received two yellow cards to finish on a red, Eva Karpani was shown a yellow for a high shot in her 50th cap, and teenage fly-half Waiaria Ellis was sin-binned for slowing down a Scottish charge late in the first half.
Georgina Friedrichs accused Smith of biting, but officials found no evidence and there were no bite marks on Friedrichs’ forearm, so the complaint was dismissed. After losing Karpani and then Smith, Scotland surged back but were unable to find the match-tying converted try on the final play.
Smith apologised after the game, saying: "I’m really sorry about that, just wanted to go out with a bang I guess," as she embraced her daughter, Ruby. "She’s been there since day one," Smith added. "Having her there at trainings, camps, on the sideline, means so much and I just want to be that role model and show you can do anything if you put your mind to it and put the hard work in." Chancellor reflected: "It’s created so much opportunity for me, so much purpose in my life. I love these girls and what we play for," and said: "I love what this game has given us: travel the world with great people and create opportunity. You can’t be what you can’t see."
The Wallaroos are now out of action until the side transitions to a full-time operation next year. That move will take place under their new coach, Sione Fukofuka, who has previously coached Scotland.