York Thrillers And Underdog Moments - World Cup Talking Points

England, Scotland and Ireland each secured their spots successful nan Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, but Wales bowed out.

The 2nd information of fixtures besides featured 2 thrilling games successful York, a historical try, a memorable infinitesimal for Samoan rugby and a historical effort for Brazil.

Here are 5 talking points from an action-packed weekend.

The Women's World Cup was dominated by one-sided scorelines successful nan opening information of games and was crying retired for an edge-of-your spot classic.

And conscionable for illustration buses, 2 came on astatine York Community Stadium.

First, connected Saturday evening, Australia and nan United States traded nan lead successful a thrilling 31-31 draw that kept some sides' knockout hopes alive.

Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani's effort looked to person snatched a melodramatic victory, but Samantha Wood missed a comparatively elemental conversion effort to triumph nan match.

"We're changing nan crippled present and moreover conscionable by these crowds," said USA centre Ilona Maher.

"This is simply a crippled - not betwixt 2 of nan bigger rugby nations - but group are loving us, they came retired to support and we gave them a really entertaining portion of rugby."

The aforesaid venue astir witnessed different thrilling tie connected Sunday, but South Africa scored precocious to snatch a historical 29-24 triumph complete Italy to unafraid their first ever quarter-final spot.

"This is unreal. It is truthful emotional. We person ne'er made nan quarters, we person ne'er beaten Italy," said South Africa caput coach Swys de Bruin.

"To people 5 tries successful a crippled for illustration this, I americium truthful proud of my management, nan doctors, everyone. I americium truthful proud I tin beryllium portion of it and it's conscionable amazing."

Scotland defeated a spirited Fiji broadside 29-15 successful Salford connected Saturday to go nan first squad to scope nan quarter-finals.

Having backed up an awesome opening-round triumph complete Wales, nan reward is simply a spot successful nan knockout stages for nan first clip since 2002.

Flying helping Francesca McGhie scored doubly to return her World Cup effort tally to five, but it was not each straightforward arsenic vintage Fijian flair and powerfulness kept nan title interesting.

"We person to observe nan truth Scotland person qualified for nan quarter-final of nan World Cup for nan first clip since 2002," erstwhile Scotland guardant Deborah McCormack told BBC Sport.

"That was earlier immoderate of these players were born. It is simply a monolithic accomplishment and is simply a bequest for nan players that went earlier and nan ones that are going to travel through.

"The capacity wasn't nan complete polished article but they worked backmost into a beardown position. They tin really compete pinch nan best."

One of nan champion comes connected Saturday successful nan shape of world number 2 broadside Canada, pinch nan loser of that crippled finishing 2nd successful Pool B and apt to look hosts England successful nan knockout stage.

"The large point is to debar England arsenic that gives you a chance of reaching a semi-final," erstwhile England skipper Katy Daley-Mclean told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

Trailing 47-0 to England successful Northampton, Samoa gleefully sewage connected nan committee by registering their first points of this World Cup done nan footwear of Harmony Vatau.

Having not scored immoderate points successful a World Cup crippled since 2014, that successful punishment was followed by immense celebrations from their players and supporters.

Ramsey Tomokino's broadside whitethorn person ended up shipping 92 points - a grounds Red Roses triumph successful a World Cup - but Vatau's people brought a grin to nan Samoa caput coach, who admitted his broadside wanted to debar "that zero".

Samoa, whose part-time players person had to crowdfund to return their spot successful nan tournament, are classed 15th successful nan world and person players taking unpaid time off to play astatine nan World Cup.

In Exeter, nan only broadside classed beneath Samoa successful nan world rankings, Brazil, had their ain underdog moment.

With France 72-0 up and cruising successful Exeter, Yaras sevens skipper Bianca Silva, who was picked retired from nan Brazilian favelas to play rugby arsenic portion of a kindness project, dummied and raced complete half nan transportation to people a singular individual score.

It marked a first ever effort for Brazil successful their debut Women's Rugby World Cup, pinch Silva willed connected by a large Sandy Park earlier being mobbed by her team-mates.

"I americium very proud of nan girls," said caput coach Emiliano Caffera.

"I dream it [Silva's try] is going to beryllium a constituent of maturation for rugby successful Brazil, because each of our players are from sevens and 15s is increasing a batch successful Brazil."

Wales knew that nan opening crippled against Scotland would apt determine their World Cup fate.

A disappointing 38-8 conclusion near an uphill task to suffice for nan knockout stages, and a triumph connected Saturday complete nan world's number 2 classed broadside Canada was required.

Sean Lynn, who took complete arsenic Wales caput coach earlier this year's Women's Six Nations, made 7 changes to his starting XV.

Wales' beforehand statement had mean property of conscionable 20, pinch backmost rower Branwen Metcalfe, 18, besides making her Test debut from nan bench.

Despite falling to a 42-0 defeat by 1 of nan World Cup favourites, Lynn's youthful broadside showed plentifulness of greenish shoots to activity pinch moving forward.

"I americium gladsome nan Wales women showed their respect for nan jersey and nan effort they are consenting to put in," erstwhile Wales skipper Philippa Tuttiett told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

"If you bring that to Sean Lynn pinch his coaching prowess past he will beryllium capable to move guardant pinch that team."

However, Wales must first support an oculus connected nan emerging nations down them, pinch Fiji, who are classed 4 places beneath them successful 14th, apt to connection a reliable last excavation crippled connected Saturday successful Exeter.

Spain, classed 13th, suffered a 43-27 conclusion by Ireland connected Sunday and are different broadside that are showing signs of progress.

"Let's put Spain successful nan Six Nations," erstwhile England skipper Maggie Alphonsi told BBC Sport.

If Wales request immoderate inspiration, past they should look astatine Ireland, who person scored 85 points successful their first 2 games against Japan and Spain.

This is Ireland's first quality astatine a World Cup since 2017 arsenic they proceed to amended nether Scott Bemand.

Star number 8 Aoife Wafer, who was voted nan champion subordinate successful this year's Women's Six Nations, is yet to characteristic this tourney and will dream to beryllium backmost for nan excavation decider against New Zealand connected Sunday successful Brighton.

Grace Moore ably filled Wafer's shoes against Spain, scoring 2 tries and making 14 tackles successful an all-round powerful display.

"It is awesome to spot location is truthful overmuch extent successful that Ireland backmost row," Alphonsi said.

"It looks for illustration Wafer could beryllium backmost for nan adjacent crippled arsenic she was warming up against Spain.

"There are different players pushing. Brittany Hogan has besides been bully aft Sam Monaghan's injury."

Bemand's broadside produced a daze triumph complete nan world champions astatine WXV1 past year to springiness them belief of securing apical spot successful Pool C and apt avoiding England successful nan semi-finals.

However, nan Black Ferns, who are celebrated for peaking erstwhile it matters, person besides been convincing and cruised past Japan successful Exeter connected Sunday.