The Wallaroos though would have the final say with two tries in the last four minutes through second row Kate Porter and Sims, both of which were converted by Donnelly, who ended with nine points herself.
On this display it is easy to forget that Australia have not played an international match since the last Women’s RWC in 2002 and that they also had the majority of their team making their Wallaroos’ debuts.
QUOTES
Australia head coach Steve Hamson: “We haven't been together since the last World Cup. We've had eight months of solid build up by our satellite camps at home and national championships, which we’ve had the last few years and the last two years it’s obviously slated towards building a team for this World Cup. The team we brought over is very young. Today we had 17 players making their debut for Australia and every one of them looked like a veteran.”
Australia captain Selena Worsley: “It was a real good start, considering we had 17 new caps on the field today. It was very exciting for our team to come together like this. It’s our first real run together. The big thing was commitment to each other. Our forwards really got there in numbers.”
South Africa coach David Dobela: “It's a very young team and our inexperience showed in this game. All in all these are the best players that are available to us from in South Africa. Most of them have been playing for the past three years together.”
South Africa captain Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe: “I knew it was going to be a tough game but I didn’t expect it to be this tough. But I think our forwards played well. We also did our lineouts well, too. In both halves we had some good runs, but I think we were stronger in the second half because we more relaxed.”