Auckland-raised flanker Kate Williams was sinbinned during Wales’ 59-3 defeat to Women’s Six Nations champions England in Cardiff.
Williams – on leave from her Royal New Zealand Navy job – was a 53rd minute substitute at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (Sunday NZ time) after making her Welsh test debut against Ireland in the Six Nations’ opening round in March.
She was only on the field for around six minutes when referee Joy Neville showed her a yellow card for a high tackle.
England later had captain Marlies Packer and May Campbell sinbinned in the final stages, but even down to 13 players against Wales’ 15 (after Williams’ return), the Red Roses were able to score their ninth and final try.
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Wales, playing before a record 8862 fans, were disappointed with the margin but captain Hannah Jones insisted “the score doesn’t reflect the performance’’.
”But we will reflect, regather and move on to the next performance,’’ she told BBC Sport. “
We are closing the gap, there are moments of world class there.
Wales flyhalf Emma Snowsill also said it was “important that we don’t let this derail our Six Nations”
It was Wales’ first loss after earlier wins over Ireland (31-5) and Scotland (34-22).
They remain in second place ahead of France’s match against Scotland in Vannes on Sunday (Monday NZ time).
Wales opened the scoring against England through a Keira Bevan penalty but coach Ioan Cunningham bemoaned their failure to score a try from three carries into English danger zone.
England coach Simon Middleton paid “massive credit to Wales’’ for having the Red Roses “under massive pressure’’ for the first 25 minutes, but he hailed his side for absorbing everything the Welsh threw at them.
“The difference being a couple more years on our backs as professionals showed today. Wales put so much into that first 30 minutes, they just ran out of steam in the end, and physically we are in great shape.
England next face bottom-of-the-table Ireland before a potential final round Grand Slam showdown against World Cup bronze medallists France.
Meanwhile, Italy beat Ireland 24-7 in Parma to notch their first win of the Six Nations seasons.
The hosts led 7-0 at halftime after a converted try to Sofia Stefan.
Alyssa d’Inca grabbed two second half tries for Italy while Ireland’s sole score came from a penalty try after the Italians collapsed a scrum in the 68th minute.
The defeat left Ireland without a win after the first three rounds for the first time since 2007.
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