DUBLIN – Australia will now meet Scotland in the semifinals while South Africa will play old rivals India in tomorrow’s cross-pool playoffs that will determine who meets who on Sunday for positions five to eight.

Australia opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Anna Flanagan’s drag-flick penalty corner sailed into the top corner (1-0).

Both sides had opportunities thereafter before Lisa Deetlefs offloaded to right half Nicolene Terblanche, who drilled up the line for Izelle Lategan to provide the final pass to Sulette Damons, the striker smashing into the backboard past keeper Toni Cronk (1-1).

Although South Africa had their chances up front in the second half, Australia were the dominant team in the face of brave SA defence and an unforced error led to the Hockeyroos’ third PC with four minutes left, which Emily Smith scrambled home after a goalmouth skirmish (2-1).

South Africa’s 19th minute equaliser was the prelude to a ding-dong battle as play swung to and fro, defensive midfielder Tarryn Bright getting through a mountain of work while superb SA captain Lenise Marais and Deetlefs were busy marshalling the defence.

In the first 12 minutes after the changeover Australia had two very good chances but SA keeper Sanani Mangisa kept her goal intact.

A few more chances went astray, although SA had a goalscoring chance or two of their own until Smith’s winner near the end.