‘Disappointing’, late draw with USA leaves Wallaroos’ RWC finals hopes in stability after Halse, Miller magic
The Wallaroos’ hopes of securing their place within the last-eight per week early have been dealt a blow after securing a late and dramatic 31-31 draw in opposition to the USA in York on Sunday morning (AEST).
Within the recreation of the match, good doubles for Australian back-line stars Desiree Miller and teenager Caitlyn Halse at York Neighborhood Stadium had been countered by an excellent hat-trick from American flanker Freda Tafuna.
The Individuals went forward within the 71st minute when lock Erica Jarrell-Searcy punished some lazy defence across the ruck and scored beneath the sticks to assist open up a five-point lead.
However the Wallaroos struck again with 5 minutes left as Eva Karpani powered over to stage up the essential Pool A fixture. Needing to bang over the conversion to place the Wallaroos again in entrance, halfback Sam Wooden, who performed your complete 80 minutes, pulled her shot.
With the match open for the taking, neither facet may steal the sport on the loss of life.
Whereas the Take a look at was billed as a win-or-bust fixture, the draw nonetheless permits either side to dream, with every little thing now hanging on the ultimate group A matches subsequent week, with Australia dealing with hot-favourites England whereas the US performs lowly Samoa.
Jo Yapp’s Wallaroos at present look to be nearly within the driving seat, as they’ve a mighty 135-points distinction benefit over the US, but when they cop a large hiding from England and the Individuals steamroll the exhausted Samoans, it’s doable that could possibly be overturned.
However Australia’s destiny is in their very own arms, if they will seize a bonus level in opposition to the English in Brighton.
England earlier continued their magisterial progress after beating the US 69-7 within the opening match by hammering Samoa 92-3 in Northampton.
It was one other efficiency designed to fret the Wallaroos that they might nonetheless be in hassle.
“The sensation’s a bit combined,” admitted co-captain Kaitlan Leaney.
“We had been on prime in elements they usually got here again, we really feel flat, it looks like a loss.”
Fellow co-captain Emily Chancellor added: “It’s a bit combined, isn’t it. We had ascendency in elements, and the USA got here again. Proper now it’s a bit bit flat as a result of each groups wished that recreation actual dangerous, and it looks like each groups misplaced it. So it’s irritating.”
Teenage fullback Caitlyn Halse scored twice within the Wallaroos’ dramatic draw in opposition to the USA on the York Neighborhood Stadium on August 30, 2025 in York. (Photograph by Stu Forster/Getty Photographs)
The Wallaroos’ ill-discipline allow them to down badly after being on the improper finish of a 13-6 penalty rely as Sara Cox hammered Jo Yapp’s facet on the defensive breakdown.
“We undoubtedly made it laborious for ourselves with self-discipline,” flanker Chancellor mentioned. “We’ll return to the drafting board and we’re going to need to give attention to the fore-and-against in opposition to England, or simply the win.”
The USA dominated possession, with the Wallaroos pressured to make 229 tackles in comparison with simply 102. However their poor dealing with (16 turnovers) repeatedly let the Wallaroos off the hook, notably within the first half.
Wallaroos prop Faliki Pohiva was excellent within the first half, whereas No.8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra was busy on either side of the ball making 20 tackles and carting the ball up on eight events. Tuinakauvadra was considered one of 4 forwards to make greater than 20 tackles, with Michaela Leonard making a game-high 24 tackles.
Cecilia Smith additionally continued her robust type, making 15 tackles and repeatedly straightening the road properly in assault.
Yapp, the previous England halfback and captain, additionally highlighted her facet’s struggles on the breakdown, with USA famous person Ilona Maher notably hammering the Wallaroos within the space.
“On the entire, we’re a bit dissatisfied and flat,” she mentioned. “We allow them to into the sport within the second half, and our penalty rely allowed them entry to our half – and once they’re in there, they’re laborious to cease.
“In the end, our self-discipline allow us to down and, at occasions, we simply weren’t correct with a few of our launches. We’ll all the time replicate and take a look again and the women must bounce again, we’ve acquired an enormous recreation subsequent week.”
Requested what she was anticipating from her former facet, Yapp didn’t beat across the bush on the job in entrance of them however insisted they might give attention to themselves for the week.
“They’re clearly ranked primary for a motive they usually’re a powerful facet and transferring the ball properly, however we simply must give attention to us,” she mentioned.
The Wallaroos raced out of the blocks when Miller scored out broad and Wooden nailed the conversion from out broad.
However the US dominated a lot of the subsequent 20 minutes and finally had been rewarded when back-rower Tafuna scored.
The Wallaroos responded on the stroke of half-time as Halse scored beneath the sticks after slicing by means of off the again of a rolling maul close to the USA’s line.
Their lead was minimize to 4 factors when prop Keia Mae Sagapolu barged her approach over within the forty fifth minute.
Tafuna’s second from a rolling maul quickly after gave the US the lead for the primary time within the match, with McKenzie Hawkins nailing the conversion.
However the Wallaroos responded swiftly as Miller’s ending capability out broad got here to the fore, earlier than Halse confirmed her high quality to attain her facet’s second strive in 4 minutes to blow open the match.
Taking part in for his or her match, the US hit again laborious. Tafuna scored accomplished her hat-trick ten minutes, earlier than Jarrell-Searcy caught Leaney napping close to the ruck and scored.
Some ill-discipline gave the Wallaroos a golden alternative to strike again – and try-scoring machine Karpani, who got here off the bench, didn’t let the second slip by means of her fingers as she powered over. However Wooden’s conversion simply missed, leaving either side to accept the draw.
With AAP
Wallaroos 31 (Miller 2, Halse 2, Karpani tries; Wooden 3 cons) drew with USA 31 (Tafuna 2, Sagapolu, Rogers, Jarrell-Searcy tries; Hawkins 3 cons)
WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025
Wallaroos 73 defeated Samoa 0 at Salford Neighborhood Stadium, Manchester
Wallaroos 31 drew with USA 31 at York Neighborhood Stadium, York
Sunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove – 2:00am AEST
