86 points in two Tests: Wallaroos gather momentum before season finale

Desiree Miller made waves as a sea of gold filled Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Saturday, becoming the first Wallaroo to score 20 Test tries. The outside back starred with a double as the Australians claimed a 56-12 win over Scotland in the WXV Global Series.

Miller lined up at fullback for the first time at Test level, linking up with NSW Waratahs teammates Amelia Whitaker and Maya Stewart in an electric back three. The trio all made their mark on the scoreboard, with Test rookie Whitaker receiving Player of the Match honours.

The Wallaroos had beaten Scotland 30-10 in Edinburgh late last month, and made sure to back up that result with another dominant display. Scotland scored first through winger Katie Buchanan inside five minutes, but the home side quickly took control.

Brittany Merlo, Stewart, Miller, Whitaker and Waiaria Ellis got on the scoresheet as the Wallaroos piled on 35 points before the break. Miller and Whitaker completed doubles during the second term, before Eva Karpani capped off the performance with a 79th-minute try.

The Wallaroos defeated Fiji by 18 points to open their international season, before going on a six-game losing run. But the Aussies have climbed up the World Rugby rankings after their successes against Scotland, as they prepare to face them again this week in Canberra.

“I definitely feel this year we’ve really grown together as a group and I think you see that in the way we play,” Miller told RugbyPass post-game.

“Over the last few weeks, particularly overseas, we’ve built and we’re really happy with how we went today. Obviously there’s still room for improvement but it’s a really good platform and we want to finish the year off right.

“I love the girls and I love celebrating everyone’s wins and everyone’s tries, even scrum pens and stuff like that. It was super heartwarming.”

Whitaker made a game-high three line breaks, while Miller and Stewart also took their place on that figurative podium with two each. All three ran for at least 50 metres too, but Whitaker was well ahead in first with 138 in a standout 80-minute performance.

With history-making fullback Caitlyn Halse unavailable, Miller shifted from the wing to fullback, which saw the trio link up in the starting side. Miller has played fullback before for the Waratahs, but has primarily played on the wing for the national team.

“Definitely out of my comfort zone. I played a little bit of it in Super but it’s my first time internationally,” Miller said.

“[Wallaroos teammates] looked after me and we had a strong gameplan. I understood what needed to be done and played more my game – ran a little bit more.

“I enjoyed it and I was just happy I could fill a role and do a job.”

Miller added, when asked about Whitaker and Stewart: “We’ve all trained and played together and it was really nice to link up with them,”

“It’s really nice to see [Stewart] come back and do what she knows best: find that line. And Milly getting her first [Test] try, and not only her first, her second. Really proud of her.”

With thousands of Australian rugby fans filling the bowl at Accor Stadium during a first-of-its-kind quadruple-header, the Wallaroos gave those watching on plenty to cheer about. It’s the team’s biggest win since the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where they beat Samoa 73-0.

Maddison Levi impressed during the second fixture, with the Black Ferns Sevens defeating their arch-rivals Australia ahead of the HSBC SVNS Series. The Australian Men’s Sevens side played out a dramatic draw with Fiji, and the All Blacks beat the Wallabies.

It ended up being the biggest Bledisloe Cup crowd at the venue in more than 10 years, but it all started with the Wallaroos. Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 is less than one year away, but Australia will also host Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.