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RWC 2025: Four takeaways from USA v Australia
By Finn Morton at York Community Stadium, York
Australia and the USA have played out a thrilling 31-all draw in the second round of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, meaning fans and players alike will have to wait another week to see who progresses to the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
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After starting their campaign with a commanding 73-nil win over Samoa, Australia only needed one more win to book their spot in the next stage. But waiting for the Wallaroos were the USA Women’s Eagles, who needed a victory to stay alive.
Desiree Miller opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but only two more tries were scored in the first half. Freda Tafuna crossed for the USA’s first in the 26th minute before Caitlyn Halse crossed under the posts for the Aussies just before the break.
It was an incredibly tense contest that could’ve gone either way. The USA scored two quick tries to start the second half, but then the Wallaroos struck back with two of their own, as they regained the lead as Miller completed a double.
But the match was far from over.
With less than 15 to play, Hope Rogers and Erica Jarrell-Searcy scored a try each in a four minute span. Jarrell-Searcy’s effort helped give the USA a five-point advantage deep into that match, but once again, the match was far from over.
Eva Karpani scored Australia’s final try of this pool stage epic with seven to play. With the conversion attempt from Samantha Wood missing the mark, the scores were locked at 31-all – and that’s how it stayed during a tense end to the match.
Maher, Zackary, Treder and Tafuna all brilliant for the USA
That was up there as one of Ilona Maher’s best performances for the USA in the international 15s arena. Australia’s biggest weakness was their attacking breakdown, and Maher was able to exploit that lack of security and make them pay in key moments.
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As the team line-ups were being read out before the match, the cheer of support for Maher was deafening – a moment that would’ve given all of those in attendance goosebumps. Thousands packed the stands, ready to see Maher and a star-studded USA side match it with Australia.
Captain Kate Zackary was able to stand out during the first half, and hooker Kathryn Treder was another reliable performer around the breakdown and at the set-piece. Freda Tafuna was also brilliant, crossing for a double in a tense Test.
But let’s focus on Maher for a moment.
Maher secured three turnovers at the breakdown, including two penalties. These were really key moments in the Test, as the match’s momentum regularly swung in the USA’s favour, although the Wallaroos still had their fair share of possession.
With some powerful carries – up there with the most runs out of any player in the match – and some solid work in defence, it was a memorable performance from the outside centre, but the quality of the full squad is deserving of praise.
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Forwards lead from the front for Wallaroos
With about only a couple of minutes left on the clock, the USA kicked for the sideline after being awarded a penalty. They ended up setting up a maul, but the impressive work of Australia co-captain Katlan Leaney ended up turning the ball over in a key moment.
Leaney was a workhorse around the breakdown, but the second-rower wasn’t the only Wallaroo leading from the front. Piper Duck was utterly brilliant with 26 tackles at blindside flanker, followed by lock Michaela Leonard with 25.
Then, Leaney in third with 22.
While the Wallaroos’ attacking breakdown was a concern in this Test, the defensive pressure of the forward pack was a real positive. Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Bridie O’Gorman were also in the top six for tackles completed, with Australia’s Samantha Wood the only back.
In the final 20 minutes of the match, the USA took control of the match’s momentum. With both teams fighting desperately for a win, defence was key, and the Australian forwards stood tall when it counted at York Community Stadium.
York adds World Cup jeopardy to final round
It was hard to gauge how some of the players were feeling post-match. With this thrilling 31-all draw, the Wallaroos will have to wait another week to book their spot in the quarters, but the USA will do everything they can to go through.
Eva Karpani’s try with seven minutes to play gave the Wallaroos real hope of a comeback win, but Samantha Wood’s missed conversion added to the drama. There were plenty of twists and turns in the minutes that followed, but in the end, the teams couldn’t be split.
USA play Samoa next Saturday in York, needing a bonus point win to keep their hopes alive. That means the Australians will know exactly what they need to do in order to qualify for the quarter-final round – be that a win, another draw, or a loss.
Reflecting on their performances as a whole, the USA will take plenty of confidence out of this draw with the Australians, with the entire team clicking as unit. While some players were highlighted above, the impact off the bench was another shining light.
As for the Wallaroos, Desiree Miller and Caitlyn Halse were especially impressive for the backs. The team will take plenty of learnings out of this Test, with their discipline a talking point post-game, ahead of a crucial clash with the hosts next weekend.
This pool stage match felt like a World Cup quarter-final
You could feel it walking around York in the hours leading up to kick-off. Australia versus the USA at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup – it was a match months in the making, that had been talked about as practically a knockout for both sides, and you could sense that on Saturday.
There were Australians walking around the city draped in green in gold, and Americans sporting their own memorabilia as well. Then, as light rain began to drizzle about two hours before the Test, it was nigh on impossible to ignore the atmosphere that was brewing.
The USA needed to win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive, having lost to tournament hosts England last week in Sunderland. Australia were also searching for an important result that would’ve secured their spot in the next stage with one round left to pool play.
Throughout the first half, the mood was intense around York Community Stadium. Australia took an early lead through winger Desiree Miller, but the United States swung the match’s momentum back in their favour – eventually scoring through Freda Tafuna.
But it was the passionate cries of fans that made this match feel like a World Cup quarter-final. There were chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” at times, but fans from the United States were also impressively vocal during another historic occasion for women’s rugby.
If we leave the result to one side, this match should be celebrated for what it was, an incredibly tense clash between two quality sides. The players left it all out there on the pitch and the fans recognised that, giving the teams a standing ovation at half-time as just one example.
Game of the tournament so far.
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