USA claim clinical Pacific Four Series win over Wallaroos in Kansas City

Front-rower Hope Rogers scored two tries as the USA Women’s Eagles claimed their first win of the 2026 Pacific Four Series, beating the Wallaroos 33-12 in Kansas City, eight months on from their dramatic draw at the Rugby World Cup.

Australia and the USA played out an all-time classic at the World Cup last August, held to a 31-all draw in York. That was the latest in a series of close contests between the sides, which helped set the scene for this second-round Pac Four showdown.

The USA had trailed New Zealand by just four points at half-time in their tournament opener last weekend in Sacramento, before the Black Ferns ran away with the result 48-15. Australia were also looking to bounce back after falling to world no. 2 Canada at the same venue.

Following a weather delay, the Wallaroos and Women’s Eagles made their way out onto the field at CPKC Stadium late on Friday night. The USA looked to make their mark early on the scoreboard, attacking inside the red zone within the first five minutes.

USA captain Erica Jarrell-Searcy had been stopped just shy of the try line in the lead-up, before Freda Tafuna was held up in the next phase. But play was brought back for an earlier advantage, as the USA continued to search for the opening points.

But the Wallaroos forced a mistake at the lineout, with scrum-half Samanatha Wood kicking the team out of immediate danger with a long clearance to halfway. Australia set up to defend but still ended up conceding the first points of the evening.

Rogers powered through two defenders to score from a pick and drive inside the first 15 minutes, before 19-year-old fly-half Bella Vogel added the extras off the kicking tee. The USA continued to control of the territory and possession battles as they searched for more points.

With the USA in possession, Wallaroos winger Maya Stewart was shown a yellow card after an infringement at the breakdown. The USA kicked for the corner set up for an attacking maul, but the visitors did well to hold on.

Australia forced a forward pass five metres out from their own line. Wood then produced one of the moments of the match, kicking a massive 50/22 in the 19^th minute, which gave Australia the ball well inside the opposition half.

That was the Wallaroos’ first real point-scoring opportunity of the Test, and the women in gold made the most of that chance. Captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona stepped and spun through three defenders to score, with Wood adding the conversion.

But it didn’t take the Women’s Eagles long to hit back. The USA built up multiple phases in attack, as they continued to make their way upfield. It led to a try to flanker Georgie Perris-Redding, who reached out to score around the 30-minute mark.

The USA regained their seven-point advantage but the Australians had seemingly answered back immediately themselves, with hooker Tania Naden believed to be the try-scorer. But the TMO ruled out the effort for a knock on.

With no more points scored, it was a seven-point ballgame at the break.

Australia started the second half with some commanding play in attack, setting up for a scrum five metres out from the USA’s line. The Wallaroos spread the ball from right to left, with Stewart sending fellow winger Desiree Miller over for a five-pointer in the 50^th minute.

With Wood missing the difficult shot at the posts, the USA continued to lead by just two points. USA winger Erica Coulibaly and Tafuna were prolific in the phases that followed, as the hosts hoped to build on their advantage.

Tafuna carried the ball with purpose and intent inside the Wallaroos 22, but the backrower was stopped shy of the line. But a few phases later, the No. 8 had the ball yet again, fighting over for a decisive try.

The USA almost raced out to an even bigger lead when Rogers touched down in the 65^th minute, but the TMO ruled out that effort for an earlier forward pass by Alev Kelter. That meant it remained a nine-point game with not long left in the Test.

There was a sense of déjà vu and inevitability when Rogers officially completed a double shortly after, powering over from a pick and drive. The front-rower was shown a yellow card soon after, but the Wallaroos didn’t score any more points.

Instead, the USA had the last try-scoring say through outside centre Emily Henrich in the final minute. The USA immediately began to celebrate, having recorded a confidence-building result in front of their home fans.

“I’ve been saying all week that we were looking to finish the sentence that we started at the World Cup. I think we finished that sentence and started a new chapter all on the same night, or night and morning if you will,” Jarrell-Searcy said post-game.

“I also want to say, huge shoutout to Kansas City. We’ve been saying since we were here last year that it’s our favourite venue to play in. We had fans in the crowd chanting USA from warm up; it was 11:00 pm, 12:00 pm and we still heard them. We heard you guys all game.”