Wallaroos vs Scotland takes: X-factor at No. 9, Aussies put on a show

The Wallaroos have run away with an emphatic 56-12 WXV Global Series win over Scotland, giving Sydney fans plenty to cheer about on a picture-perfect afternoon in the Harbour City.

Australia claimed a 20-point win over the same opposition in Edinburgh late last month, in the first of three straight meetings with the Scots.

Scotland actually struck first at Accor Stadium, with Katie Buchanan quickly changing direction during a rapid burst to the try line in the fourth minute.

But the Wallaroos hit back moments later through hooker Brittany Merlo, which started the point-scoring avalanche for the women in gold. Outside backs Maya Stewart, Desiree Miller and Amelia Whitaker all scored a first-half try each, as did fly-half Waiaria Ellis.

Miller raced away for her second of the afternoon just two minutes into the second half, and Whitaker completed a double soon after. Eva Karpani celebrated her 49th Test appearance with a try in the final minute, capping off an emphatic Wallaroos performance.

Electric backs produce attacking masterclass

Maya Stewart missed the European leg of the WXV Global Series due to injury but the prolific try-scorer was back in the mix this week. Stewart joined NSW Waratahs teammates Amelia Whitaker and Desiree Miller in the outside backs, with Caitlyn Halse named on the bench.

Front-rower Brittany Merlo was first to strike for the home side, before the back three made their mark by piling on the points. It was a dominant first-half, with the Wallaroos leading by 30 at the break, having run in five tries to one.

Stewart ran in untouched along the right sideline in the 20^th minute, with Miller the first Wallaroo over to the try-scorer. Miller crossed for a five-pointer less than 10 minutes later, before backs Whitaker and Waiaria Ellis capped off a dominant first half.

Miller topped the charts at half-time with 80 running metres, but Whitaker and Stewart weren’t too far behind. The Wallaroos have world-class backs to choose from, and the three starters gave the Aussie crowd plenty to cheer about.

Halves Samantha Wood and Ellis drove the team around the park, centres Faitala Moleka and Georgina Friedrichs made a difference, and the flyers out wide were electric. The backs didn’t just create space but were good enough to capitalise.

Whitaker topped the line break charts by full-time, and the NSW Waratahs Player of the Year finished with a double. Miller also scored twice, as the Wallaroos put on a show in their second-last Test of the season.

Samantha Wood is genuine X-factor

Scotland shot out of the blocks,  with Katie Buchanan racing away for the opening points inside five minutes. But the Wallaroos seemed to wrestle back control of the fixture fairly quickly, with scrum-half Samantha Wood leading that fightback.

Wood emerged as the first-choice No. 9 ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and has held down that position ever since. The 22-year-old stepped up as the team’s goal-kicking ace during the tournament too, which proved decisive against the USA in pool play.

Fast-forward to now and Wood’s influence can’t be overstated, with the Western Force halfback offering genuine X-factor in a star-studded Test side. The Wallaroos dominated both possession and territory against Scotland, and turned that into points as well.

Wood directed the team around the park in attack, helping the Wallaroos make the most of space with quick thinking and accurate passing. The now 20-Test international slotted some challenging shots at the posts and proved effective when kicking for touch.

Amelia Whitaker, Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller all stood out, but Wood changed the game. The Wallaroos unearthed a gem ahead of last year’s World Cup, and Wood continues to repay the faith time and time again.

Gallagher’s tireless effort shines through

The Wallaroos ran away with a big win at home, but Scotland backrower Evie Gallagher was still able to stand out. Gallagher was well ahead on the tackle count by the 50-minute mark, having made 17 stops with no missed attempts.

Gallagher was also equal first at that stage for total carries with 10, which was level with inside centre Faitala Moleka, second-rower Kaitlan Leaney and former Black Fern turned Wallaroos loose forward Pia Tapsell.

To put all that into context, Scotland had only run the ball 60 times as a team. Scotland had 42 per cent possession and less than 45 per cent territory, but Gallagher just never seemed to stop running at Accor Stadium.

Australia seemed to grow in confidence as the match went on, but the Scots refused to throw in the towel. It had been one-way traffic in favour of the Wallaroos, but the Scots continued to throw the ball around when they could, with Gallagher making a particularly noticeable impact.