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Yapp credits 'clinical' Wallaroos after record Samoa victory
By Joe Harvey
Jo Yapp has credited Australia’s downpour of first-half tries for helping her side to a 73-0 win over a helpless Samoa in their opening 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup game.
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Flying wing Desiree Miller scored a first half hat-trick of tries for the Wallaroos, as the side set a new Women’s Rugby World Cup record victory for their nation at Salford Community Stadium with an 11-try win.
It is a result that has moved Yapp’s team ahead of England in Pool A on points difference.
“It was that first 10 or 15 minutes where we were just really clinical,” Yapp said.
“We did what we needed to do. Our line outs functioned really well, we executed and to then keep a team to nil – a team like Samoa who were on our line, really physical and kept coming at us – from a mentality perspective that was really pleasing as well.”
At the end of a game filled with a series of world class scores, which included a double for teenage sensation Caitlyn Halse, there was nothing but jubilation from the Wallaroos players the full-time whistle blew as they savoured the moment.
“We talked about it before the game, how do you want to feel before the (final) whistle,” co-captain Emily Chancellor said.
“Often you just get caught up in what you could have done or what we need to do better, but instead we said to remember that we are at a World Cup, remember this is the opening game. Don’t take that away from ourselves. Whatever the result we want to be proud of where we are and soak up the atmosphere.”
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Already Yapp has confirmed that she will leave her position with the Wallaroos to return to the UK at the conclusion of the tournament and equalling, if not bettering, the side’s quarter-final finish at the 2021 World Cup could be an excellent parting gift.
“It was very positive – enjoy the moment,” Yapp said. “Because, it is the first game of the World Cup, we have just had a good win and we are sometimes like ‘next job’.
“It was actually like ‘stop for a second and enjoy the moment and then we will go again’.”
To bolster their hopes of making the quarter-finals the Wallaroos will play the USA in York, where victory for Yapp’s team will guarantee a place in the knockouts.
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Australia gathered in their team hotel to watch as the Red Roses turned over the Eagles in front of a record crowd at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
“It was interesting, wasn’t it?” Yapp said. “Possession was equal and the USA kept coming out and we know they are very much a team that don’t want to roll over and they kept coming at England.”
Recent history would suggest that Australia could have the edge against the North Americans. This year in the Pacific Four Series the side beat the USA 27-19 and dispelled any memory of their loss a year prior in Canberra.
With the memory if Saturday’s dominant win so close at hand, there is little doubt side will be emboldened in their approach.