Key events
Full-time! USA 31-31 Australia
TRY! USA 31-31 Australia (Karpani, 75)
TRY! USA 31-26 Australia (Jarrell-Searcy, 72)
TRY! USA 24-26 Australia (Tafuna, 67)
TRY! USA 17-26 Australia (Halse, 58)
TRY! USA 17-19 Australia (Miller, 54)
TRY! USA 17-14 Australia (Tafuna, 51)
TRY! USA 10-14 Australia (Sagapolu, 45)
Half-time: USA 5-14 Australia
TRY! USA 5-14 Australia (Halse, 39)
TRY! USA 5-7 Australia (Tafuna, 27)
TRY! USA 0-7 Australia (Miller, 8)
USA team
Australia team
Preamble
So, have Australia done enough?
If they beat England next week they’re through. That won’t happen.
A bonus point for four tries scored or a defeat of seven points or less will also be enough. I don’t either of those things will happen either.
So it’ll come down to points differences – in my opinion.
Currently the USA are 135 points behind Australia so it would need to be a dramatic swing. Australia beat Samoa 73-0. The USA, you’d think, would need to better that.
As Group A stands, England are on top top 10 points. Australia are second with 8. The USA are third with 3.
The last word goes to Sione Fukofuka, the USA head coach:
I am proud of the players, we went down and fought for the game and I thought we had it as well.
You can’t predict Australia.
The message is stay in process, stay in position, gain the points and hopefully we beat them.
Jo Yapp, the Wallaroos coach, is next on the mic:
On the whole we’re a bit disappointed and a bit flat. We let them into the game in the second half where our penalty count allowed them to gain access.
Ultimately our discipline let us down and we weren’t very accurate. We have to reflect on that ahead of a big game next week.
Now the Eagles captain, Kate Zackary:
We knew it was going to be a back and forth match. Every time we got hit we hit back a little harder. That fight is what we’ll carry into the next game.
The biggest message is we fought back. We’ve earned ourselves another shot.
Let’s get more reaction. Here’s the Aussie skipper, Emily Chancellor:
It’s a bit mixed. Right now we’re a little flat because we wanted that game really bad. It feels like both teams lost it. Frustrating.
We made it hard for ourselves. We have to go back to the drawing board for England.
Our player of the match, hat-trick hero Freda Tafuna, speaks.
She doesn’t say much. Thanks to crowd, gives “glory to God” and gives credit to her teammates.
Players are in tears. It was that sort of game. I’m just about in tears.
Australia had the ball but kicked ahead. Then Sharp mopped up but with her heels just about touching her own try line, and with no mates around her, she decided to kick it out and bring the game to an end. An extraordinary game.
It’ll come down to points difference. Australia are on +73. The USA are on -62. Will bonus points make a difference?
Full-time! USA 31-31 Australia
It ends in a draw! It was an anticlimactic end to what was one of the best games of rugby I’ve ever seen.
80 min: The scrum is clean. The ball flies out to Miller on the left wing who tears up field. Duck has to mop up a loose pass. They’re back inside their own half but still have the ball. They have to go again.
78 min: The USA get a penalty at the scrum! . The USA hoof it out. Not very far, but it is out and they get a line-out that Ehrecke wins. But the Wallaroos win the ball back! They keep the ball tight and unplayable from the maul. They’re a long way out. About 6 metres or so. But they could definitely score. What they don’t want to don’t want to give away another penalty.
77 min: Jarrell-Searcy spills the ball in contact on halfway. Time for a deep breath. I genuinely have no idea which way this is going. Australia have a chance to make some ground and possibly set a drop goal? Maybe eke a kickable penalty? Who knows. I just don’t want this to end.
TRY! USA 31-31 Australia (Karpani, 75)
WHAT THE WHAT!!! I can’t remember a more entertaining game of rugby. Australia, from the close line-out, set the maul. It rumbled close, within touching distance. But stalled. So it was up to some strong carries around the fringe. Eventually Karpani decided to take matters in her own hands and barrelled over. Wood missed the conversion. We’re even. Can you believe it?!
73 min: Maher strays offside from a USA clearing kick so Halse drills this penalty into the corner. She’s been so good kicking out of hand. Now the Aussies have a line-out about six out. They have to score.
TRY! USA 31-26 Australia (Jarrell-Searcy, 72)
THE USA TAKE THE LEAD! The towering lock has had an immense game and she gets a deserving try with a pick and go from bang in front. It was wave after wave of women in blue crashing over tacklers in green. Rogers – twice – Maher, Brody, just about every player was involved in that. Even Hawkins, who held firm in contact. The conversion from Hawkins is good. Where is this game going?
71 min: The USA go down the blind side after faking the maul. They make metres. Now they spiral the ball from the left wing to the right. They cam back infield. Up to the 22. Rogers with a big carry – she’s had some game in the close quarters. 10 phases. Hawkins has to carry herself. Maher involved. Into the 22. Rogers again over the gainline. They’re 10 short. Brody makes ground….
69 min: Another penalty on the floor for the Eagles. This one on halfway. Hawkins can’t make great ground with the kick but the line-out gives them a chance to set an attack from inside Australia’s half.
TRY! USA 24-26 Australia (Tafuna, 67)
TAFUNA GETS A HAT-TRICK! My goodness, what a game! The USA go back to their maul and it pays off. They’re so cohesive and once they get a second shove on there’s no stopping them. Hawkins, from the right, slots the sticks and it’s a two point game.
66 min: The USA get a penalty a metre short of the Australian line. They kept hammering and hammering and hammering at the wall but couldn’t find a breach. Hawkins tried to find Henrich with a cross-field kick coast to coast but skewed it. So we come back for the lengthy advantage which Hawkins nudges to the corner. They have to score here.
63 min: A massive turnover from the Wallaroos defensive maul. The Eagles went back to what worked earlier in the piece but the Aussies were wise to them. They took the intial hit, absorbed the momentum and swamped the ball carrier, denying Bergell a chance to get her hands on it. Australia’s exit play, as it has been all game, is decent though the clearing kick doesn’t find touch. The USA come back at them.
62 min: The USA keep the ball alive in midfield and get a penalty. Nice touches from Taufoou. A stiff carry down the blindside from Maher. Bargell kept it thrumming and Hawkins kicks it out for a line-out throw on the Aussie 22. They need to score here.
TRY! USA 17-26 Australia (Halse, 58)
The teenager bags a brace! Australia are showing their class and stretching their lead. With a penalty advantage they keep the ball in play. Swift hands under pressure from Moleka kept it moving. Miller could have had a dart herself but it was Halse who finishes it off down the left. The conversion from out wide in the left tram is good as well. Sensational stuff from the Wallaroos. What can the Eagles do in response?
59 min: It’s not quite to the corner but Australia win the line-out, and then get a penalty advantage, on the USA’s 22.
56 min: This has been, by a staggering distance, the best game of the competition. I’m thrilled to be calling it.
The USA are back on the ball though Wood manages to charge down Bargell’s box kick. Then there’s a knock on from an American so it’s Australia who will get the scrum feed inside American territory. My goodness, momentum is moving this way and that the arm of a grandfather clock. Australia win the scrum penalty and will surely nudge it to the corner.
TRY! USA 17-19 Australia (Miller, 54)
A DOUBLE FOR MILLER! What a game we have on our hands. Tuinakauvadra won a penalty on the floor straight from the restart which was kicked to the right corner. Australia got the maul rumbling before playing out the back with Moleka spiralling a long pass to Miller. The winger squared up her defender, put in a strong hand off and slid over in the left corner. What a finish! The conversion is missed but the Aussies are back in front.
TRY! USA 17-14 Australia (Tafuna, 51)
The Eagles maul over! They’re in the lead thanks to a formidable rumbling maul that was formed quickly and stayed connected even after the Wallaroos looked to fracture the pack. Tafuna was not to be denied as she wrestled the ball down following a second burst. This time Hawkins slots the extras from out to the right. What a comeback from the Americans. Momentum is all with them.
50 min: The USA from the line-out are motoring forward with Sagapolu once more on the ball. But Friedrichs strips the ball loose and now the Wallaroos are on the attack. Possession changes once more. Ding dong stuff from both teams. Bargell box kicks and causes trouble for the Australian back three though tghey eventually mop up. But there’s another penalty on the ground! Maher once more. She’s such a menace at the breakdown. Hawkins hoofs it towards the corner. The USA are on fire in this second half.
48 min: Halse runs onto a high ball and catches it while sliding. That is impressive work from the fullback. Australia recycle the ball down the line where Miller has it be she is swamped by women in blue. The USA get in and win another penalty on the floor. Momentum all with them once more. They win the line-out with Zackary inside Australia’s half and set another attack.
TRY! USA 10-14 Australia (Sagapolu, 45)
They’re over! It’s the big prop who busts over. Johnson came close moments earlier but the Australian defence held firm. But there was no stopping Sagapolu. Brilliant build up as the Americans showed greater patience through the phases. The conversion hits both posts but doesn’t go over. Hawkins really should have slotted that.
44 min: Taufoou wins another penalty and Australia give another penalty. That’s three in a row already this half. Hawkins unfurls a cross kick which Emba plucks from the air to keep the move alive. Maher goes in to clean the ruck and picks the ball up herself. They’re up to the 22. Johnson’s pass is almost intercepted but the Americans find the edge on the left with Coulibaly running full tilt. They’re about seven short now. Five with a strong close carry. Three. They’re so close.
42 min: No changes for either side at the break. Moleka’s restart is low and flat and soon after the Eagle’s win a penalty on the floor. Hawkins, now kicking into the wind, can’t make too much ground with her punt but the USA have the line throw which Taufoou wins. They set the maul before Henrich gets over the gainline. Another penalty against Australia for holding onto the tackler. Bargell, who has had a good game, stays prone on the ground clutching her torso.
The players are back on the field. This is going to be epic.
There’s so little between the teams but the Americans are edging a few of the stats.
They’d made more metres in the carry, have made more runs with ball in hand, had had greater success at the ruck and have dominated territory.
But they’d not been able to capitalise and must now produce a massive 40 minute performance if they want to take part in the quarterfinals.
Shoutout to Paul Hughes who is keeping in touch with the rugby, and writing in, from Kyiv.
Hope you’re well Paul and thanks for your email.
Half-time: USA 5-14 Australia
Nope, they decide they’ve had enough and punt it out after winning the scrum.
Brilliant game. I’d be staggered if a better 40 has been played this World Cup. Australia took their chances. The USA coughed up too many of theirs. That’s the difference as the two teams head into the sheds with the game in the balance.
40 min: Sharp spills a bouncing ball so Australia have a scrum inside the Eagles’ turf and a chance to add more points before the break.
TRY! USA 5-14 Australia (Halse, 39)
What a try! Brilliant from the Wallaroos. Naden went short with the line-out. Then the maul was set. The Americans held firm so Wood sent it towards the midfield where Halse, up from fullback, joined the line with a superb run and found a gap to slide under the poles. Wood took an age to convert from right in front but she made no mistake.
38 min: The clearing kick from Hawkins doesn’t go very far. Just to the 22 where Australia will have the line-out throw. It’s too long and the USA come away with it. But there’s a penalty against the Eagles. Was that obstruction? Halse doesn’t ask questions. She punts to the corner once more. Naden has to find her jumper five out.
