The Rugby test season has begun for the sad and overgrown Australian women’s Rugby team. In the opening match of the new Pacific Four series at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Canada smack the world N° 4 33-14.
During her first Test as an Australian coach after 70 selections as a player for England, Jo Yapp prepared the world n ° 5 Wallaroos for a good start to the season after finishing with historic victories against France and Wales. But Canada, who had smacken the United States in April, proved far too strong and ran in five-on-one attempts in the wet.
With a coveted place at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and only the top three teams qualifying for WXV 1, it was a key match for the Wallaroos. However, Canada’s cohesion gave them an early promotion, as superior kicks nailed the home team in their own half. The visitors converted the pressure into points in the fifth minute, a devastating rolling punch sent the whore Sara Cline through the tape.
Five minutes after, Canada scored in the same spot, another loud mouth that allowed McKinley Hunt to pull the pack out and make it 12-0. Eventually, a Wallaroo Bridie O’Gorman tackle coughed up the ball and made Australia sniff. They didn’t waste it, Siokapesi Palu rushed through two defenders to hit in the corner.
Unfortunately, a Knock-On was discovered by the TMO and the five points disappeared as quickly as they had been invoked. However, the home team was not denied a second time, Tania Naden nailing the throw from the line five minutes from the line before digging in to put the score back at 19-7 after 12 minutes.
When the two teams first met in Australia, Canada’s relentless Standard proved crucial, taking great metres from a tiring Wallaroos pack. Indeed, Cline quickly had his second try after another dominant Maul smack Canada 19-7.
Despite veteran Piper Duck returning from health issue after not found the entire season, Australia’s indecision with the ball in hand proved costly. Yet they created a golden opportunity in the shadow of half-time when full-back Lori Cramer launched a kick into space, only to see Waratah winger Desiree Miller shake the catch.
Australia had to score first in the second half. Instead, Canada struck as Gabrielle Senft’s solid Carry hunt set up Hunt’s second try. At 24-7, Yapp injected Eva Karpani and Atasi Lafai into the action to replace Michaela Leonard and Bridie O’Gorman.
The change had an immediate effect when Australia launched a counteraction, causing two players to overlap. When a Wallaroos try was imminent, Canada’s Maddy Grant deliberately spilled the ball, picking up a yellow card and costing her team a penalty attempt.
At 26-14, Australia were back. But three minutes after, the pendulum swung back to the guests as the Canadian DaLeaka Menin punched a hole in the center and rushed further under the posts, extending the lead to 19 points.