The Thriller The Women's Rugby World Cup Deserved: USA vs Australia
The Thriller The Women's Rugby World Cup Deserved: USA vs Australia
In what was by far ... by far ... the most entertaining and tension-filled match of the Women's Rugby World Cup so far, the USA and Australia tied 31-31 in York.
This game had everything, was very well played by both teams, and hinged in the end on a couple of unlucky conversion kicks.
The USA kicked off on a wet and breezy day in York, and the Wallaroos kicked right back hoping to force a mistake, which is exactly what the Eagles gave them.
However, as would be a bit of the story in the first half, the USA did well to force issues with the Australian lineout. This throw went long and Keia Mae Sagapolu took it and charged ahead. However, after some minutes of play the Eagles were offside on a clearance kick, and Australia capitalized. Tey took the lineout, worked their way down to the line, and with a penalty advantage, Desiree Miller was over. Samantha Wood hit a superb conversion and Australia had an early 7-0 lead.
The Wallaroos then made a mistake, failing to catch the restart on the full and then losing the ball forward. Off the ensuing scrum the Eagles ran Emily Henrich and then Freda Tafuna hard. But as they got into the 22, they lost the ball, Kate Zackary, of all people, lost the ball in contact and Australia kicked clear.
But back came the USA and a Cassidy Bargell snipe helped spark them down to within five meters. However, another mistake happened here when Sagapolu thought she should pick up and then pass off to Zackary. Meanwhile Zackary was coming in to secure the anticipated ruck. The result was a lost ball.
Thanks to an excellent tackle and poach from Ilona Maher the Eagles stayed on the front foot. But another mishandle—Bargell's low pass couldn't be scooped up by Hope Rogers—gave Australia another letoff.
After that period the Eagles were on defense and once again mistakes crept into their play. An excellent kick clear by McKenzie Hawkins was called back for a penalty for the USA, but then Hawkins missed touch on the ensuing kick. Australia tested the Eagles wide and were only stopped thanks to an excellent tackle from hooker Kathryn Treder.
Finally, though, they caught a break. Australia had been rolling away in the tackles into Bargell's path without penalty, but when they didn't roll at all the Eagles got the call. A long throw to Sagapolu saw the prop sell a dummy and charge ahead. She linked up ith Zackary and soon the Eagles were close to the line. Tafuna picked up, survived one challenge, and was over. Hawkins couldn't kick the conversion because the wind blew the ball over just as she was moving forward, but now it was 7-5.
Once again the USA attack looked like it had potential. The Eagles were adding in extra short passes to change the angle of attack and Australia had to back up. But they were still losing the ball. On defense the Eagles were physical, but were finally exposed with a gap in the middle. They survived that break, and survived a couple of close calls near their line, but just as halftime loomed the Wallaroos worked a maul and then spun it wide for Caitlyn Halse to go in under the posts. Conversion good from Wood and the Wallaroos had a 14-5 halftime lead.
The Aussies started the second committing a series of penalties.
Henrich was making ground on her runs and a nice wide kick for Cheta Emba on the wing got the Eagles moving. They then spun it wide the other way for wing Erica Coulibaly to go on a run into the Australia the 22.
The forwards swarmed in with some solid carries—Sagapolu and Rogers were key here. Finally Sagapolu charged over to make it 14-10. Hawkins then whacked a kick that hit the left upright, then the right upright, and then bounced back. No good, and it was 14-10.
But the USA was on the front foot now. Their defense was strong and their work over the ball excellent. Erica Jarrell Searcy forced one key turnover and Maher was excellent in this regard all night.
A kick and smart chase allowed Maher to produce a holding-on penalty, and the Eagles took the lead from there. They opted for the lineout, drove hard, and Tafuna was the one with the ball as they crashed over the line. After two unlucky attempts, Hawkins hit the conversion superbly and the Eagles were ahead 17-14.
Australia answered right back. They pounced on Henrich when she was isolated, got the penalty, and then worked it wide where Miller fended off Lottie Sharpe to score. That made it 19-17 Australia.
After a penalty in the scrum Australia was able to build on that. They took the lineout, drove well, and while the Eagles, overall, stopped the Wallaroo maul, Australia had options. With a penalty advantage they went wide, ran a nice loop option, and Hulse was in for her second. Conversion good from Wood and it was 26-17.
But back came the USA! They got a penalty, took the lineout, and mauled it about 15 meters before being stopped. However, Australia couldn't get clear by much, and the Americans worked the ball through the hard-chargers, and as they got closer just ran the pick-and-goes. That brought another penalty and a warning to the Wallaroos. USA lineout, peel move off the back, and a quick pick-and-go for Tafuna's third.
It was also he last play as she was subbed off for Tahlia Brody. However, Hawkins slotted a brilliant kick from out wide and it was a two-point game at 26-24.
Brody's present was immediate, as she chase well off a kick from Hawkins and forced a penalty. The Americans charged on. Rogers and Sagapolu were immense, and then, with a ruck right in front of the posts, Australia failed to guard the A channel. Jarrell Searcy picked up and galloped in untouched. Try, kick good, and it was 31-26.
A bit of bad luck, however, helped Australia as Maher was offside, just barely, on a box kick that wasn't really needed. Australia this time drove down to the line and they kept it tight, with Evan Karpani going over. Wood, who had kicked really well, pulled her attempt a little, and just missed.
That made it 31-31.
Time was running out and both teams had the ball and a shot to make something happen. The Eagles got a scrum penalty but fumbled the ball in the maul. The Wallaroos wnt wide into USA territory only for a loose pass to give away 20 meters.
Eventually, Australia kicked deep hoping the Eagles would make a mistake. Sharpe fielded the ball, realized she was completely alone, and wisely kicked to touch to end the game.
This was a thriller. It was well-played. It was exciting. It showed everyone what this USA team can do. Australia's backline is very impressive. The USA's front row played the entire 80 miutes and Treder was excellent, playing her best game for the Eagles. Tafuna was player of the game with three tries, but Sagapolu had her moments. At center Henrich showed she's a fighter, and there were heroes all over the place.
USA 31
Tries: Tafuna 3, Sagapolu, Jarrell Searcy
Convs: Hawkins 3
Australia 31
Tries: Hilse 2, Miller 2, Karpani
Convs: Wood 3
The result leaves the quarterfinal situation up in the air. Australia can lose and still go through, but the USA has to win over Samoa and hope Australia loses to England. And also they need Australia to not get any bonus points and the combine winning margins to exceed 135. That's asking a lot for the USA. But quarterfinals or not, we finally saw a USA team that can play at a high level.