England beat Australia 47 - 7 to be crowned winners of Pool A in Brighton this evening. Despite their loss, Australia also had reason to celebrate as their tenacious performance means that they have qualified for the quarterfinals in second place.
Australia took their job - of giving themselves the best possible chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals with their performance - extremely seriously, leading for the first 30 minutes of the game.
The Wallaroos made an aggressive start, with their powerful maul initiating their first try and beginning their lead. Their desire to reach the quarters was evident, with both Sam Wood and Faitala Moleka kicking huge 50 - 22s in the 27th and 34th minute respectively.
England struggled to warm up and were not at their usual impenetrable strength, with several forward passes and handling errors.
Despite this, there were moments of Red Roses brilliance, like the superb English defence in the 19th minute, with Hunt chasing the ball over their try line and Ellie Kildunne kicking it safely away.
Disregarding a shaky first 20 minutes with a few handling errors, Ellie Kildunne shone in defence with her incredible sprints and powerful kicks away from the English 22. However, the fullback’s time on the pitch was cut short as she was removed due to injury with 35 minutes to go.
The second half heralded the Red Roses’ return to their usual power. Replacement Kelsey Clifford scored twice within six minutes, after Sadia Kabeya also scored her second try just three minutes into the second half.
Although Australia made several valiant efforts in England’s 22, the English defence was entirely impassable and the Wallaroos were not able to score for the whole of the second half, whilst the Red Roses increased their try count to seven. Jess Harrison was a picture of precision once again as she converted six of seven tries.
However, it is a rare moment in sport where both teams come away celebrating, as Australia’s impressive performance means that they have qualified for the quarterfinals as second in Pool A.
England’s victory will taste even sweeter as they are Pool A winners, and thus far undefeated in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
The Sporting News has the score, highlights, starting line-ups and more.
MORE: Full schedule for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025]
England vs Australia score
| Score | Tries (Conv) | Penalties | |
| Australia | 7 | Talakai 5' (Wood) | |
| England | 47 | Breach 7', Ward 31' (Harrison), Kabeya 37' (Harrison), Kabeya 43' (Harrison), Clifford 53' (Harrison), Clifford 59' (Harrison), Bern 64' (Harrison) |
England vs Australia starting XV
Australia:
15 - Halse, 14 - Stewart, 13 - Friedrichs, 12 - Pomare, 11 - Miller, 10 - Moleka, 9 - Wood, 1 - Kavoa, 2 - Talakai, 3 - Karpani, 4 - Leaney, 5 - Leonard, 6 - Duck, 7 - Marsters, 8 - Palu (c)
Replacements: 16 - Naden, 17 - Pohiva, 18 - O’Gorman, 19 - Codey, 20 - Chancellor, 21 - Tuinakauvadra, 22 - Hinds, 23 - Smith
England:
15 - Kildunne, 14 - Dow, 13 - Jones, 12 - Heard, 11 - Breach, 10 - Harrison, 9 - Hunt, 1 - Botterman, 2 - Cockayne, 3 - Muir, 4 - Galligan, 5 - Ward, 6 - Talling, 7 - Kabeya, 8 - Matthews (c)
Replacements: 16 - Atkin-Davies, 17 - Clifford, 18 - Bern, 19 - Ives Campion, 20 - Feaunati, 21 - L. Packer, 22 - Aitchison, 23 - Rowland
England vs Australia highlights
5': Australia are making a statement! Talakai storms across the line in a green and gold maul. Wood converts.
7': An almost instant response from England with Breach flying down the left side to mark her 50th cap in style. No conversion.
16': Karpani crosses the line but it is held up. No try.
19': Hunt and Kildunne successfully defend a seemingly inevitable Australian try from behind England's try line, with Kildunne kicking it away.
20': The English maul is back! Cockayne barrels the ball over line. Again, no conversion.
21': Cockayne's try has been disallowed for a knock-on. Australia are back in the lead.
24': Botterman is down. The England prop is replaced by Kelsey Clifford.
27': Australia's Sam Wood kicks a powerful 50 - 22, putting the Australian side into offensive mode, but they are unable to get past the English wall of defence.
31': Abbie Ward pushes across the line and Zoe Harrison converts as England take the lead 12 - 7.
33': Wallaroo's Kavoa is replaced by Pohiva after being injured defending against England's recent try.
37': England's penalty line out pays off, as their brief maul storms across the line for Kabeya to touch it down. Harrison converts again to further extend England's lead before half time.
43': The Red Roses open the second half in style, as Kabeya chases the ball and touches down. Harrison's precise boot earns England another two points.
45': Wallaroo captain Palu is replaced by Tuinakauvadra, whilst English fullback Ellie Kildunne is checked for a head injury after a heavy tackle, being replaced by Helena Rowland.
49': Kildunne is confirmed as not returning to the pitch for the rest of the match.
52': A yellow card has been issued to Australia fly-half Moleka, meaning the Wallaroos will have to play a woman down for ten minutes of this crucial match.
53': Off the back of Australia's yellow card, Clifford score from a line-out. Harrison converts.
54': Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern come on for England, replacing Cockayne and Muir.
56': Australia's Marsters is replaced by Chancellor. Red Roses' Feaunati temporarily replaces Talling as she goes for a head injury assessment.
58': Clifford dummies a pass to fool the Australian defence and barrel through to touch down under the posts. Another effortless conversion from Harrison.
61': Galligan, Hunt and Heard are replaced by Ives Campion, Packer and Aitchison.
64': Another English try to the glee of the Albion Stadium, as Sarah Bern scores. Harrison converts.
65': Australian Leonard is replaced by Codey. Feauanti is confirmed as a permanent switch for the English side.
68': Steward makes a break for the English line, but once again the Red Roses defence proves superior.
70': Bern makes a high tackle against Karpani and earns herself a yellow card, taking herself off for the remainder of the game.
76': Red Roses captain Alex Matthews has been announced as MasterCard Player of the Match.
80': Full time with England 47 - 7 Australia. A win for both teams, as England finish top of Pool A, and Australia qualify for the quarterfinals in second place.
England vs Australia livestream, TV channel
Australia
- TV channel: Stan Sports, Nine (select games)
- Live stream: England Rugby YouTube
UK
- TV channel: BBC Two
- Live stream: England Rugby YouTube
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