Australia and the USA faced off in a nail-biting match in York tonight, ending the game 31 - 31.
Despite a lack-lustre first half, with handling errors aplenty from both the Wallaroos and the Eagles, the second half could not have been more different.
Australia's now-familiar offensive weapons Desiree Miller and Caitlyn Halse both powered across the line again in the second half.
Tries not only came thick and fast, but tit for tat as the two teams one-upped each other again and again. The USA's Freda Tafuna scored a hat-trick, not only scoring the first American try of the game, but also the try that initially put them ahead of Australia at the start of the second half.
However, the USA's conversions stood out as a point of weakness for a team that otherwise dominated possession in the second half, as Sam Wood ran out of time on one conversion, and a second hit both posts but didn't go in - key points needed in such a painfully close match.
The draw means that the USA are still in contention for moving forward to the quarterfinals, and it will come down to the points difference after they face Samoa next week. Although they did not concede a loss, the Wallaroos will be disappointed as winning this match would have guaranteed their ticket to the knockout rounds.
The Sporting News has updates on the score, match highlights, starting line outs and more.
MORE: Full schedule for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
Australia vs USA score
| Score | Tries (Conv.) | Penalties | |
| Australia | 31 | Miller '7 (Wood), Halse '38 (Wood), Miller 52', Halse 57' (Wood), Karpani 73' | |
| USA | 31 | Tafuna 25', Sagapolu 44', Tafuna 50' (Hawkins), Tafuna 66' (Hawkins), Jarrell-Searcy 70' (Hawkins) |
Australia vs USA starting XV
Australia:
15 - Halse, 14 - Steward, 13 - Friedrichs, 12 - Smith, 11 - Miller, 10 - Moleka, 9 - Wood, 1 - Pohiva, 2 - Naden, 3 - O’Gorman, 4 - Leaney, 5 - Leonard, 6 - Duck, 7 - Chancellor, 8 - Tuinakauvadra
Replacements: 16 - Amosa, 17 - Kavoa, 18 - Karpani, 19 - Codey, 20 - Marsters, 21 - Morgan, 22 - Pomare, 23 - Hinds
USA:
15 - Sharp, 14 - Emba, 13 - Maher, 12 - Heinrich, 11 - Coulibaly, 10 - Hawkins, 9 - Bargell, 1 - Rogers, 2 - Treder, 3 - Sagapolu, 4 - Taufoou, 5 - Jarrell-Searcy, 6 - Tafuna, 7 - Zachary (c), 8 - Johnson
Replacements: 16 - Stathopoulos, 17 - Leatherman, 18 - Jacoby, 19 - Ehrecke, 20 - Brody, 21 - Ortiz, 22 - Cantorna, 23 - Ibarra
Australia vs USA highlights
7': Desiree Miller begins the game's score, crossing the line in the corner. Wood converts.
25': Zachary breaks through the Wallaroos defence, before Freda Tafuna crosses the line for the USA's first points of the match. Hawkins runs out of time to convert as the ball falls off the tee.
31': Piper Duck earns Australia a penalty, as the Wallaroos choose a line-out. Risky choice from Australia as the USA now win a penalty.
38': Australia go for another penalty line-out, and Caitlyn Halse sprints it over the line between the posts. Wood converts.
44': Sagapolu scores, muscling across the line. Hawkins' kick hits both posts and fails to convert.
50': The Eagles have landed again, putting them in the lead! Tafuna scores again and Hawkins converts.
52': The Wallaroos clap back with another try from Miller. Wood fails to convert, but it still means Australia are in the lead again.
57': Halse crosses the line again after successfully taking a tricky pass. Australia have gained a bonus point as well as extending their lead again. Wood converts.
66': Tafuna scores a hat-trick and Hawkins converts!
70': The USA are back! Jarrell-Searcy slides under the bar and Hawkins converts.
73': Karpani scores to level the game again! Wood misses the conversion - there is all to play for now in the final five minutes.
80': Sharp kicks a loose Australian ball offside, ending the game on a nail biting draw. 31 apiece
Australia vs USA livestream, TV channel
Australia
TV channel: Stan Sports, Nine (select games)
Live stream: England Rugby YouTube
USA
TV channel: CBS Sports and Paramount+
Live stream: England Rugby YouTube
UK
TV channel: BBC iPlayer
Live stream: BBC iPlayer and England Rugby YouTube
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