The second week of the group rounds of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 kicked off this weekend, as England face Samoa and Australia battle the USA in Pool A.
England were able to book their way to the quarter-finals, but a nail-biting match between the Eagles and the Wallaroos means there is still all to play for next week as they vie for the final spot.
The Sporting News recaps the matches, scores, key players and more.
England vs Samoa
Score: 92 - 0
Location: Frankin’s Gardens, Northampton
Try scorers:
England:
Jones (2), Breach (3), Bern, Feaunati, Atkin-Davies, L.Packer, Clifford, Carson, Rowland, Packer, Moloney-MacDonald; Conv: Rowland (11)
Samoa:
Pens: Vatau
Player of the Match: Helena Rowland (England)
Match report:
England broke records at their sell out match at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton, as the second round of their Pool A group rounds.
The Red Roses faced Samoa and won 92 - 3, which is not only the biggest score yet at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 but is also the highest score that England have ever clocked at any World Cup.
England dominated both the possession and offensive throughout the game, looking spectacularly comfortable with the ball. Fly-half Helena Rowland particularly shone, as she alone clocked a huge 27 points for the Red Roses.
Her precise kicks, converting 11 of 14 tries, were obviously part of her eventually being named MasterCard Player of the Match, but she also demonstrated impressive game management and offensive ability, crossing the line once herself.
It was also an impressive game for Jess Breach, who scored a hat-trick, and with that her 50th try for the Red Roses. She demonstrated an uncanny ability to find and slip through gaps in the Samoan defence with her incredibly explosive bursts of speed.
However, despite the score, it was also a game that Samoa should feel immensely proud of. Despite being the underdogs of Pool A as the second worst ranked team in the tournament, they displayed some impressive offensive phases, coming within four metres of England’s try line twice.
They also managed to gain their first points of the World Cup as 21 year old Harmony Vatau took a penalty kick - a huge amount of pressure for such a young athlete at her first World Cup, which she dealt with clinically.
This score means that England have officially booked their way to the quarterfinals in two weeks, regardless of the outcome of their next match against Australia.
Although their second large loss means that Samoa are now no longer in sight of heading to the knockout rounds, this match will still be a huge moment for the primarily amateur and semi-professional team, as the sell out stadium roared behind them and they proudly represented their country - who haven’t qualified for a Women’s Rugby World Cup since 2014 - on the international stage.
Australia vs USA
Score: 31 - 31
Location: York Community Stadium, York
Try scorers:
Australia:
Miller (2), Halse (2), Karpani; Conv: Wood (3)
USA:
Tafuna (3), Sagapolu, Jarrell-Searcy; Conv: Hawkins (3)
Player of the Match: Freda Tafuna (USA)
Match report:
Australia and the USA showed just how much they both deserved to be at the World Cup - and how much they want to progress to the knockout rounds - in a nail-biting battle in York.
The match ended with both teams at 31 points - making it the highest scoring draw in World Cup history.
Despite an uninspiring first half, which ended with Australia up 14 - 5, the tides changed in the second half as both teams moved into a different gear to play some truly top tier rugby.
Desiree Miller and Caitlyn Halse cemented their places as Australia’s most dangerous offensive units again, as they both scored twice during the game after also dominating the scoreboard last week against Samoa.
However, the USA had the upper hand in the second half, combating their handling errors of the first half and having possession for the majority of the 40 minutes.
Although the Wallaroos were able to capitalise on when they did get the ball, the Eagle’s Tafuna was an unstoppable force in their 22, scoring a hat-trick and earning Player of the Match.
However, the USA will be looking to improve on their kicking accuracy, after two mistakes from Hawkins - running out of time on one conversion and hitting both posts on another - cost the Eagles valuable points.
Despite this, the USA have successfully managed to keep themselves in the running for progression to the knockout rounds with this draw, meaning that it will be down to points difference off the back of the final group matches next week.
What does this mean for next week?
England have officially booked their spot in the quarterfinals, but it is up to Australia and the USA's performances next week to see who will gain that crucial second spot to the knockout rounds.
It will be down to points difference, as Australia face their hardest match yet against England, and the USA will need to clock in a huge score against Samoa.
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