UPDATE: Italy deny France a bonus-point win
WRAP: Australia opened their World Cup 2025 campaign in style with a 73-0 win against Samoa at the Salford Community Stadium on Saturday.
The victory is the Wallaroos’ highest-ever win at a Women’s Rugby World Cup to open their campaign, surpassing their previous record set against South Africa in 2010, where they produced a 62-0 victory.
The Wallaroos’ attack and defence were world-class, scoring with nearly every entry inside the 22, while on the contrary, coming up with massive tackles to force turnover after turnover when under pressure.
Desiree Miller produced a hat-trick, with centre Cecilia Smith a clear player of the match after an excellent showing from the Western Force midfielder.
The Wallaroos’ energy was infectious throughout the week and that carries into the opening half with a blitz of tries, started by Katalina Amosa after just 90 seconds.
Winger Miller was next to follow as she carved up the Samoans for a hat-trick.
She scored her first in the sixth minute before two quick tries in the second quarter as the Aussies found ample space at wide.
It was set up by a dominant set-piece, which dominated the scrum and made metres in bunches from the rolling maul.
Teenage fullback Caitlyn Halse became the youngest Australian to score at the World Cup, powering through the line and slamming the ball down.
The Aussies were left chasing the clock in the first half as Eva Karpani powered to the line as a near-perfect first half delivered a 45-0 lead after 40 minutes.
The Salford crowd tried to rally Samoa into action, with a host of Welsh and Scottish fans in the ground for the double header.
Every half break was cheered on while every positive Australian play was met with near silence.
The Samoans fed off the energy and put Australia under real pressure, forcing some desperate defensive plays from the likes of Halse and Karpani.
It was a test the Wallaroos passed with flying colours, setting up the counter for centre Smith to score a well-deserved try in her best game in the gold jersey.
Adiana Talakai then crossed for back-to-back tries as the Wallaroos converged on their highest-ever win at a World Cup.
Halse’s second ensured Australia’s place in the record books, the most they’ve scored in a World Cup game.
The only concern for coach Jo Yapp will be the fitness of Miller after she was hit high late in a nasty high shot by Melina Grace Salale, who was red-carded.
Meanwhile, Scotland took a big step towards the quarterfinals with an impressive 38-8 victory over Wales in their opening match of Pool B at the Salford Community Stadium on Saturday.
Francesca McGhie, the pick of Scotland’s exciting backline, scored a try at the start of each half, the second – after a brilliant step and pass from fellow wing Rhona Lloyd – completing her hat-trick as well as securing a four-try bonus point that could prove vital in a competitive-looking pool.
Further second-half tries from Evie Gallagher and Emma Orr confirmed Scotland’s dominance.
Wales, who ran Scotland close in a high-scoring thriller during the 2025 Women’s Six Nations Championship, enjoyed dominance in the scrum, but too many handling errors and a faltering lineout cost them.
Their only try came through captain Alex Callender in the first half off the back of a driving maul.
In York, Julia Schell scored six – yes, six – second-half tries to help Canada to a 65-7 win against Fiji at the York Community Stadium on Saturday to leave her team top of Group B after the first round of games.
Canada were efficient rather than exciting in the first half, using their lineout as a platform to score the first two tries before going through the phases for the next two to lead 23-0 at half-time.
Fiji scored the try of the game early in the second half, Kolora Lomani showing an impressive turn of pace to touch down after a flowing team move that spanned the length of the field and included a cross-field kick, dazzling footwork and Fiji’s trademark offloading skills.
But the day belonged to Schell, who scored her double hat-trick in the space of just 22 second-half minutes as Canada’s backs began to find their groove to go with their forward dominance.
Karen Paquin completed the scoring with her team’s 11th try.
France got off to a winning start in Pool D but failed to earn a four-try bonus point in beating a determined but limited Italy team 24-0 at Sandy Park on Saturday.
It was a nervous opening to the match by both teams, France enjoying the majority of territory and possession against an Italy defence that was aggressive and well-organised.
France scored with the first half’s one moment of true quality, Joanna Grisez coming off her right wing to cut through Italy’s defence down the left and score in the corner.
Assia Khalfaoui and Charlotte Escudero scored further tries for France in the second half, both from close range, while Morgane Bourgeois was perfect from the kicking tee.
Italy continued to defend well but a malfunctioning scrum and lineout combined with a number of handling errors meant they were unable to get on the scoresheet.
The results:
Australia 73-0 Samoa
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Amosa, Miller 3, Halse 2, Chancellor, Karpani, Smith, Talakai 2
Cons: Wood 6, Cramer 3
For Samoa: NONE
Teams:
Australia: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Cecilia Smith, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Samantha Wood, 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 7 Emily Chancellor, 6 Piper Duck, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Asoiva Karpani, 2 Katalina Amosa, 1 Faliki Pohiva.
Replacements: 16 Adiana Talakai, 17 Brianna Hoy, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Ashley Fernandez, 20 Ashley Marsters, 21 Layne Morgan, 22 Tia Hinds 23 Lori Cramer
Samoa: 15 Karla Wrght-Akeli, 14 Lutia Col Aumua, 13 Keilamarita Pouri-Lane, 12 Fa’asua Makisi, 11 Drenna Falaniko, 10 Harmony Vatau, 9 Ana Afuie, 8 Utumalama Atonio, 7 Sui Pauaraisa, 6 Snead Ryder, 5 Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 4 Ana-Lise Sio, 3 Flory Aiono, 2 Avau Filimaua, 1 Ana Mamea
Replacements: 16 Lulu Leuta, 17 Denise Aiolupotea, 18 Tori Iosefo, 19 Jay Jay Taylor, 20 Madisen-Jade Jamie Iva, 21 Christabelle Onosemo-Tuilaepa, 22 Melina Grace Salale, 23 Faalua Tugaga
Referee: Lauren Jenner (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Scotland 38-8 Wales
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: McGhie 3, Brebner-Holden, Gallagher, Orr
Cons: Nelson 4
For Wales:
Try: Callender
Pen: Bevan
Teams:
Wales: 15 Nel Metcalfe, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 12 Courtney Keight, 11 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Alex Callender (co-captain), 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams (co-captain), 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Alaw Pyrs, 3 Donna Rose, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Abbie Fleming, 20 Georgia Evans, 21 Seren Lockwood, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Carys Cox
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Elliann Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Molly Wright, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Jade Konkel, 20 Eva Donaldson, 21 Alex Stewart, 22 Caity Mattinson, 23 Beth Blacklock
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (England) & Jess Ling (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Canada v Fiji
The scorers:
For Canada:
Tries: Schell 6, De Goede, Boag, Crossley, Corrigan, Paquin
Cons: De Goede 4, Tessier
For Fiji:
Try: Lomani
Con: Vueti
Teams:
Canada: 15 Julia Shell, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Fancy Bermudez, 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier, 8 Grabrielle Senft, 7 Fabiola Forteza, 6 Caroline Crossley, 5 Courtney O’Donelle, 4 Sophie de Goede, 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Gillian Boag, 1 Brittany Kassil
Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 DaLeaka Menin, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Karen Paquin, 21 Rachel Smith, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistant Referees: Kat Roche (USA) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
France 24-0 Italy
The scorers:
For France:
Tries: Grisez, Khalfaoui, Escudero
Cons: Bourgeois 3
Pen: Bourgeois
For Italy: NONE
Teams:
France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Marine Manager (captain), 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Kelly Arbey, 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Alexandra Chambon, 8 Teani Feleu, 7 Lea Champon, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 4 Manae Feleu, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 2 Manon Bigot, 1 Yllana Brosseau.
Replacements: 15 Agathe Gerin, 17 Annaelle Deshaye, 18 Rose Bernadou, 19 Axelle Berthoumieu, 20 Seraphine Okemba, 21 Lina Queyroi, 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Carla Neisen.
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Alyssa D’Inca, 10 Emma Stevanin, 9 Sofia Stefan, 8 Elisa Giordana Duca, 4 Sara Tounesi, 3 Sara Seye, 2 Vittoria Veccheni, 1 Silvia Turani.
Replacements: Desiree Spinelli, 17 Emanuela Stecca, 18 Gaia Maris, 19 Valeria Fedrighi, 20 Ilaria Arrighetti, 21 Alia Bitonci, 22 Veronica Madia, 23 Francesca Granzotto.
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) & Maria Heitor (Portugal)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
