Salford – Australia registered a commanding 73-0 victory over Samoa in their opening fixture of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, marking their biggest winning margin in the tournament’s history.
Wallaroos dominate from the start
Australia got on the scoreboard within 92 seconds, courtesy of a clinical line-out drive finished by hooker Katalina Amosa, who only made her Test debut in May. The Wallaroos were relentless, securing the bonus-point fourth try by the 15th minute.
Miller’s hat-trick lights up first half
Winger Desiree Miller delivered a sensational first-half performance, completing a hat-trick of tries by the 33rd minute. Meanwhile, Caitlyn Halse, aged just 18 and the Wallaroos’ youngest-ever World Cup player, grabbed two tries.
Australia’s breadth of firepower
The Wallaroos scored a total of 11 tries, including efforts from Emily Chancellor, Eva Karpani, and Cecilia Smith, with Adiana Talakai bagging a brace. Australia’s previous record margin—62-0 against South Africa in 2010—was eclipsed in emphatic fashion.
Samoa’s spirited fight amid setbacks
For Samoa, this match marked their first World Cup appearance since 2014. Despite the heavy defeat, they showed resilience, particularly in the second half, making Australia work hard to keep them scoreless. They also earned respect with a high tackle count—Australia made 183 tackles—though errors near the try-line proved costly. Samoa captain Melina Grace Salale received a red card, the first of the tournament, after a head-on-head collision in the second half.
Conclusion
Australia’s emphatic 73-point win sets the tone for their campaign, giving them a massive confidence boost ahead of tougher clashes—particularly against the USA next weekend. For Samoa, the match was a tough initiation on the world stage, but their valiant effort and improved second-half discipline are positives to build on.