Pool A: USA 31-31 Australia
Second place in Pool A will go to the wire
Here was the captivating arm-wrestle we had been waiting for. Second place in Pool A behind England was probably on the line, and both teams gave everything in an utterly compelling match with a barely believable script.
Neither deserved to lose, and if England comfortably defeat the Wallaroos next week, it should come down to points difference between these two sides for a place in the last eight. After Eva Karpani’s concluding try for Australia, Samantha Wood’s simple conversion chance could have won it five minutes from time, but she pulled it, in doing so arguably guaranteeing the right result.
The precocious wing Desiree Miller and the 18-year-old full-back Caitlyn Halse both scored twice for the Wallaroos, while Freda Tafuna was credited with a hat-trick, although the No 6 said the third was scored by Hope Rogers. A late try by Erica Jarrell-Searcy, plus that disputed fifth, looked to have won it for the USA before Karpani’s try levelled it. Australia face England next Saturday while the USA have a less demanding task against Samoa, against whom the Wallaroos racked up a 73-0 score.
