In what was by far ... by far ... the most entertaining and tension-filled match of the Women's Rugby World Cup so far, the USA and Australia tied 31-31 in York.
This game had everything, was very well played by both teams, and hinged in the end on a couple of unlucky conversion kicks.
The USA kicked off on a wet and breezy day in York, and the Wallaroos kicked right back hoping to force a mistake, which is exactly what the Eagles gave them.
However, as would be a bit of the story in the first half, the USA did well to force issues with the Australian lineout. This throw went long and Keia Mae Sagapolu took it and charged ahead. However, after some minutes of play the Eagles were offside on a clearance kick, and Australia capitalized. Tey took the lineout, worked their way down to the line, and with a penalty advantage, Desiree Miller was over. Samantha Wood hit a superb conversion and Australia had an early 7-0 lead.
The Wallaroos then made a mistake, failing to catch the restart on the full and then losing the ball forward. Off the ensuing scrum the Eagles ran Emily Henrich and then Freda Tafuna hard. But as they got into the 22, they lost the ball, Kate Zackary, of all people, lost the ball in contact and Australia kicked clear.
But back came the USA and a Cassidy Bargell snipe helped spark them down to within five meters. However, another mistake happened here when Sagapolu thought she should pick up and then pass off to Zackary. Meanwhile Zackary was coming in to secure the anticipated ruck. The result was a lost ball.
Thanks to an excellent tackle and poach from Ilona Maher the Eagles stayed on the front foot. But another mishandle—Bargell's low pass couldn't be scooped up by Hope Rogers—gave Australia another letoff.
After that period the Eagles were on defense and once again mistakes crept into their play. An excellent kick clear by McKenzie Hawkins was called back for a penalty for the USA, but then Hawkins missed touch on the ensuing kick. Australia tested the Eagles wide and were only stopped thanks to an excellent tackle from hooker Kathryn Treder.
Finally, though, they caught a break. Australia had been rolling away in the tackles into Bargell's path without penalty, but when they didn't roll at all the Eagles got the call. A long throw to Sagapolu saw the prop sell a dummy and charge ahead. She linked up ith Zackary and soon the Eagles were close to the line. Tafuna picked up, survived one challenge, and was over. Hawkins couldn't kick the conversion because the wind blew the ball over just as she was moving forward, but now it was 7-5.
Once again the USA attack looked like it had potential. The Eagles were adding in extra short passes to change the angle of attack and Australia had to back up. But they were still losing the ball. On defense the Eagles were physical, but were finally exposed with a gap in the middle. They survived that break, and survived a couple of close calls near their line, but just as halftime loomed the Wallaroos worked a maul and then spun it wide for Caitlyn Halse to go in under the posts. Conversion good from Wood and the Wallaroos had a 14-5 halftime lead.
