Australia crushes Samoa 73-0 in record-breaking World Cup win

Australia delivered a dominant performance in their opening match of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, thrashing Samoa 73–0 in Pool A.

Scoring eleven tries without reply, the Wallaroos registered their biggest ever World Cup victory and set the tone early with seven tries in the first half alone.

The scoring spree began just 92 seconds after kickoff, when Katalina Amosa crashed over from a rolling maul to open her test account. Samantha Wood converted, and the Wallaroos never looked back.

Within the next few minutes, Desiree Miller crossed in the corner following a slick passing sequence. Wood added another conversion to make it 14–0 in under six minutes.

Caitlyn Halse then sliced through the defence for Australia's third, and Emily Chancellor followed soon after to secure the bonus point. Both tries were again converted by Wood. Eva Karpani added a fifth try from another clinical rolling maul, stretching the lead further. The conversion from Wood made it a perfect five from five.

Desiree Miller added her second try of the night in the 25th minute after supporting a break, and completed her hat-trick by the 32nd minute with another sharp finish on the wing.

Wood continued her flawless kicking, ending the half with six conversions from six attempts. Australia went into halftime leading 45–0.

The second half saw no let-up in intensity. At the 53rd minute, Cecilia Smith powered over the line, and this time Lori Cramer took over kicking duties, converting the try.

As Samoa struggled to contain Australia’s pack, Adiana Talakai bulldozed over from another maul in the 68th minute, with Cramer again adding the extras.

Samoa’s woes deepened when Melina Grace Salale was sent off in the 73rd minute for a dangerous head-on-head collision with Miller. Australia capitalised immediately, as Talakai grabbed her second try moments later, once again converted by Cramer.

The final blow came on the stroke of full-time, when Halse sprinted in for her second try of the match. Cramer added the conversion to seal a flawless performance. The Wallaroos finished with eleven tries, nine conversions, and a clean sheet, underlining their serious title credentials.

Team line up:

Australia XV: Halse; Stewart, Friedrichs, Smith, Miller; Moleka, Wood; Pohiva, Amosa, Karpani, Leaney, Leonard, Duck, Chancellor.

Reserves: Talakai, Hoy, O'Gorman, Fernandez, Marsters, Morgan, Hinds, Cramer.

Samoa XV: Wright-Akeli; Col Aumua, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Falaniko; Vatau, Afuie; Mamea, Filimaua, Aiono, Sio, Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Ryder, Pauaraisa, Atonio.

Reserves: Leuta, Aiolupotea, Iosefo, Taylor, Iva, Onosemo-Tuilaepa, Salale, Tugaga.