The stalemate leaves the fate of both teams hanging in the balance. Australia hold the points advantage in Pool A, eight to the USA’s three, but with the later facing Samoa next Saturday, just before the Wallaroos take on all-conquering England, it is all to play for in the search for a quarter-final spot.
Story of the match
Again and again Australia seemed to seize control of this critical fixture but they just could not put an impassioned USA away. Dangerous almost every time they got the ball out to their backs, the Wallaroos took an early lead thanks to their electric winger Desiree Miller. But in a sign of what was to come, USA fought back through their pack, with Freda Tafuna grabbing the first of what would be a hat-trick.
That set the tone for the rest of a pulsating match. A first try for teenage flier Caitlyn Halse gave Australia a nine-point lead at half-time. Not that the USA were disheartened, with the Women’s Eagles turning that deficit into a three-point lead by the 52nd minute.
Then it was Australia’s turn to roar back, another try a piece for Miller and Halse restoring their nine-point cushion. That, however, succeeded in poking the USA back into action. Tafuna’s third try and one for Erica Jarrell-Searcy suddenly tipping the scales in the USA’s favour.
Five behind with eight minutes left, Australia somehow dragged themselves off the ropes, flew down the far end of the field and sent Eva Karpani over. In a final roll of the dice, scrum-half Samantha Wood had a conversion to win it. But she pulled it wide and everyone took a breath.
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