Freda Tafuna records a hat trick as USA Women’s Eagles kept their Rugby World Cup Quarterfinal dreams alive in a thrilling 31-31 draw with Australia.
Keia Mae Sagapolu and Erica Jarrell-Searcy also scored tries in an end-to-end contest that is without doubt the game of the tournament so far. Both the USA and Australia had to mount comebacks on the scoreboard that was an exciting back and fourth game of control. The draw now sets up a final round of fixtures to see who will reach the knockout stages.
The USA will play Samoa in York, knowing a bonus-point win would move them level on points with Australia, who play England in Brighton later in the day.
Speaking post-match, head coach Sione Fukofuka told World Rugby: “It's bittersweet, isn't it. We did everything to get back in the game and give ourselves an opportunity to close it out, but unfortunately, we gave a penalty away that allowed Australia a chance.
“I’m really proud of the players, they worked hard to get back in the game but really disappointed with how it ended. We're excited because we have an opportunity, now we get to work and obviously polish up for the game against Samoa.”
The weather in York ensured a war of attrition ensued and it was Australia who opened the scoring after seven minutes. Back came the Eagles however with purpose and only a staunch Australian defensive effort stopping them from getting their first points on the board. Australia continued to fly down the left wing but Kathryn Treder’s tackle halted Miller just as she was about to turn the afterburners on, it looked a try-saving intervention.
USA Women’s Eagles capitalized on a penalty just before half-hour mark when Kate Zackary’s surging run following a rolling maul took her team within meters of Australia’s tryline, with Tafuna then burrowing over.
Despite the Wallaroos scoring just before halftime through Halse, the opening salvo of the second 40 minutes saw USA’s belief renewed and after Ilona Maher gained meters and sparked a run from Erica Coulibaly, setting up Keia Mae Sagapolu to score from close range. Six minutes later, Fukofuka’s charges were ahead after Tafuna powered over for her second try of the evening following Maher brilliantly winning her team a penalty in the build-up.
In a match that resembled a heavyweight slugfest, with both teams trading scoring blows with one another, Australia landed two more telling shots midway through the second half through Miller and Halse.
But the Eagles held tight and Tafuna got her team back to within one score on 67 minutes – completing a hat trick - before a Jarrell-Searcy try put the Eagles back in front for a second time. Karpani then got her side back to parity with five minutes to go and that’s how things remained in York.
USA must now win their next match against Samoa and hope England win heavily against Australia if they are to progress, but the Eagles are still alive in the tournament.
The next match is USA vs Samoa for the Pool A finale, Saturday September 6th at 8:30am ET live on CBS and Paramount +.
| Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hope Rogers | Exeter Chiefs |
| 2 | Kathryn Treder | Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers |
| 3 | Keia Mae Sagapolu | Loughborough Lightning |
| 4 | Hallie Taufoou | Loughborough Lightning / Denver Onyx |
| 5 | Erica Jarrell - Searcy | Sale Sharks |
| 6 | Freda Tafuna | Lindenwood University |
| 7 | Kate Zackary (C) | Ealing Trailfinders |
| 8 | Rachel Johnson | Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx |
| 9 | Cassidy Bargell | Boston Banshees |
| 10 | McKenzie Hawkins | Denver Onyx |
| 11 | Erica Coulibaly | Denver Onyx |
| 12 | Emily Henrich | Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees |
| 13 | Ilona Maher | Bristol Bears / USA Sevens |
| 14 | Cheta Emba | Boston Banshees |
| 15 | Lotte Sharp | Saracens |
| 16 | Paige Stathopoulos | Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees |
| 17 | Alivia Leatherman | Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini |
| 18 | Charli Jacoby | Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds |
| 19 | Rachel Ehrecke | Denver Onyx |
| 20 | Tahlia Brody | Loughborough Lightning |
| 21 | Olivia Ortiz | Sale Sharks |
| 22 | Gabby Cantorna | Exeter Chiefs |
| 23 | Sariah Ibarra | USA Sevens |
Head Coach, Attack + Backs | Sione Fukofuka
Assistant Coach, Defense | Sarah Chobot
Assistant Coach, Forwards | Mel Bosman
Head of Athletic Performance | Charles Dudley
Intern S&C | Nina Forte
Analyst | Callum Howells
Lead Physiotherapist | Alice Mae
Athletic Trainer | Sam Malette
Team Doctor | Abbie Hamilton
Massage Therapist | Delwyn Griffith
Performance Psychologist | Scott Goldman
Team Manager | Alana Gattinger
General Manager, High Performance | Tamara Sheppard
Media Manager | Jenni Burke
USA v England | 69-7 (L)
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
USA v Australia | 31-31 (D)
York Community Stadium, York
USA v Samoa
September 6 | 8:30 am ET | York Community Stadium, York
CBS, Paramount+
Quarterfinals Begin September 13
