Australia v USA – Match 4
In a big upset the USA Eagles turned the Melbourne game around to inflict a stunning defeat on the Wallaroos.
Nobody could have predicted this outcome at the start. On four minutes Georgie Friedrichs made an stunning outside break to feed Desiree Miller who had too much pace for the defence.
The curious sequence that followed should have warned us of how the game was to unfold. The Eagles went on the attack and won a penalty in front. Gabby Cantorna’s kick hit the left post and came back out. As the Wallaroos massed to secure the ball, Maggie Cogger-Orr penalised them a second time for holding on, and Cantorna didn’t miss that one. (5-3)
The game was moving at a giddy pace, but inaccurate handling halted promising moves. Olivia Ortiz made up for a couple of bounce passes with a snipe that gained valuable ground that the Eagles couldn’t exploit.
Instead the Wallaroos mounted dangerous counters. They were held up on the line, won a penalty and kicked for the corner. But a promising catch-and-drive was thwarted by an all too obvious piece of obstruction as the pack rolled forward.
Still, they had the momentum. On 14 minutes Ash Marsters celebrated a first test on her home patch with a splendid try, breaking loose and producing a dummy to remove the last defender from her path. Bella McKenzie converted well from wide out. (12-3)
The dangers of over-confidence now showed through. A blind off-load fell into Kate Zackary’s hands, and the pendulum swung again. A neat chip by McKenzie Hawkins nearly worked, but the Wallaroos held on out close to their line.
Now more drama: Marsters offered Miller a wonderful off-load and she sprinted over. But Cogger- Orr wanted the move checked; sure enough, Marsters could be seen holding a defender back as she tried to stop Miller’s advance. No try. Eyes tight shut during the Wallaroos’ post-match review.
It’s going to be a sad affair. At this stage of the game they looked to be well on top, but the failure to add points, through tries or conversions, was going to tell a different story.
That was far from their minds as they went through a long set of phases. Marsters again served Miller on the right who crossed to stretch the lead. (17-3)
They undid the good work by conceding a high tackle. The Eagles exploited a fine line-out to drive over the line. Try Kathryn Treder.
Half-time 20-8
How the Eagles mustered four second-half tries and finished with 56% possession will be two burning topics in the Wallaroos’ camp.
It has to be admitted that the visitors played some of their very best rugby we have seen for a long while. They built long phases, the pack refused to be pushed around. Hope Rogers was central to their success, scoring two more tries to add to her harvest.
She was on the end of an accurate catch-and-drive to bring the scores closer. (20-15) A wonderful break by the irrepressible Georgie Perris-Redding led to Rogers’ second offering. (20-20)
Jo Yapp will be concerned at the Wallaroos failure to stem the tide. They did manage one more score, another flourish by Friedrichs (25-20), but the momentum stayed with the Eagles.
The most brilliant try now followed. Ortiz, all innocence, looked one way then gave a tiny reverse flick, Bourdon-Sansus fashion, to Lotte Clapp who raced through full pelt. (25-27) This was a direct replica of a try Romane Ménager scored in the Six Nations.
The Eagles nearly had another try. Hawkins hoisted a short kick over the top, Bulou Mataitoga collected and fell over the line. But a review spotted Friedrichs making a fine tackle that slapped the ball loose.
This was another let-off for the hosts, but they failed to take advantage. Once more the USA gained a penalty, kicked for the corner and drove the ball. Wallaroo warning bells were clanging as the opposition hugged the ball. Sure enough, the defensive line drew in ever shorter. The Eagles spread wide right for Atumata Hingano to cross unmarked. That was the clincher.
Result: Australia 25 USA 32
American faces at the end showed how much this meant to them. They had known defeat after defeat as they fell to an all-time low of tenth in world rankings. Now their second-half performance turned the tables, offering a glimpse of a rosier future.
Teams
Australia
1. Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs), 2. Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies), 3. Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs), 4. Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs), 5. Michaela Leonard (captain) (Western Force), 6. Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies), 7. Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels), 8. Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs), 9. Samantha Wood (Western Force), 10. Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs), 11. Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs), 12. Trilleen Pomare (Western Force), 13. Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs), 14. Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs), 15. *Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs)
16. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force), 17. Sally Fuesaina (ACT Brumbies), 18. Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs), 19. Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs), k20. Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs), 21. Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs), 22. Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies), 23. Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds)
*Denotes debut
USA
15 Tess Feury 14 Bulou Mataitoga 12 Gabby Cantorna 13 Atumata Hingano 11 Lotte Clapp 10 McKenzie Hawkins 9 Olivia Ortiz 1 Hope Rogers 2 Kathryn Treder 3 Charli Jacoby 4 Hallie Taufoou 5 Erica Jarrell 6 Kate Zackary (captain) 7 Georgie Perris-Redding 8 Rachel Johnson
16 Paige Stathopoulos 17 Alivia Leatherman 18 Keia Mae Sagapolu 19 Rachel Ehrecke 20 Freda Tafuna 21 Taina Tukuafu 22 Katana Howard 23 Emily Henrich
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Here’s a simplified table:
Table P W L Pts
Canada 2 2 0 10
New Zealand 1 1 0 5
USA 3 1 2 5
Australia 2 0 2 2
The schedule for this year’s Pac-4 is very unbalanced, but it adds drama to proceedings. There are two games to come, one each week: 19 May, NZ v Canada; 27 May, NZ v Australia
Afterthoughts
This was a rare upset in the watery world of Pacific Four matches. It marked an important turning point for the Eagles, who had been the clear back-markers till this great result in Melbourne. Whether it will be enough to gain them a place in WXV1 is quite another matter, but their spirits are revived.
In the cold light of day, the game was there for the Wallaroos to take. Missed conversions and unforced errors all added up to a loss that need not have been.
This was a lost opportunity to win over a Melbourne that is not devoted to the 15s game.
