The rise of Australia’s rugby women has been rocked by a clinical Canada in Brisbane, walloped 45-7 by the world No 2 side to crush local hopes of a first Pacific Four title. It extends the Wallaroo’s dismal run against the North Americans to 0-7 in XVs and leaves them plenty to ponder in the three Test lead-in to the World Cup in August.
The eight-try trouncing salts the wound of Australia’s shock defeat to Canada in the Sevens semi-final at the 2024 Olympics, where a 12-0 lead at Stade de France imploded into a 22-12 cataclysm. It ended their gold medal dreams and impacted the playoff for bronze, where a late USA try ultimately left the 2016 champions without a medal.
