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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Angus Fontaine

World Cup buzz grows as steely Australia upstage Ilona Maher’s USA

Ashley Marsters scores a try in Australia’s win over the USA at GIO Stadium in Canberra
Ashley Marsters scores a try in Australia’s win over the USA at GIO Stadium in Canberra. Photograph: Mark Evans/Getty Images

The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. So rang the cry of the Canberra crowd after American rugby star and social media “queen” Ilona Maher was upstaged by Australia’s own golden girl, the Sevens star and Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick, whose speed and daring inspired a 30-19 win over the USA at GIO Stadium.

This was a sweet victory for the Wallaroos – and a vital one. These sides will resume their rivalry in August via the same pool at the Rugby World Cup in England, with each nation hunting a first semi-final. Maher is crucial to the USA’s chances. Yet every time the Queen touched the ball last night she had a swarm of golden bees over her.

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