Australia and US fighting for last quarterfinal spot at Women's Rugby World Cup

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• Australia and US fighting for last quarterfinal spot at Women's Rugby World Cup</p>

<p>FOSTER NIUMATA September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM</p>

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<p>1 / 2RWC United States Australia RugbyAustralia's Caitlyn Halse, right, celebrates scoring a try against the United States during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool A match at York Community Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in York, England. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)</p>

<p>LONDON (AP) — Every quarterfinal ticket at the Women's Rugby World Cup has been punched except one.</p>

<p>It's a shootout between Australia and the United States on Saturday.</p>

<p>They are in this predicament because last weekend they drew 31-31 in York. Australia blew a nine-point lead with 13 minutes to go then missed a late conversion to win the game.</p>

<p>Australia still has the inside running. It will advance if it can take a bonus point off England in Brighton by scoring four tries or losing within seven points. Beating England would be a monumental upset.</p>

<p>England has a 7-0 record against the Wallaroos. England has reverted to the side which beat the United States 69-7 on opening night. Unbeaten for three years, England has scored less than 40 points just once this year, 38-5 against Italy in its first match of 2025.</p>

<p>"We're going in with the mindset of winning," Australia co-captain Emily Chancellor said.</p>

<p>The U.S. faces Samoa in York for the second time ever needing a bonus-point win and to overcome a minus-62 points differential. That's a tall order, too. The Eagles haven't scored 50-plus at a World Cup in 15 years.</p>

<p>The Eagles and Wallaroos were quarterfinalists in 2022.</p>

<p>England, Canada, New Zealand, France, Scotland, Ireland and history-making South Africa have all secured quarterfinal places.</p>

<p>Key matchups</p>

<p>The New Zealand-Ireland Pool C decider on Sunday in Brighton is another popcorn matchup. The six-time champion Black Ferns have lost only twice in World Cup history - to the U.S. in the 1991 semifinals and to Ireland in the 2014 pool stage.</p>

<p>Ireland beat New Zealand for a second time last September at WXV 1 by 29-27 in Vancouver.</p>

<p>There are two more matches between quarterfinal-bound teams; Canada-Scotland on Saturday and France-South Africa on Sunday.</p>

<p>Canada is unbeaten this year and hasn't lost to Scotland in 31 years. The loser likely faces England in the quarters.</p>

<p>Les Bleues are unbeaten in five matches against the Springbok Women. But Italy was unbeaten against the Boks, too, until last Sunday.</p>

<p>Players to watch</p>

<p>England wing Jess Breach plays her 50th test. She has never lost. Breach has a co-RWC-high eight line breaks and passed 50 tries in her career with a hat trick against Samoa last weekend.</p>

<p>New Zealand flanker Jorja Miller has beaten 17 defenders, more than any player in the RWC, and has seven line breaks, more than any forward.</p>

<p>Goalkicking lock Sophie de Goede has, with 262 points including 12 tries, passed Magali Harvey as Canada's all-time leading scorer.</p>

<p>South Africa wing Ayanda Malinga is the only player to carry for more than 300 meters (357) in the RWC. She's averaging 19.8 meters.</p>

<p>Australia co-captain Siokapesi Palu makes her first appearance since a foot injury in July. Palu was also at the 2022 RWC but didn't play.</p>

<p>Quotes</p>

<p>"We have our eyes on the prize. Samoa should be a fun team, but we need to put points through, and hopefully England really give it to Australia." — U.S. center Ilona Maher</p>

<p>"... the bows in my hair, the tape around my arm, the eyelashes and full face of makeup that I CHOOSE to wear, has no bearing on my ability, my passion or fight for this game. ... In a old school man's game, I'm bringing a bit of Barbie to the party. ... I won't be changing." — Wales forward Georgia Evans responds to online criticism of her appearance</p>

<p>"I actually punched him." — England No. 8 Alex Matthews' reaction to being named stand-in captain by coach John Mitchell</p>

<p>"You get another Serevi but you also don't get the same one. I think I play defense better than my dad ever did." — Fiji lock Asinate Serevi, daughter of the great Waisale Serevi</p>

<p>"I'm hoping we come out on top but I've asked the girls to come off (the pitch) crawling." — Wales coach Sean Lynn on facing Fiji</p>

<p>Schedule</p>

<p>Saturday</p>

<p>Canada vs. Scotland, Exeter, 1100 GMT</p>

<p>United States vs. Samoa, York, 1230 GMT</p>

<p>Wales vs. Fiji, Exeter, 1345 GMT</p>

<p>England vs. Australia, Brighton, 1600 GMT</p>

<p>Sunday</p>

<p>Japan vs. Spain, York, 1100 GMT</p>

<p>Italy vs. Brazil, Northampton, 1300 GMT</p>

<p>New Zealand vs. Ireland, Brighton, 1345 GMT</p>

<p>France vs. South Africa, Northampton, 1545 GMT</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby</p>

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