The Wallaroos’ search for a breakthrough victory against Canada continues after Australia were beaten 24-0 in their opening match of the Pacific Four series in Sacramento.
The contest was delayed by more than an hour because of lightning, adding to already testing conditions for both teams. When play finally got underway, Australia were unable to score against the world No 2 side, but the performance suggested progress compared with previous heavy losses.
That was the main positive for the Wallaroos. In their last two meetings with Canada, Australia had conceded more than 40 points on each occasion. This time, they restricted the Canadians to 24 points and showed greater resilience in a demanding environment.
Even so, the result leaves Australia still waiting for the kind of win that would mark a major step forward against one of the leading teams in women’s rugby. Canada controlled the match well enough to keep the Wallaroos scoreless, while Australia struggled to turn their improved effort into points on the board.
The opening round of the Pacific Four often serves as an early indicator of form in the international women’s game, and this match was no exception. For Australia, the defeat was disappointing, but the lower scoreline compared with recent encounters may offer some encouragement as the series continues.
Australia will now look to build on the defensive improvements shown in Sacramento. Against a team ranked second in the world, holding the margin to 24 points in such difficult conditions was a modest step in the right direction, even if the result itself was never in doubt.
Canada, meanwhile, began the Pacific Four with a comfortable win and reinforced their standing among the strongest teams in the competition. For the Wallaroos, the challenge remains finding a way to convert effort and organisation into a first victory over elite opposition.
