Take your Back Row Seats for the final pool games of the Women's Rugby World Cup
- Sophie Norris
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
The Back Row Seats is TFAP's new weekly women's Rugby World Cup Podcast, running for the entire 2025 WRWC. Episode three is live, listen now on apple or spotify.
The Week That Was
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is getting to the pointy end of the tournament. Seven teams have qualified for the quarter-finals, but will it be Australia or the USA joining them in the final eight?
8500 fans packed out York's Community Stadium to watch the Wallaroos draw 31-31 with the USA, in what was the fourth sell-out of the day on Saturday.
Here are the other results from the opening round:
Canada 42 def. Wales 0
Scotland 29 def. Fiji 15
England 92 def. Samoa 3
Ireland 43 def. Spain 27
New Zealand 62 def. Japan 19
South Africa 29 def. Italy 24
France 84 def. Brazil 5
The Wallaroos Stalemate with the U.S Eagles
The Wallaroos and the USA played out a 31-all draw in York, the first in the Australian side's history.
Fullback Caitlyn Halse announced herself on the world stage with a double and two try assists. Wallaroos winger Desiree Miller scored two tries to become the joint second-highest try scorer in the tournament, while Piper Duck, Kaitlan Leaney and Emily Chancellor all now feature among the top five tacklers at the tournament.
Key Stat: Australia made 229 tackles compared to the USA's 100 with the Women's Eagles claiming 63 per cent of possession.
“Why are we making 100 more tackles than the other team? We’re giving them so much ball and not holding onto it long enough.” - Horse Robinson
Where the game could have changed: Earlier Substitutions
Rugby Sevens convert Tia Hinds entered the game with just eight minutes remaining on the clock.
“Eight Minutes is not enough time for Hinds to make an impact.” - Horse Robinson
Layne Morgan, a Wallaroo with 37 caps, was not utilised off the bench. Could her experience have helped Australia get over the line?
“It's going to be the bench that either makes the win or makes the loss.” - Bella McKenzie
Len's Look: The Game-Changing Moment of the Week
A pivotal moment came in the 27th minute of the Wallaroos v USA match. Freda Tafuna scored the USA’s first try of the match, and the Eagles had the chance to convert. But as American goalkicker McKenzie Hawkins was about to take the conversion, the ball fell off the tee and the shot clock expired.
What is the conversion shot clock?
For conversions, the 60-second shot clock starts after a try is awarded. The rule was introduced at the beginning of the year to improve game pace. If the ball isn't kicked within the time limit, the kick is disallowed, and the opposition receives a scrum.
How did it change the game?
Both kickers, Samantha Wood and McKenzie Hawkins, went 3/5 off the tee in this game. With the match ending in a draw, this timed-out conversion proved costly for the Americans as it would have provided them with the one additional point needed to secure victory.
“ I don't like the rule. Why can't they just stop the clock, like in rugby league, and then restart it once the kick-off is happening?" - Bella McKenzie
Inside Wallaroos Camp: Meet Bree-Anna Browne (AKA Cheeta)
Bree-Anna Browne (nee. Cheatham)
Position: Prop
Wallaroos Caps: 13
Club: Wests (Brisbane)
World Cups: New Zealand 2022 & England 2025
Super W Club: Queensland Reds
What is your mindset and attitude when team selections haven't gone your way?
“I make sure I get my emotions out so that by Thursday training, I'm not holding onto those feelings anymore. Then I can go into training, preparing my teammates for the best training so they can play their best footy on the weekend."
What's your advice to fellow DDs?
“It's more about getting around them. Gameday is when it's the toughest for us. So getting around each other on that day, we have a DD breakfast before we get on with the job."
What makes a good roommate on tour?
"One that doesn't get up early."
You're a corporal in the army. What skill from the army do you use most in rugby? "The biggest one is resilience. Being able to bounce back when things aren't going right and just keep going."
Listen to Episode Three of the Back Row Seats, out now: http://tr.ee/WNdF-9wGiM
Game Three Preview: Wallaroos vs England (Red Roses)
WHEN: Sunday 7th September 2025
WHERE: Brighton & Hove Stadium, Brighton
TIME: 2:00AM AM AEST
HOW TO WATCH: Live & Free - Nine Now
WALLAROOS:
Ranked 7th Coming off a 31-31 Draw
Scored 104 Points so far
Conceded 31 points
RED ROSES:
Ranked 1st Coming off a 92-3 Victory Scored 161 Points so far
Conceded only 10 Points
Head-to-Head History:
2023: Red Roses 42-7 Australia
2022: Red Roses 41-5 Australia
2017: Australia 10-53 Red Roses
2010: Red Roses 15-0 Australia
2001: Australia 5-15 Red Roses
Horse & Bella Words of Wisdom:
The Wallaroos will do everything they can, they've just made it difficult for themselves.
Kaitlan Leaney has been playing some of the best test matches we've seen her play, and will be super important in their lineout against England.
The Wallaroos need to get the ball into the hands of Maya Stewart to maximise all their scoring avenues.
How does the bonus point work?
A try bonus point is awarded to teams that score four or more tries in a match. A losing bonus point is awarded to teams that lose a match by seven points or fewer. If the Wallaroos secure the bonus point, they will progress to the quarter-finals regardless of other results.
They [England] have the quickest breakdown of all the teams I've seen at the Rugby World Cup. So if Australia can be disruptive, slow it down and make it messy, we can really stop them that way." - Bella McKenzie
Horse and Bella's prediction: The Wallaroos qualify for the quarter-finals if they can disrupt England's breakdown and force them to play a defensive game. Something the hosts haven't needed to do so far with two convincing wins.
Written by Sophie Norris
Sophie is the Content Producer here at the Female Athlete Project.
The [female] athlete project is Australia's fastest growing women's sports platform, spotlighting the stories and achievements of women in sport. Listen to the weekly podcast the wrap on apple or spotify, or sign up to our weekly newsletter here.
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