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It’s a cloudy day in Salford but skies are clear and the forecasters don’t predict rain. That should make for a fast and entertaining game, with both these sides loving to throw caution to the wind with their attack.
The crowd is starting to trickle in for this game and the Scotland-Wales clash to follow. There’s a festive atmosphere in Salford town I’m told, with Manchester also humming with the energy of the Manchester City-Tottenham Hotspur game and the Pride Parade.
Rob Kitson is home from covering the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and, clearly still energised from the pint of Guinness I slid in to his mitt a fortnight back, found the time to run the rule over what can be a historic tournament for global rugby.
Australia and Samoa find themselves in the “pool of death” headed by England – the world’s No 1 side and the favourites for this tournament – and the dangerous USA.
If you’re following the form, here’s the Guardian’s definitive guide to how the 2025 pools are arranged…
Women’s rugby is on the rise and with Australia primed to host the 2029 Women’s RWC, Jack Snape believes the sport is on the cusp of something special…
This World Cup kicked off a few hours ago with England’s Red Roses ensuring the host nation extended a warm welcome to the USA. Both Australia and Samoa will have been watching this game closely as they share a pool with both sides.
SAMOA TEAM TO PLAY AUSTRALIA (1-15):
Ana Mamea, Avau Filimaua, Glory Aiono, Ana-Lise Sio, Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Sinead Ryder, Sui Pauaraisa (c), Utumalama Atonio, Ana Afuie, Harmony Vatau, Drenna Falaniko, Fa’asua Makisi, Keilamarita Pouri-Lane, Lutia Col Aumua, Karla Wright-Akeli
Replacements: Lulu Leuta, Denise Aiolupotea, Tori Iosefo, Jayjay Taylor, Madisen-Jade Jamie Iva, Christabelle Onosemo-Tuilaepa, Melina Grace Salale, Faalua Tugaga
WALLAROOS TEAM TO PLAY SAMOA
1. Faliki Pohiva (#219 - Blacktown Scorpions) – 4 caps
2. Katalina Amosa (#218 - Southern Districts) – 6 caps
3. Asoiva Karpani (#171 - Southern Suburbs) – 37 caps
4. Kaitlan Leaney (c) (#179 - SCU Marlins) – 31 caps
5. Michaela Leonard (#168 - Tuggeranong Vikings) – 38 caps
6. Piper Duck (#185 - Tumut Bullettes) – 18 caps
7. Emily Chancellor (c) (#158 - Sydney University) – 30 caps
8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 - Orange Emus) – 18 caps
9. Samantha Wood (#207 - Kalamunda Rugby) – 7 caps
10. Faitala Moleka (#199 - Blacktown Scorpions) – 22 caps
11. Desiree Miller (#204 - Eastern Suburbs) – 19 caps
12. Cecilia Smith (#190 - Leeton Dianas) – 24 caps
13. Georgina Friedrichs (#178 - Wests Bulldogs) – 34 caps
14. Maya Stewart (#196 - Nelson Bay Gropers) – 18 caps
15. Caitlyn Halse (#210 - Camden Rams) – 11 caps
Reserves
16. Adiana Talakai (#182 - Sydney University) – 18 caps
17. Brianna Hoy (#203 - Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 8 caps
18. Bridie O’Gorman (#180 - Sydney University) – 33 caps
19. Ashley Fernandez (#221 - Uni-North Owls) – 4 caps
20. Ashley Marsters (#117 - Boroondara) – 41 caps
21. Layne Morgan (#188 - Merewether Carlton) – 36 caps
22. Tia Hinds (#222 - Randwick) – 6 caps
23. Lori Cramer (#172 - University of Queensland) – 30 caps
The Wallaroos are boosted by the return of prop Brianna Hoy who will come off the bench in her first game since rupturing her ACL during a training session in Ireland last September. Experienced pair Asoiva Karpani and Cecilia Smith return to the starting line-up with the latter notching her 25th Test cap since debuting in 2022.
Veteran outside back Lori Cramer also comes into the matchday 23 as a utility on the bench. Kaitlan Leaney will become the 20th captain of the Wallaroos, joining back-rower Emily Chancellor in sharing the captaincy duties tonight.
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
Greetings sports fans! Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool match between Australia and Samoa at Salford Stadium in Manchester.
On paper, tonight’s match is the world No 6 against the team ranked No 15 in the world. These two nations have met once in a Test, way back in 2010, and Australia racked up an 87-0 victory! But World Cups aren’t won on paper and that was then and this is now.
After smashing Wales at their last start, the Wallaroos may start favourite tonight. But the No 9-ranked Wales also stole the first Test of that series from the Wallaroos and Samoa have the firepower to cause an upset tonight and in the first round of a Rugby World Cup anything can happen.
“We know Samoa will be a tough, physical side and we need to match it with them,” coach Jo Yapp told media yesterday. “There are no second chances at a World Cup and for us it starts with a good performance in our first match and building from there.”
Indeed. Wallaroos coach Yapp has included 13 players with previous World Cup experience for what are her final Tests at the helm of Australia’s women’s rugby side. However, she has also rolled the dice on youth with fullback Caitlyn Halse set to become the youngest Australian to ever play at a Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Already the youngest player to ever debut for Australia, the 18-year-old will eclipse the previous World Cup record set by Millie Boyle in 2017 (19 years 82 days) when she runs out tonight. In fact, Halse is among 10 Wallaroos players debuting at this World Cup.
Kick off tonight is 9pm AEST (11am GMT). We’ll be back with the teams shortly.
