Lightning strikes and torrential rain turned Sacramento into a quagmire, but the Wallaroos emerged with their heads held high after a 24-0 loss to Canada in the Pacific Four series opener. This wasn’t just another defeat—it was a statement of defensive intent against the world’s second-ranked side.
Australia conceded over 40 points in their last two meetings with Canada. On Sunday, they slashed that margin by more than half, showcasing a gritty, rain-soaked performance that kept the scoreboard respectable until the final whistle.
The match kicked off after a one-hour lightning delay, with heavy rain pelting the pitch throughout the first quarter. Those conditions played right into the Wallaroos’ hands, stifling Canada’s typically explosive attack. It took until the 19th minute for the Canadians to breach the line, with Saracens lock Julia Omokhuale picking up at the ruck and diving over.
Australia looked set to enter halftime down just 5-0, but a costly turnover at the 40-minute mark changed everything. Canadian skipper Justine Pelletier scooped the loose ball, darted through a gap, and offloaded to flanker Pam Buisa for a 12-0 lead.
Handling errors and poor discipline haunted the Wallaroos all afternoon. They gave up 17 penalties and finished the match with 13 players after centre Celia Smith (high tackle) and replacement hooker Brittany Merlo (side entry) both saw yellow in the final five minutes.
Scrum-half Sam Wood and winger Desiree Wood tried valiantly to spark the attack, but Australia struggled for field position and possession. Their defensive wall, however, remained resolute until the 66th minute, when winger Asia Hogan-Rochester finally dotted down in the corner.
Debutant hooker Kiki Idowu sealed the 24-0 shutout with a 73rd-minute try, but the scoreline didn’t tell the full story. Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona pointed to the positives post-match.
“Although we didn’t get on the scoreboard, we applied a lot of pressure,” Sekona said. “You can see with the scoreboard, there’s a huge shift from that last quarter-final game back at the World Cup.”
In the day’s other Pacific Four fixture, New Zealand overpowered the USA 48-15. The Wallaroos now turn their attention to round two, where they’ll face the Americans in Kansas City, Missouri next weekend.
