England face Australia this afternoon in Brighton for the final Pool A group match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
England have already secured their place in the quarterfinals, after two massive victories over the USA and Samoa.
However, after a nail-biting 31 – 31 draw between Australia and the USA last week, the final Pool A spot for the knockout rounds still needs to be claimed.
This decision will come down to points difference – and with the USA beating Samoa 60 – 0 earlier today, the Wallaroos will have to make sure they keep less than 75 points between them and England on the scoreboard.
That seems like a doable brief, but given the huge scores that the world number one’s the Red Roses have been racking up, Australia will have to bring their all to their most important game yet.
The Sporting News has the live score, highlights, where to watch and more.
MORE: Full schedule for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025]
England vs Australia score ScoreTries (Conv)PenaltiesAustralia7Talakai 5′ (Wood) England47Breach 7′, Ward 31′ (Harrison), Kabeya 37′ (Harrison), Kabeya 43′ (Harrison), Clifford 53′ (Harrison), Clifford 59′ (Harrison), Bern 64′ (Harrison) England vs Australia starting XV Australia:
15 – Halse, 14 – Stewart, 13 – Friedrichs, 12 – Pomare, 11 – Miller, 10 – Moleka, 9 – Wood, 1 – Kavoa, 2 – Talakai, 3 – Karpani, 4 – Leaney, 5 – Leonard, 6 – Duck, 7 – Marsters, 8 – Palu (c)
Replacements: 16 – Naden, 17 – Pohiva, 18 – O’Gorman, 19 – Codey, 20 – Chancellor, 21 – Tuinakauvadra, 22 – Hinds, 23 – Smith
England:
15 – Kildunne, 14 – Dow, 13 – Jones, 12 – Heard, 11 – Breach, 10 – Harrison, 9 – Hunt, 1 – Botterman, 2 – Cockayne, 3 – Muir, 4 – Galligan, 5 – Ward, 6 – Talling, 7 – Kabeya, 8 – Matthews (c)
Replacements: 16 – Atkin-Davies, 17 – Clifford, 18 – Bern, 19 – Ives Campion, 20 – Feaunati, 21 – L. Packer, 22 – Aitchison, 23 – Rowland
England vs Australia highlights
5′: Australia are making a statement! Talakai storms across the line in a green and gold maul. Wood converts.
7′: An almost instant response from England with Breach flying down the left side to mark her 50th cap in style. No conversion.
16′: Karpani crosses the line but it is held up. No try.
19′: Hunt and Kildunne successfully defend a seemingly inevitable Australian try from behind England’s try line, with Kildunne kicking it away.
20′: The English maul is back! Cockayne barrels the ball over line. Again, no conversion.
21′: Cockayne’s try has been disallowed for a knock-on. Australia are back in the lead.
24′: Botterman is down. The England prop is replaced by Kelsey Clifford.
27′: Australia’s Sam Wood kicks a powerful 50 – 22, putting the Australian side into offensive mode, but they are unable to get past the English wall of defence.
31′: Abbie Ward pushes across the line and Zoe Harrison converts as England take the lead 12 – 7.
33′: Wallaroo’s Kavoa is replaced by Pohiva after being injured defending against England’s recent try.
37′: England’s penalty line out pays off, as their brief maul storms across the line for Kabeya to touch it down. Harrison converts again to further extend England’s lead before half time.
43′: The Red Roses open the second half in style, as Kabeya chases the ball and touches down. Harrison’s precise boot earns England another two points.
45′: Wallaroo captain Palu is replaced by Tuinakauvadra, whilst English fullback Ellie Kildunne is checked for a head injury after a heavy tackle, being replaced by Helena Rowland.
49′: Kildunne is confirmed as not returning to the pitch for the rest of the match.
52′: A yellow card has been issued to Australia fly-half Moleka, meaning the Wallaroos will have to play a woman down for ten minutes of this crucial match.
53′: Off the back of Australia’s yellow card, Clifford score from a line-out. Harrison converts.
54′: Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern come on for England, replacing Cockayne and Muir.
56′: Australia’s Marsters is replaced by Chancellor. Red Roses’ Feaunati temporarily replaces Talling as she goes for a head injury assessment.
58′: Clifford dummies a pass to fool the Australian defence and barrel through to touch down under the posts. Another effortless conversion from Harrison.
61′: Galligan, Hunt and Heard are replaced by Ives Campion, Packer and Aitchison.
64′: Another English try to the glee of the Albion Stadium, as Sarah Bern scores. Harrison converts.
65′: Australian Leonard is replaced by Codey. Feauanti is confirmed as a permanent switch for the English side.
68′: Steward makes a break for the English line, but once again the Red Roses defence proves superior.
70′: Bern makes a high tackle against Karpani and earns herself a yellow card, taking herself off for the remainder of the game.
England vs Australia livestream, TV channel
Australia
TV channel: Stan Sports, Nine (select games)Live stream: England Rugby YouTube
UK
TV channel: BBC Two Live stream: England Rugby YouTubeRugby news and related content