Australia’s Miller bags hat-trick in record 11-try win

Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool A

Australia (45) 73

Tries: Amosa, Miller 3, Halse 2, Chancellor, Karpani, Smith, Talakai 2

Cons: Wood 6, Cramer 3

Australia scored 73 points against a helpless Samoa to record their largest-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup victory in a perfect start to their tournament campaign.

The Wallaroos’ 11 tries was also the most they have scored in a game, with their previous largest winning margin coming in a 62-0 win over South Africa in 2010.

Wing Desiree Miller bagged a first-half hat-trick as Joanne Yapp’s side moved above England to lead Pool A on points difference.

Full-back Caitlyn Halse, the youngest player to represent Australia at a Women’s World Cup at just 18, scored the pick of the first-half scores after hitting a brilliant line to race clear.

Former England captain Yapp will be confident her side can qualify for the knockout stages, but it is hard to know just how they will match up against the Red Roses, who are World Cup favourites, given the weak opposition.

Samoa, ranked 15th in the world, are competing at their first Women’s World Cup since 2014.

A large portion of the Salford crowd got behind the second-lowest ranked side in the tournament, but strong defence prevented them from crossing in an improved second-half performance.

The Wallaroos next face the United States in York on Saturday, which will probably decide who will qualify alongside England for the quarter-finals.

England comfortably defeated the United States 69-7 in the opening game of the World Cup, with head coach John Mitchell revealing post-game that he will rotate his squad heavily for the game against Samoa next Saturday.

Australia XV: Halse; Stewart, Friedrichs, Smith, Miller; Moleka, Wood; Pohiva, Amosa, Karpani, Leaney, Leonard, Duck, Chancellor.

Replacements: Talakai, Hoy, O’Gorman, Fernandez, Marsters, Morgan, Hinds, Cramer.

Samoa XV: Wright-Akeli; Col Aumua, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Falaniko; Vatau, Afuie; Mamea, Filimaua, Aiono, Sio, Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Ryder, Pauaraisa, Atonio.

Replacements: Leuta, Aiolupotea, Iosefo, Taylor, Iva, Onosemo-Tuilaepa, Salale, Tugaga.