The Wallaroos have produced one of their biggest wins in years, cracking the half-century as they overpowered Scotland to run out 56-12 winners in Sydney.
Kicking off the quadruple header in Sydney, a healthy crowd turned up early to support the women in gold and built quickly over the course of the game, and those that did were well-rewarded with an excellent performance from the home side.
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Scotland found themselves their worst enemy thanks to poor discipline and execution errors, but did make a game of it, the match turning it into an arm wrestle in the second half.
However, two tries late in the second half, including a try-of-the-year contender from player of the match Amelia Whitaker saw the women in gold pull through to claim their third win of the year.
So, what did we learn?
With such a significant day in the Australian rugby calendar, the women in gold delivered, and likely won many new fans in the process.
Tim Walsh has been looking for the 80 minute performance from his side since taking the reins in an interim capacity in August, and this afternoon’s result saw the women in gold come the closest to achieving that feat.
Scoring five tries in the first half, the Wallaroos attack was at their absolute best, spurred on by a ruthless back three causing all sorts of problems for the Scots.
While the second half proved a more inconsistent performance thanks to the Scots fixing their discipline, the fact the Wallaroos still won the half with three tries to one will be a big positive for Walsh as they look to try and finish the year on high.
While there was plenty to be happy about for the Wallaroos in Sydney, the biggest smile on Tim Walsh’s face would likely come from the new back three combination.
With Maya Stewart back into the side and Caitlyn Halse out with concussion, the teams opted to move Desiree Miller to fullback and start Amelia Whitaker on the left wing - and the results were lethal.
The first half saw all three players get on the scoresheet and score five of the seven tries overall, with Whitaker’s first try in gold an impressive long-range effort - one that she then bettered in the second half.
The result will give both Walsh and incoming head coach Sione Fukofuka plenty of food for thought for 2027, and will be a combination that is likely to be repeated in Canberra based on its promising signs in Sydney.
After showing glimpses of potential in the first half in Edinburgh, Sydney saw things unravel quickly for Scotland after the first 15 minutes, with discipline and basic errors proving fatal.
Conceding six penalties in the first 20 minutes, Maggie Cogger-Orr quickly lost patience, sending Meryl Smith to the bin after repeated warnings, the hosts capitalising with three tries with the player down.
Getting their second try through skipper Rachel Malcolm early in the second half, the Scots matched the visitors in the physical battle and made inroads, but fell apart in key moments of execution, with two penalties not capitalised on due to kicks not finding the sideline.
With frustrating back-to-back results, the Scots will need to recuperate quickly for Canberra, with the second half showing that once discipline was tidied up, they have what it takes to ask questions of the women in gold.
Outside of the back three, the Wallaroos also enjoyed several strong performers, with the immediate standouts coming in the form of the halves combination.
Waiaria Ellis continues to show maturity and discipline beyond her years, scoring a try late in the first half and helping unleash the blossoming centre pairing of Faitala Moleka and Georgina Friedrichs.
Even better, the bench also delivered for the hosts, with Cecilia Smith opening the game up in the second half, Piper Simons continuing to grow at scrum half, and Eva Karpani capping off the match with a classic try, carrying several Scots over the line.
It was a performance that will give the Australian coaching staff a lot of confidence heading into the final test of the year next week - and critically, plenty of options should they look to rotate the side.
With one match left in the Wallaroos’ season, the side will return to Canberra Stadium, the host of their first match of the year all the way back in March when they defeated the Fijiana Drua.
The side will look to finish the year with the same result, and a win in Canberra would arguably be more valuable than any other result this year.
The Wallaroos will join their sevens counterparts at the end of the year as full-time athletes, with their new head coach, Sione Fukofuka, arriving in early 2027, signing on to take them all the way through to the home 2029 Rugby World Cup.
A win in Canberra would not only see that program hit the ground running full of confidence with three consecutive wins in 2027, but also happen right at the time as the side looks to make a statement in three years' time.
A big week in the national capital awaits.
