It was an emotional evening in Canberra as the Wallaroos survived a strong performance from Scotland to claim a 38-31 victory, completing a sweep of the three-match series between the two sides.
The match served as a perfect changing-of-the-guard moment for the national women’s side, as Eva Karpani celebrated her 50th cap while Emily Chancellor and Cecilia Smith showed why they have been such a huge part of the Wallaroos for so many years - and why they will be so missed.
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The Scots came to play, and driven by an excellent performance at the maul and set piece, led 17-14 at halftime and threatened to spoil the party as they exposed the hosts’ discipline.
However, a composed reply in the second half from the hosts saw them score three tries to two, regaining the lead in the 44th minute and keeping hold of it for the rest of the match.
So, what did we learn?
It was always going to be an emotional evening in Canberra, with so much going on in the world of the Wallaroos even before the side got to the footy on the field.
The final match before the side transitions to a professional program and a significant milestone for Eva Karpani was one thing, but then having to say goodbye to two of their most revered stars, Emily Chancellor and Cecilia Smith, made it a match the side simply needed to execute and get a result.
It was a credit to the team that, after Scotland deservedly found themselves ahead after a well-controlled first half, the Wallaroos came out far more composed, quickly wrestled momentum and the lead back, and never let go.
It showed all the key learnings the side picked up under Tim Walsh over the last six test matches and, while not perfect, showed all the signs of a side ready to take that next step.
The Wallaroos had to work hard for this final victory, with several elements of their game, most notably their maul defence and their discipline, exposed by the Scots in Canberra.
With the side copping five yellow cards and only 39 per cent of possession, the women looked in trouble after two quick tries from the visitors just before halftime.
However, the women in gold dug deep defensively, and found success in a key area they’d been focusing on leading into this match - physicality and aggression.
While that aggression did see their discipline questioned, it paid off when the side regained their composure in the second half, the Wallaroos battering the Scots with 192 tackles and winning the contest at the breakdown.
Piper Duck was especially impressive, making 22 tackles and being well supported by Georgina Friedrichs, Tania Naden and Michaela Leonard off the bench.
When the Wallaroos got the ball, they made it count, busting the Scottish line seven times and scoring nearly every time they went into enemy territory.
Managing the aggression will be a learning point from this game, but to still walk away with a win shows how high the ceiling is for the team.
Scotland will finish the 2026 season with just one win from ten games in 2026 - a disappointing statistic in terms of results, but doubly so because the side arguably played their best game of the year in Canberra.
The forwards put in a phenomenal performance, the maul proving especially lethal against the Wallaroos and single-handedly getting them back into the game.
The visitors also found success holding onto the ball for successive phases, forcing the Wallaroos to work hard in defence.
Evie Gallagher, captain Rachel Malcolm and Meryl Smith all produced phenomenal individual efforts, the sides’ discipline and composure frustrating the hosts, with two tries on halftime a just reward for their efforts.
It was a performance that showed promising grit and determination after two disappointing losses, with ultimately, the Achilles' heel that proved the difference between the sides was execution in key moments.
The Scots missed too many chances when they needed to execute; the knock-on in the 77th minute on the Wallaroos' line was an epitome of their match, with handling also poor on occasion.
The visitors have plenty to build on from their Canberra performance, but it will also be a match the side will look back on and wonder what could have been.
You don’t often see a player receive a standing ovation after copping a red card, but it was well deserved for outgoing star Cecilia Smith.
In her 33rd and final match, the inside centre was everywhere, making 13 carries, busting four tackles, making two line breaks, and generally reminding fans why she has been around this side for so long and has been so regarded.
It was a similar story for Emily Chancellor, who had a perfect night on defence, playing a key role in steadying the ship early after halftime when the Wallaroos got the lead back, before being subbed off.
After Friedrichs pulled off a critical steal to seal the victory, emotions spilled over at full time, with both players embraced by both teams, and the crowd sticking around to farewell them both in style.
With both stepping away just as the program heads into fulltime territory, it proved a perfect match for them to hand the baton over to the next generation of Wallaroo stars, and what a generation of promise the side has.
The result tonight ends the 2026 season, and now, the action begins off the field as Tim Walsh begins the process of finalising an integrated, aligned program for Australian women’s rugby.
It’s a credit to the Director of Women’s High Performance as much as it is to the players, completing a three-match sweep of Scotland to deliver a strong finish to the 2026 season.
On top of that, the promise shown over the WXV Global Series should give Walsh a lot of confidence that in a professional, full-time environment, the cattle he has can flourish and continue to grow into a side that can go deep at the 2029 Rugby World Cup.
With incoming head coach Sione Fukofuka also having worked closely with most of the squad for several years, Walsh will hope the green shoots planted in his six test matches in charge will grow into a side that can ask questions of the likes of England, Canada and New Zealand.
It shapes 2027 up as one of the most significant ever in the history of the Wallaroos - with all eyes now firmly focused towards the 2029 Rugby World Cup.
