Australia might be out of the 2025 World Cup race but Desiree Millier and Tabua Tuinakauvadra believe these Wallaroos are just getting started.
At just 23 and 22 respectively, Miller and Tuinakauvadra are already fixtures in a young side that went down swinging to world number two Canada with playmakers Faitala Moleka, 20, and Caitlyn Halse, 18, among their core game-drivers.
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Despite their disappointment, both Miller and Tuinakauvadra were quick to celebrate the squad’s growth and echo their teammates in forecasting an even better Australian performance at the 2029 home World Cup.
“A quarterfinal is still something to celebrate that we've gotten this far and a lot to be proud of,” Miller told Rugby.com.au and RugbyPass post-game.
“It sucks that this is the end of our journey for now, but we've got our home World Cup in 2029, so we'll use this four-year cycle to kind of build and hopefully we get a bit further next time.
"We've got a young group and a lot of World Cup debutants this World Cup, but hopefully next World Cup we've got some more consistency and got some more experience under our belts.
“We're producing what we're producing, getting to a quarterfinal. Imagine what we can do with consistent connection over the next four years."
“I think we speak a lot about connection and the median age being that 20 to 24,” Tuinakauvadra added.
"I think you can only see the growth that we're going to have going into 2029.
"Our competition's only getting bigger and our level of skill is only increasing - it's only a matter of time before we see some pay out of that.
Both Miller and Tuinakauvadra were quick to credit Canada, who outscored Australia seven tries to one and had two more disallowed in a comprehensive 46-5 victory.
Canada struck after just 90 seconds via through Asia Hogan-Rochester and led 31-5 at half time before kicking on to secure their semi final berth against New Zealand.
“Over the last few years, their program's really grown and you can see it out on the field. They're really connected from their 1 to their 23,” Miller said.
“I think they [Canada] are quite versatile in what they bring to the game in terms of their pack as well as their backs. I think it's just a matter of us stepping up to the challenge,” Tuinakauvadra said.
“I think you can see glimpses of that, like us putting it to them and it's just a matter of us stepping up to the plate and just really giving it back.
There were certainly glimpses for Australia, chief among them Miller's sparkling run down the left edge to level the scores after seven minutes.
It took her tournament tally to six tries – putting her equal third on the all-time Wallaroos World Cup try scorers list - and her Test career tally to 15, just one behind all-time Test tries leader Maya Stewart (16).
Miller downplayed her achievements in favour of highlighting outgoing coach Jo Yapp, who leaves a legacy well beyond her eight wins and Australia’s maiden WXV title.
“I think she [Yapp] has had a great impact, started something really special and hopefully something that we can continue on again, maintain that connection and grow from here” Miller said.
“Sad to see her leave, but I think she's left it in a better place and hopefully we can, with our new coach, wherever it may be, carry that on.
“I haven't really taken a step back yet. It's just been head down and focusing on each game and each week, so I guess I'll go back and have a look at that and kind of celebrate the small wins and take the positives out of that.
“But there's a lot to work on and I guess that's the best part, you know, there's more that I could give and there's more that we could give. "
