Australia and the USA have a storied sporting rivalry, with the Wallaroos-Eagles no different as they prepare for Sunday’s (AEST) must-win game in York.
Whether it’s swimming, America’s Cup or basketball, the two sport-obssesed countries often find themselves battling it out against each other.
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This has extended into Rugby Union in the 2020s as the two teams find themselves pitted against each other annually within the Pacific Four Series.
The stakes will ramp up this weekend in the northern city of York with a likely spot in the quarter-finals on the line for the winner.
Rugby.com.au breaks down the recent history of the two sides and the growing rivalry.
2022 marked Australia’s first year in the Pacific Four competition after COVID limited the competition to just the Americans and Canadians.
Still finding their feet under new coach Jay Tregonning, the Australians were blown off the park early as they trailed 16-0 thanks to a Hope Rogers try and several penalties.
With a strong wind behind them, the Wallaroos produced an inspired comeback to nearly steal victory at the end after tries to Georgina Friedrichs and Ashley Marsters.
In the end, one last lineout inside the USA 22 went awry and the Eagles held on for the win.
USA 16 - 14 AUS
Both sides entered their next match-up in Canada with a point to prove after conceding 50 points in their previous match. The Aussies held scoreless 50-0 to NZ while the USA rallied in the second half but still went down 50-17.
With the stage set for an open affair, the Wallaroos forward pack feasted, scoring the side’s first four tries, including two to Eva Karpani.
America tried to rally before a brutal second half that saw Maya Stewart score a hat-trick, blowing out the scoreline, the highlight of which was her second in the middle of a six-minute period that saw three Australian tries run in.
AUS 58-17 USA
Hope Rogers remains a central thorn in the side of the Australians, and her performance in Melbourne last year best reflects her dominance.
The loosehead prop inspired a remarkable USA comeback after the Aussies scored the opening three tries of the game.
The hosts blooded 17-year-old Caitlyn Halse at fullback and the move seemed to pay off before the front-rower inspired the Eagles.
Rogers scored twice in the second half as the Americans hit the front in the last quarter and never looked back.
USA 32-25 AUS
While it’s a different format of Rugby, it deserves a mention to tell the story of these two sides.
The Australians went into the Paris Olympics with gold medal ambitions but it was the USA that ended the tournament with a medal around their neck.
Australia lost to Canada in the semi-finals and looked to have done enough to claim bronze before an length-of-the-field try to Alex Sedrick and conversion to Alev Kelter sealed the unlikely upset.
The win vaulted USA centre Ilona Maher and the team into the hearts of the USA public, with Maher (and Rugby in the country) since exploding in popularity with the medal and win over the Aussies.
USA 14 - 12 AUS
The most recent match-up was billed as the battle of the Sevens stars between Maher and Charlotte Caslick but there was another Sevens/15s convert that took the headlines after the game.
Caslick, in her second start, showed her class with the opener as the Australians once again found themselves trying to deal with Rogers’ power.
Rogers finished with a hat-trick; however, it wasn’t enough as an Ash Marsters double sealed the win for Australia.
Unfortunately, it was the actions of Kelter that was the lasting image from this match, red-carded for striking Georgina Friedrichs on the ground.
Kelter’s World Cup dreams seemed in doubt, but a three-match (one Test) ban cleared the USA star for the hallmark event.
AUS 27-19 USA
