Australia beat England 78-0 in Group A World Cup match in Perth
On 24 October 2026 in Perth, England lost 78-0 to Australia in a Group A World Cup match. Jocelyn Kelleher, who was eligible for England, scored 26 points for the Jillaroos.
England conceded a penalty one second into the game after Lucy Murray was two yards offside from kick-off, a moment that set an early tone of chaos for the visitors. The result continued a pattern of heavy defeats to Australia: in Las Vegas in March 2025 England trailed 38-0 at half-time and lost 90-4, and in Perth Australia led 36-0 at the interval before the 78-0 final score. Only six members of the current England squad had been in Las Vegas, and the report noted that the Jillaroos have lost one international since 2016.
Tries: Chapman 2, Kelleher 2, Church 2, Kelly 2, Robinson, Aiken, Kernick, Dodd, Weale, Penitani Gray, Bent Goals: Kelleher 9
Following the kick-off England initially dealt with danger but were caught chasing a kick from their try-line and Australia countered for Jaime Chapman to score. England then muffed the kick-off for the second successive time, kicking the ball straight out of play, and seven minutes in Chapman rose to take a high catch from Jocelyn Kelleher's kick to reach the try-line again.
After a brief moment when England believed Anna Davies had scored — a claim ruled out because her knee was in touch — a turnover allowed Tamika Upton to break two tackles and set up Kelleher's first try. As Kelleher prepared the conversion, England wing Amelia Brown turned her back, an action the report described as giving the impression England had already given up.
Julia Robinson crossed for a try and later suffered a broken wrist when being pinned by a team-mate; Kelleher executed a long, swerving conversion from near the touchline and added a second try of her own. From the restart Isabelle Kelly ran over Fran Goldthorp, and Abbi Church scored in the corner to leave Australia 36-0 at half-time.
Early in the second half Tarryn Aitken stretched the lead to 40-0 before Olivia Kernick ran through three defenders to score and Quincy Dodd forced over what became the 10th try under the posts. Kelleher then chip-kicked for herself and provided an over-shoulder pass that led to Church's second. Makenzie Weale finished the 12th try, Tiana Penitani Gray scored after a Brown knock-on, Australia captain Kelly grabbed her second, and Shaylee Bent completed the scoring in a move where multiple England tackles were shrugged off.
England suffered further setbacks with second-row Eva Hunter leaving the field with an ankle injury in the first half and Jasmin Strange sidelined after a serious knee injury in training, observed pitchside on crutches. Fran Goldthorp, described as England's best player on the night, continued playing despite a blow to her wrist.
As expected, England's qualification will come down to a decider against Samoa next Friday, where they must be better.