Australia overturn half-time deficit to beat Scotland in Edinburgh
Australia defeated Scotland in Edinburgh in the WXV Global Series on 26 September 2026, overturning the hosts to record a comfortable win.
The result left Scotland with three successive defeats in the WXV Global Series after losses to Canada and New Zealand, who are ranked two and three in the world respectively. Scotland had entered the match with hopes of beating Australia, a side described in the report as one place below them in the world rankings, but could not sustain their first-half advantage. Helen Nelson's penalty gave Scotland a lead at half-time, but the Wallaroos produced a decisive response after the interval.
Evie Gallagher opened the scoring for Scotland on 15 minutes, following her two tries against New Zealand last weekend, finishing off pressure on the Australian line. Scotland enjoyed territorial and forward momentum with Meryl Smith and lock Holland Bogan prominent, but sloppy work at the line-out cost the hosts promising attacking positions. Australia responded before the break when they spun the ball wide and Georgina Friedrichs put Desiree Miller into the corner, and Scotland then kicked a penalty through Nelson to lead 10-5 at half-time.
Australia accelerated after the restart, running in three tries in an eight-minute spell to seize control. The first came when a rolling line-out maul was halted just short and scrum-half Samantha Wood dived over; she converted her own try and Gallagher was sin-binned for illegally bringing down the initial maul. Brianna Hoy and Faitala Moleko then broke through to score, moving the visitors into a 24-10 lead.
Samantha Wood added a penalty to put Australia beyond two scores and slotted another late on as the visitors completed a dominant second half. The scoring sequence and Wood's kicking removed Scotland's opportunity to regain momentum after the interval.
Scotland named Hannah Ramsay, Rhona Lloyd, Evie Wills, Meryl Smith, Shona Campbell, Helen Nelson, Ceitidh Ainsworth; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Holland Bogan, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (c), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher, with replacements Aicha Sutcliffe, Leah Bartlett, Molly Poolman, Hollie Cunningham, Eva Donaldson, Leia Brebner-Holden, Katie Buchanan and Chloe Rollie. Australia fielded Caitlyn Halse, Amelia Whitaker, Georgina Friedrichs, Faitala Moleka, Desiree Miller, Waiaria Ellis, Samantha Wood; Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Pia Tapsell, Piper Duck and Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), with replacements Tania Naden, Martha Fua, Bridie O'Gorman, Jemma Bemrose, Emily Chancellor, Lily Bone, Tia Hinds and Ava Wereta.
The two teams meet again in Sydney next weekend.