Wallaroos recover to beat Scotland 30-10 in WXV Global Series at Hive Stadium

Australia’s Wallaroos recovered from a 10-5 half-time deficit to defeat Scotland 30-10 in a WXV Global Series match at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on 26 September 2026.

The victory ended a six-match losing run for Australia, who had not won a Test all season and arrived in Edinburgh after successive defeats to England and France. The match also marked lock Michaela Leonard’s 50th Test appearance and featured Desiree Miller’s try six minutes before half-time, which moved her to 100 Test points. Scotland led 10-5 at the interval thanks to No 8 Evie Gallagher’s 15th-minute score and a conversion and a penalty from Helen Nelson.

Captain Siokapesi Palu delivered a speech at half-time that prompted a shift in Australia’s approach, and player-of-the-match Faitala Moleka described the change in mindset. “The atmosphere was crazy. Going into half-time, the girls knew we had to take it up a notch just to compete with Scotland,” said Moleka. “They’re a physical team and they were just pumping us at the rucks, but there was a massive mindset shift from the girls, and after a speech from our captain, we came out determined and got that win.”

The comeback began in the 50th minute when a powerful Wallaroos rolling maul was brought down by Gallagher just short of the line; Sam Wood picked up and burrowed over for the score and Gallagher was sin-binned for 10 minutes. That score opened the door for Australia’s second-half surge and left Scotland a player light at a crucial moment.

Australia then ran in three well-worked tries in the space of eight minutes to turn the contest decisively in their favour. Brianna Hoy crossed after offering a hint of a dummy before driving over, while Miller initiated a counterattack from Australia’s 22 that ended with Moleka finishing the move three minutes later, the pair of scores arriving in quick succession.

Wood added a pair of penalties as Australia’s scrum exerted control in worsening conditions, and the Wallaroos recorded 25 unanswered points after the interval. The result preserved Australia’s 100% record against Scotland.

Scotland will meet the Wallaroos again in return fixtures in Sydney and Canberra next month.