Australia (36) 78
Tries: Chapman 2, Kelleher 2, Church 2, Kelly 2, Robinson, Aiken, Kernick, Dodd, Weale, Penitani Gray, Bent Goals: Kelleher 9
England (0) 0
After talk of lessons learned and improvements made, reality struck fast for England.
asserted
reality → learn → England
They conceded a penalty just one second into their match against Australia - as Lucy Murray was two yards offside from kick-off.
asserted
Murray → concede → off
It set the tone for another humiliating defeat, one which shows the gap to the Jillaroos has not shrunk since the thrashing in Las Vegas in March 2025.
asserted
gap → set → March
On that occasion, England were 38-0 down at the break before losing 90-4.
asserted
England → lose → break
In Perth, Australia led 36-0 at the interval before winning 78-0.
asserted
Australia → lead → interval
England were not expected to beat World Cup co-hosts and reigning champions Australia in Group A.
asserted
England → expect → A.
The Jillaroos have lost one international since 2016.
asserted
Jillaroos → lose → 2016
Only six of this England squad were in Las Vegas, but quality-wise little has changed.
asserted
little → change → Vegas
After ceding advantage from the kick-off, England saw off the initial danger but were caught out chasing the kick from their try-line.
asserted
England → cede → line
Australia countered and Jaime Chapman scored.
asserted
Chapman → counter → ?
England muffed the kick off for the second time in succession, straight out of play.
asserted
England → muff → play
Australia immediately attacked; after seven minutes, Chapman got up to take a high catch from Jocelyn Kelleher's kick and score.
asserted
Chapman → attack → kick
After a brief flash where England thought they scored in the corner but Anna Davies' knee was in touch, they cheaply give the ball away and Tamika Upton broke two tackles before Kelleher crossed.
asserted
Kelleher → think → tackles
As Kelleher came round over the try-line to improve the position for the kick, wing Amelia Brown turned her back to play.
asserted
Brown → come → her
It gave the impression England had already given up.
asserted
England → give → impression
It was damage limitation for England, while the hosts could show off.
uncertain
hosts → show → England
After a score from Julia Robinson - who suffered a broken wrist shortly afterwards when being pinned by a team mate - Kelleher sliced in a swerving goal-kick of which Roberto Carlos would be proud.
asserted
Carlos → suffer → which
Kelleher added her second try, and from the resulting kick off they attacked again, ending in Isabelle Kelly running over Fran Goldthorp.
asserted
Kelly → add → Goldthorp
Abbi Church crossed in the corner for 36-0.
asserted
Church → cross → 36
Soon after the restart, Australia went from one end to the other for Tarryn Aitken to bring up 40.
asserted
Aitken → go → 40
Olivia Kernick ran through three players in the non-existent defence to score, before Quincy Dodd forced over the 10th try under the posts.
asserted
Dodd → run → posts
Kelleher chip-kicked for herself before pinging an over-shoulder pass that led to Church's second try.
asserted
that → kick → try
The 12th try came as desperate England defence was not enough to stop Makenzie Weale.
asserted
defence → come → Weale
The 13th came from Tiana Penitani Gray after a Brown knock-on, before Australia captain Kelly scored her second.
asserted
Kelly → come → second
Shaylee Bent concluded the thumping, ending a move where multiple England tackles were shrugged off without blinking.
asserted
tackles → conclude → move
There was added pain for England as second row Eva Hunter exited with an ankle injury in the first half.
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Hunter → be → half
It adds to the loss of Jasmin Strange, who picked up a serious knee injury in training on Tuesday and was pitchside on crutches.
asserted
who → add → crutches
Goldthorp, England's best player on the night, carried on despite a nasty blow to her wrist.
asserted
Goldthorp → carry → wrist
As expected, England's qualification will come down to a decider against Samoa next Friday - where they must be better.
asserted
they → expect → Samoa
The Aporia
