USA Crush Samoa but Quarter-Final Dream Slips Away
The Women’s Rugby World Cup brought another dramatic twist as the USA Eagles produced a stunning performance in York, thrashing Samoa 60-0. It was a result that not only showcased the attacking firepower of the American side but also kept their slim hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive—at least for a few hours.
The mission for the USA was clear: rack up as many points as possible to catch Australia on points difference. Coming into the match, they trailed the Wallaroos by 135, so the challenge was steep. But from the opening whistle, the Eagles played with urgency and intent. Within just six minutes, flanker Freda Tafuna sliced through Samoa’s defense for the first of her four tries. Her pace and power set the tone, and by half-time, the USA were 27-0 up and already had the all-important bonus point secured.
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Veteran prop Hope Rogers added two tries of her own, while Cassidy Bargell and Erica Coulibaly also crossed the line. The second half saw the Eagles keep their foot on the gas. Erica Jarrell extended the lead before Tafuna, unstoppable on the day, stormed over for three more tries. Even with a yellow card to replacement Kristin Bitter briefly reducing them to 14 players, the USA did not slow down. Olivia Ortiz capped the scoring late on, making it 10 tries in total. Fly-half Gabby Cantorna contributed five conversions to round out the tally.
Samoa, though out of the tournament, never stopped fighting. Their best chance came in the 70th minute when full-back Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung was tackled just a metre short of glory. The crowd willed them to score their first try of the competition, but the USA defense held firm. Despite leaving empty-handed in the standings, Samoa left with pride intact and plenty of admiration from fans who appreciated their spirit.
For the USA, the 60-0 win cut the points deficit significantly, but their fate rested on the outcome of Australia’s clash with tournament favorites England. A heavy Wallaroos loss—by at least 76 points without a bonus point—was required. The Eagles had done their part and could only watch from the stands, hoping for a miracle. Ultimately, England’s 47-7 win was not quite enough, and the USA fell short of the knockout stages.
Still, this match will be remembered for Tafuna’s brilliance, scoring a third of her team’s points and earning Player of the Match honors. After the game, she praised her teammates, thanked supporters, and acknowledged the challenge Samoa had posed. Head coach Sione Fukofuka echoed those sentiments, saying the team had left some chances out there but had given everything.
It wasn’t the fairy-tale ending the Eagles hoped for, but it was a statement performance—one that showed their resilience, attacking flair, and determination to fight until the very last whistle.
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