England’s hopes of closing the gap with the world’s best were extinguished within seconds of kick-off, as Lucy Murray’s offside error gifted Australia an immediate penalty. The Jillaroos, who have lost just one international since 2016, capitalized on the early mistake to dismantle the Red Roses defense with clinical precision. By the interval, the scoreline had already reached 36-0, signaling that the defensive frailties exposed in their 90-4 defeat in Las Vegas in March 2025 remain unresolved.
Jillaroos expose persistent gap as England fail to improve since Vegas thrashing
The final 78-0 scoreline in Perth underscores the magnitude of the disparity between the two sides, with Australia’s attacking line proving impenetrable for England. Jocelyn Kelleher, who was eligible for England, starred for Australia with 26 points, including nine goals and two tries, while Chapman, Church, and Kelly each scored twice. The comprehensive nature of the win highlights that England’s tactical adjustments have failed to yield results against top-tier opposition, leaving them vulnerable to being overrun in both attack and defense.
As Group A co-hosts, Australia’s dominance reaffirms their status as reigning champions and favorites to retain the title. For England, the defeat serves as a stark reminder that the lessons from their previous encounters have not translated into on-field improvement. The 78-point margin is a significant blow to their World Cup campaign, forcing a urgent reassessment of their strategy before their next fixture against a less formidable opponent.
Source: BBC Sport
