Ropati's hat-trick sets Samoa on course
Samoa reached the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby League World Cup for the first time by defeating England 24-6 in Wollongong. Freedom Crichton Ropati did the early damage, crossing three times before the interval as the Pacific islanders built a 12-0 advantage at the break. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala then added another score shortly after the restart to stretch the lead further.[S1][S5][S6]
England, coached by Stuart Barrow, needed a win to finish in the top two of Group A and secure a third straight semi-final place. Instead they suffered a second consecutive loss and ended the pool stage third on two points. Wales, beaten 70-6 by England in their opening fixture, also depart early.[S1][S3]
Samoa's opening try came in the ninth minute when Ropati dived over in the corner, and she struck again on 19 minutes after a sweeping move that ended with an Ekepati offload. Her third arrived on 29 minutes in the right corner. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale missed all three first-half touchline conversions and also failed with the extras after Taulelei-Siala's second-half score.[S1]
England's brief revival falls short
Evie Cousins gave England hope in the 41st minute, powering through an attempted tackle by Tyra Ekepati to score, and Isabel Rowe converted to cut the gap to ten points. Samoa soon restored their cushion when Piliae-Rasabale kicked a penalty from under the posts after Lucie Sams was penalised for a ball strip.[S1]
England spurned a chance to close to within one try when Fran Goldthorp's overhead pass to Anna Davies was ruled forward, with Davies otherwise clear to score. Any lingering qualification hope disappeared in the 66th minute when Rimoni touched down beneath the posts, Piliae-Rasabale converted, and Samoa's bench celebrated a historic result.[S1][S5]
Barrow points to a young squad and a wider gap
Barrow said his team had been beaten by the stronger opponent and described the match as a competitive contest of the kind England need more often. He noted that his squad averaged around 21 and a half to 22 years of age, argued that many players would return better in four years, and admitted the group was very sad to be heading home.[S1]
Captain Jodie Cunningham, playing her final match, called the squad special and said captaining the side across four World Cups had been an honour. She said the players gave everything and that Samoa deserved their win and her best wishes for the next round.[S1][S4]
What comes next
Samoa will meet the winners of Group A, likely New Zealand, in Newcastle on November 7. Australia face the Group B runners-up the following day, and the final takes place in Brisbane on November 15.[S1]
