England player ratings vs Australia: Women's Rugby World Cup

Saturday, 06 September 2025 at 18:59

byTom Sansom

England player ratings vs Australia as John Mitchell’s side secured a third straight victory to top the group ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals.

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England secured top spot in Pool A of the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a commanding 47–7 win over Australia in Brighton, setting up a quarter-final against Scotland.

The Wallaroos struck first when hooker Adiana Talakai finished a rolling maul, converted by debutant scrum-half Samantha Wood. Jess Breach quickly hit back on her 50th cap, before Abbie Ward and Sadia Kabeya powered over to give England a 19–7 half-time lead.

After the break, Kabeya sealed her brace following sharp work from Natasha Hunt at a quick line-out. With Australia reduced to 14 after Faitala Moleka’s yellow card, England’s pack took control.

Replacement prop Kelsey Clifford drove over twice, while Sarah Bern added another barnstorming finish. England’s forward dominance and clinical execution saw them run in seven tries, shaking off a shaky start to underline their title credentials.

Scroll down for the England player ratings vs Australia.

England 47

Tries: Breach (8’), Ward (32’), Kabeya (38’, 43’), Clifford (53’, 58’), Bern (65’)
Cons: Harrison (33’, 39’, 44’, 54’, 59’, 66’)
Pens: –

Australia 7

Tries: Talakai (6’)
Cons: Wood (7’)
Pens: –

England player ratings vs Australia:

15. ELLIE KILDUNNE (Off 45’) — 5.5

Would have been clean through along the touchline for an early break, yet the ball slipped through Kildunne's hands. Sent a beautiful kick to clear the danger from her own try-line, but made a series of uncharacteristic handling errors in the first half. Produced a brilliant effort to collect a back-field kick, chip ahead, chase, and hit an Australian player just before half-time. Took a heavy knock at 45 minutes, with the medics quick to check on Kildunne and withdraw the Harlequin for a HIA.

14. ABBY DOW — 6.5

Got a roar from the crowd every time she collected the ball out wide. Dow was a heat-seeking missile towards the try-line, with a blistering carry in the lead-up to Abbie Ward's try. Made a stunning break in the 51st minute, carving through the Wallaroos and skipping past five hapless defenders. Australia often had an answer for Dow's darting runs, but their overcommitment in defence frequently left space for follow-up scores from close range.

13. MEGAN JONES — 6.5

A definitive fan favourite, the England faithful were delighted to see their midfield maestro light up the Amex with ball in hand. Not the eye-catching first half that the Trailfinders star had previously delivered, yet Jones' tireless efforts were commendable.

12. TATYANA HEARD (Off 61’) — 7.5

A solid defensive presence, Heard chopped low to fell the Wallaroos carriers. Confident and consistent in grinding out the hard yards through the midfield. Her efforts may not have grabbed the headlines, but the relentless hits and arduous dents left in Australia’s defence spoke volumes of her contribution.

11. JESS BREACH — 6

On the occasion of her 50th cap, Jess Breach opened the scoring with a darting finish after eight minutes. Plaudits to Zoe Harrison’s looping miss-pass, but the Saracen finished well in the corner. After bagging five tries in two RWC matches, it was a quieter, one-try outing for the fleet-footed stepper.

10. ZOE HARRISON — 6.5

Sent a brilliant looping pass over the Wallaroos defenders to pick out Jess Breach for England’s opening try. Struggled with some handling issues in the first half, as Australia pressed with a high defensive line. On target from the tee at the second attempt after missing her first effort. Let off when Australia charged down her 41st-minute clearance, with the ball rolling harmlessly beyond the dead-ball line.

9. NATASHA HUNT (Off 61’) — 7.5

Alert to collect Australia’s testing grubber kick, which bounced awkwardly in the in-goal area. Hunt shipped a neat offload to Kildunne for the fullback to clear the danger. Kept the tempo high and was quick to snap up loose ball once England earned penalties or free kicks, catching the Wallaroos off guard. Great communication with Kildunne at a quick line-out before popping the ball to Sadia Kabeya for her second-half try.

1. HANNAH BOTTERMAN (Off 24’) — 5

Gave away an early scrum penalty as Eva Karpani outmuscled her in a 4th-minute drive. Required medical attention after a 24th-minute scrum, with concern evident on the faces of England fans and coaches alike. Withdrawn from the contest, though Botterman left under her own power. Medical reports confirmed an acute back spasm.

2. AMY COKAYNE (Off 55’) — 7.5

Drove the forward pack on with hard-nosed grit, and her defensive work-rate was admired in Brighton. Brilliantly held up the ball as Australia crossed England’s try-line in the 16th minute. Worked tirelessly to get England over the line, though spilled the ball when grounding a rolling maul. Made a crucial turnover in the 35th minute to deny Australia momentum in a dangerous position.

3. MAUD MUIR (Off 55’) — 6.5

Not the scrummaging effort Muir would have envisioned, as the Wallaroos put on a clinic at the set-piece. However, she made up for it in the rolling maul, with commanding drives over the Australian line. Suffered a heavy head-on-head collision in the 52nd minute as she drove for the line, with Faitala Moleka sent to the sin bin as a result.

4. ROSIE GALLIGAN (Off 61’) — 6.5

A dominant line-out presence, disrupting the Wallaroos’ early attacking drive. Produced a thunderous tackle in the 28th minute, alongside Alex Matthews, to send Siokapesi Palu back 10 metres. At the heart of England’s mauling successes, Galligan delivered a strong shift in the Brighton engine room.

5. ABBIE WARD — 7

Peerless in the engine room but reflective of England’s first-half struggles against a hungrier Australian side. Ward was solid, though not her usual game-changing self in the opening 40 minutes, as Kaitlan Leaney and Michaela Leonard ruled the skies. Steadied England with a close-range score as Australia’s defence finally buckled.

6. MORWENNA TALLING — 8

Folded up Australian ball-carriers like an accordion, Morwenna Talling was relentless in defence and a point of difference against the waves of gold jerseys. A bright spark in a slow first half for England, Talling was called upon time and again to quell the Wallaroos. A stand-out hard-hitter for the Red Roses, on a day when they needed the Sale star at her best. Taken off for a 56th-minute HIA.

7. SADIA KABEYA — 8.5

Ever-present at the ankles of the Wallaroos, with an impressive tackle count and breakdown presence. Bagged a first-half score as the Red Roses pack flexed their muscles, with Kabeya on hand to ground a solid rolling maul just before the break. Secured her brace by supporting Hunt's kick-chase, as England grabbed their try-scoring bonus point.

8. ALEX MATTHEWS (C) — 7.5

Bestowed with the armband as Zoe Aldcroft continued her time onm the injury wards, Alex Matthews was a solid carrying option for the Red Roses. Combined with Rosie Galligan for a thunderous hit, to send her opposite player Palu back packing. Confident and composed amidst the flourish of on-field errors from both England and Australia. Awarded Player of the Match for a solid showing on both sides of the ball.

REPLACEMENTS

16. LARK ATKIN-DAVIES (On 55) — 6

Won a scrum penalty in the 57th minute to get England into a dangerous position, leading to Kelsey Clifford's subsequent try from a tap-and-go. Adapted well to Sarah Bern's yellow card absence in the closing stages, as Atkin-Davies was called upon to alter the line-out approach.

17. KELSEY CLIFFORD (On 24) — 9

Flung into the fray sooner than expected as Hannah Botterman suffered an injury at the scrum. Impressive in lifting the effort at scrum-time, as England had struggled in the early exchanges against Australia’s pack. Shunted England over the line for a second-half try as the Red Roses capitalised on an extra-player advantage. Grabbed her second try following a tap-and-go, with three Wallaroos left trampled by the prop.

18. SARAH BERN (On 55) — 7

Elevated the set-piece intensity, and alongside fellow replacement Lark Atkin-Davies, England dominated Australia up front throughout the latter 40 minutes. Could not be stopped from short range, with the Bristol prop powering over the line for England's seventh score. Departed early with a trip to the sin bin, leaving an unwanted asterisk on her performance.

19. LILLI IVES CAMPION (On 61) — 6

The young gun had 29 minutes to make her mark, with Ives Campion straight into the mix. The Loughborough breakout star threw herself into the fray and emptied the tank at the Amex Stadium.

20. MADDIE FEAUNATI (On 56) — 6.5

Replaced Morwenna Talling when the back row was withdrawn for a HIA. Flying into contact, her all-guns-blazing approach has become a trademark of the back row. The Samoan pride burned bright in such a pivotal match last week, and Feaunati kept the momentum rolling in this Rugby World Cup.

21. LUCY PACKER (On 61) — 6

With such a strong effort from Hunt, Packer’s halfback performance was always going to be tough to eclipse. The replacement nine kept the tempo high as the Red Roses cantered to the home stretch and secured a favourable quarter-final draw.

22. HOLLY AITCHISON (On 61) — 6

Holly Aitchison got her first taste of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, having completed a tough road back to full fitness. Like Packer, Aitchison did not dazzle the Brighton crowd, yet provided some neat touches to help England close out a dominant second half.

23. HELENA ROWLAND (On 45) — 7.5

On early in the second half as Ellie Kildunne was withdrawn for a HIA. Provided some nice link-up play as Rowland weaved passes to untangle a disjointed England attack. Her impact was evident—the back line looked more relaxed, with strong kicks clearing the danger throughout the second half. England need to start Rowland in the quarter-finals, after another brilliant display for the Red Roses.