Australia's second-half surge seals 30-10 WXV win over Scotland

Australia overturned a five-point half-time deficit to beat Scotland 30-10 in Edinburgh on Saturday, with a burst of three tries after the interval deciding their WXV Global Series match. BBC Sport reported that the Wallaroos scored those tries in eight minutes, leaving Scotland with a third consecutive defeat following losses to Canada and New Zealand.

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Evie Gallagher scored Scotland's try in the 15th minute, and Helen Nelson supplied the conversion. Australia responded through Desiree Miller, who finished in the corner after Georgina Friedrichs sent the ball wide. Nelson then kicked a penalty after the visitors were penalised from the restart, giving Scotland a 10-5 interval lead.

Samantha Wood put Australia ahead with a try and conversion after a maul was stopped near the line. Gallagher was sent to the sin bin for illegally bringing down the maul. Brianna Hoy and Faitala Moleka then scored as Australia moved 24-10 ahead. Wood added two penalties, while Scotland failed to score in the second half.

The match also carried significance for Australian lock Michaela Leonard. Rugby Australia had announced before the game that her selection would make her the first Australian woman to reach 50 Tests. Leonard was named alongside Kaitlan Leaney in the starting second row. She made her international debut against Japan in Newcastle in 2019 and was appointed Wallaroos captain in 2023.

According to Scottish Rugby's match information, this was the teams' first meeting on Scottish soil, despite earlier encounters at three Rugby World Cups and in WXV. Their previous meeting had been the 2024 WXV2 final in Cape Town, where Australia won 31-22. That earlier contest produced eight tries, with the Wallaroos taking the title from defending champions Scotland.

The Edinburgh fixture was the last of Scotland's three home Tests in this phase of the competition. The teams are scheduled to meet twice more in Australia: Scottish Rugby lists fixtures at Accor Stadium in Sydney on October 17 and Gio Stadium in Canberra on October 23.