The Wallaroos have been dealt a Rugby World Cup reality check after being outclassed 45-7 by Canada in Brisbane on Friday night.
Australia were coming off a promising 27-19 win over the United States in Canberra, but couldn’t handle the step up in class against the world’s No.2 side.
It took less than three minutes for Canada’s dominant forward pack to assert itself at Suncorp Stadium as they picked off a Wallaroos lineout and rolled a maul 22m to score the opening try through prop McKinley Hunt.
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Olivia Apps of Canada celebrates with teammates after a try. Getty
“Like a tank,” Andrew Swain said in commentary for Stan Sport.
The loss means Australia end their Pacific Four Series campaign with a 1-2 record.
“Canada has put on an absolute clinic,” former Wallaroos forward Kiri Barker said on Stan Sport.
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Krissy Scurfield of Canada is tackled by Biola Dawa of Australia. Getty
“All through their forward pack, they’re being direct… such a dominant display by their forward pack and just so clinical when it comes to the rolling maul.
“But Canada, while they’ve been great, what they’re doing isn’t anything completely outstanding, and the Wallaroos are just letting them play.
“Letting them have that time and space to essentially do whatever they want to in attack.”
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It was sevens star Charlotte Caslick’s first start at inside centre for Australia after impressing on the wing the week before.
“She’s been closed down, those little half gaps, but she is testing Canada’s defence,” Barker said.
“She’s just such a natural player with ball in hand, and we’ve seen a couple of times what happens when she sees a little gap.
“In a decision-making role, she’s been able to bring her forwards into it. She needs a bit more go forward around her when she sees those gaps. She’s going to take them, she needs that support to get there.”
Caslick switched back to the wing in the second half and pulled off a brilliant try-saving tackle on Krissy Scurfield.
Defending champions Canada are now top of the table and will watch Saturday’s tournament-ending clash between New Zealand and the USA in Auckland to see if they retain their title.
The USA will be missing star centre Alev Kelter as she serves the first of a three-match suspension for stomping.
Canada and New Zealand drew 27-27 in a thrilling finish in Christchurch last weekend.
Australia’s next Test is against the world champion Black Ferns in Wellington on July 12.
They then meet Wales in two home Tests before opening their World Cup campaign in England against Samoa on August 23.
“We’ll take the positives out of it,” Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu said post-match.
“Canada were really physical, set piece again was challenging… their backline were really dangerous.
“We’ll take a lot of growth from that and now we just work towards that NZ game in July.”
Canada 45 (Hunt, Paquin, Schell, Royer, Scurfield, Tessier, Forteza tries; Schell 5 cons) defeated Wallaroos 7 (Miller tries; Moleka con)