Las Vegas has become a painful memory for England women's rugby league supporters following a staggering 90-4 defeat to Australia at Allegiant Stadium. This match, held in March 2025, was meant to kick off a promising Women's Ashes series but instead highlighted the significant gap between the Jillaroos, three-time World Cup champions, and England, who conceded 17 tries in the humiliating loss.

The sight of Georgia Roche, who scored England's only try, in tears post-match added to the disappointment of fans who traveled to support the team. The defeat raised concerns about England's World Cup prospects, with many dismissing their chances outright.

However, the loss has prompted a shift in mindset for England head coach Stuart Barrow. With a youthful squad featuring only six players from the Vegas debacle, Barrow emphasizes excitement over fear as they prepare to face the co-hosts in Perth on Saturday at 10:05 BST.

Barrow stated, "The youngsters coming in think they can do better than what we did last time... If you're a young player coming into this group, you want to play the best."

While England began their World Cup journey with a strong 70-6 win over Wales, they face a setback with Jasmin Strange sidelined due to a serious knee injury. Barrow acknowledged that Australia, who opened their campaign with a 40-0 win over Samoa, remains the benchmark in international rugby.

He noted the importance of learning from past experiences, saying, "We've built on that through all our training over the last 18 months. We learned a lot from it."

Australia hooker Keeley Nizza also recognized the rivalry, stating, "Last year we played them in Vegas and there was a big score, but I think England are a very different team now." As the teams prepare to clash, the stakes are high for both sides.