Australia Beats Samoa 38-12 in World Cup Semi
Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick as Australia advanced past Samoa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand
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Australia defeated Samoa 38-12 in the Rugby World Cup semi-final on Sunday night at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Samoan players became emotional during their national anthem before the match.
Why it matters
The win sends Australia into the Rugby World Cup final decider against New Zealand next weekend. Samoa's exit ends its semi-final run in the tournament.
The official score of the semi-final was 38-12 in Australia's favour, reported at the 70th minute. Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick of converted tries, while the source does not detail the remaining scorers' full tallies beyond Stephen Crichton's try for Samoa.
The players
Reece Walsh
Australian fullback who scored a hat-trick of converted tries in the semi-final win over Samoa.
Samoa national rugby union team
The Samoan national team that competes in international rugby and lost this semi-final to Australia.
The details
Tom Dearden, Jacob Preston, Tom Trbojevic and Reece Walsh scored early tries for Australia, which led from the start. Samoa's Stephen Crichton scored a converted try in the second half, and both teams performed traditions of the Siva Tau before kick-off.
Timeline
Sunday night (8 November 2026): Samoa vs Australia semi-final at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
Next weekend: Rugby World Cup final decider against New Zealand.
Big Picture
Australia's win positions the team in the Rugby World Cup final decider, continuing its run through the tournament's knockout rounds. Samoa's defeat ends a semi-final campaign built on a squad with Pacific Island heritage, including players whose fathers sang the national anthem.
Fans planning to attend the final decider should book accommodation and tickets early, as Sydney is likely to see high demand during the event. Travellers should check transport options around Allianz Stadium before travelling.
The takeaway
The result shows how quickly momentum can shift in knockout rugby, with Australia's early tries setting the tone. Readers following the tournament should watch next weekend's final decider closely.
What happens next
Australia will face New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final decider next weekend.
Further reading
Explore more on Australia and New Zealand travel and culture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
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