When the test match started between Australia and the USA this Saturday, hardly anyone would’ve guessed what would go down on the field just a few hours later. After all, Alev Kelter’s red card in the closing minutes has shaken more than just Team USA’s immediate tournament hopes. Ilona Maher’s stamp to an opponent’s head was labeled “deliberate and dangerous” by match officials, leaving little room for leniency. With a judicial hearing now pending, Kelter could face a long suspension that comes at the worst possible time.

The timing of the incident couldn’t be more critical. Why? Well, because the Rugby World Cup is right on the horizon. And Team USA now faces an unsettling question. What happens to the veteran Olympian’s World Cup run without Kelter by her side? Kelter has long been a cornerstone of the squad, both as a leader and an attacking force. Her potential absence could upend the chemistry and on-field balance that players like Maher rely on to shine on the world stage.

Kelter’s experience and presence have been essential to Maher’s rise within the national team setup. The two have complemented each other in style and strategy. And we have seen Kelter’s composure and skill often giving Maher the space to attack with confidence. But now, without that support structure, Maher may be forced to shoulder a much heavier load.

One that could stretch her performance thin as the stakes climb. And with the World Cup being rugby’s ultimate proving ground, any misstep at this stage could mean a missed opportunity on a global scale. While Friedrichs, the Australian player on the receiving end of the stamp, appears to have avoided serious injury, the fallout from Kelter’s red card may extend far beyond the match itself.

Rugby officials have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to head contact. Meanwhile, Kelter’s actions fall squarely within the kind of foul play the sport is cracking down on. That makes the likelihood of a significant ban high. And in the context of World Cup preparation, simply devastating. Coach Sione Fukofuka’s apology to Australia following the incident signaled how seriously the team is taking this episode.

But damage control may not be enough. As the judicial process moves forward, the U.S. squad must begin contingency planning. For Maher, that could mean adjusting to a new on-field dynamic. Or watching her World Cup campaign weaken before it even begins. Meanwhile, the suspension of Alev Kelter was not the only somber outcome for Team USA.

Ilona Maher falls while Wallaroos rise in ruthless statement win

Ilona Maher arrived as the star attraction. She left with a major loss. In a Pacific Four clash that was as much about star power as strategy, Maher’s USA side fell 30-19 to a resurgent Australia in Canberra. But this loss also exposed some deep cracks just months before the Rugby World Cup. The American icon, who recently captivated global audiences with her Olympic Sevens run and TV fame, couldn’t shake off the Wallaroos’ defensive swarm.

Not to mention, there was the psychological blow of losing a key figure up front. When Hope Rogers muscled her way to an early 7-0 lead for the USA, it looked like the Eagles were about to soar again. But Australia had other plans. Charlotte Caslick, the Olympic gold medalist making her mark in the 15s, carved her way through the American line to swing momentum.

The Wallaroos led 19-14 at halftime and didn’t look back. Captain Siokapesi Palu’s relentless drive and Michaela Leonard’s support in key moments turned the tide. It was a statement of intent from a side often overshadowed by their trans-Pacific rivals. And especially after last year’s painful collapse in Melbourne.

And yet, despite the defeat, Maher remained the spectacle. “This is the first game they’re coming to watch me play rugby, but they’re coming to watch Ilona first,” admitted Australian backrower Tabua Tuinakauvadra. The victory and the rising confidence ahead of the World Cup, although firmly belonging to Australia, are surely still following Maher.