The stalemate leaves the fate of both teams hanging in the balance. Australia hold the points advantage in Pool A, eight to the USA's three, but with the later facing Samoa next Saturday, just before the Wallaroos take on all-conquering England, it is all to play for in the search for a quarter-final spot.
Story of the match
Again and again Australia seemed to seize control of this critical fixture but, with their discipline faltering they just could not put an impassioned USA away. Dangerous almost every time they got the ball out to their backs, the Wallaroos took an early lead thanks to their electric winger Desiree Miller. But in a sign of what was to come, USA fought back through their pack, with Freda Tafuna grabbing the first of what would be a hat-trick.
That set the tone for the rest of a pulsating match. A first try for teenage flier Caitlyn Halse gave Australia a nine-point lead at half-time.
Not that the USA were disheartened, with the Women's Eagles turning that deficit into a three-point lead by the 52nd minute.
Then it was Australia's turn to roar back, another try a piece for Miller and Halse restoring their nine-point cushion. That, however, succeeded in poking the USA back into action. Tafuna's third try and one for Erica Jarrell-Searcy suddenly tipping the scales in the USA's favour. All tis despite fly-half McKenzie Hawkins fluffing several straight-forward conversions.
Five behind with eight minutes left, Australia somehow dragged themselves off the ropes, flew down the far end of the field and sent Eva Karpani over. In a final roll of the dice, scrum-half Samantha Wood had a conversion to win it. But she pulled it wide and everyone took a breath.
Mastercard Player of the Match
Nothing could stop Freda Tafuna on the day before her 22nd birthday. Called into the starting line-up to add more power, she duly delivered, grabbing three tries.
"That third one came off Hope Rogers," the Mastercard Player of the Match said with a smile. "I'm feeling good. Credit to the girls."
She certainly delighted her captain, Kate Zachary.
"We knew it was going to be a back-and-forth match. We talked about it all week long and that's what you got. The thing I am most proud about is every time we got hit, we hit back a little bit harder," Zachary said. "t's a trait we haven't shown in many games and something we will carry into next week."
Coach insight
USA head coach Sione Fukofuka was over-joyed with the fight his team showed.
"Massively proud of the players. We went down and fought back and to be honest I thought we had it. You can never lie on Australia and they came back and took their opportunity," he said, before turning his attention to the USA's crucial final Pool A match v Samoa.
"We had a couple of chances late but unfortunately couldn't convert that pressure and so now we look to next week. The message is stay in the process, stay in the system, build on possession and don't go chasing the points. They will come when we earn them."
For Australia head coach Jo Yapp, it was a case of what might have been.
"On the whole, a bit disappointed, a bit flat. We let them into the game in that second half and our penalty count allowed them access to our half, and when they're in there, they're hard to stop," Yapp said.
"Ultimately our discipline really let us down. At times, we weren't accurate with our launch plays as well. We'll always reflect and look to bounce back - the girls have got a big game next week."
Stat of the day
Australia made 229 tackles to the USA's 100 with the Women's Eagles claiming 63 per cent of possession. Yet it ended a draw. What a game rugby is.
Next steps
Right, you might need a calculator for this. Australia currently sit five points ahead of USA in Pool A. But with five points available for a bonus-point win, and the USA taking on Samoa next Saturday before Australia face mighty England, it could all come down to the nation's respective points difference. Again, Australia has the advantage here with +73 points, compared to the USA's -62. But a big win for USA could set Wallaroos' hearts fluttering.
