A one-sided night in Perth
Australia's women's rugby league side beat England 78-0 in a World Cup match in Perth, running in 15 tries while conceding none. It was the reigning champions' second consecutive match without letting an opponent score. The Jillaroos led 36-0 at half-time after crossing seven times before the interval, and they added eight more tries after the restart.[S1][S2]
England's problems began immediately. The team was caught offside from the kick-off, and Jaime Chapman opened the scoring soon afterwards. Jenna Foubister then kicked the restart out on the full, handing Australia another attacking set, and Chapman soon had a second try after leaping to collect a precise last-tackle kick from Jocelyn Kelleher over winger Anna Davies.[S1][S2]
England briefly thought they had replied when Anna Davies crossed in the corner, but the video referee saw her knee touch the sideline before she grounded the ball. It proved to be England's closest approach. Tamika Upton repeatedly broke the line from full-back, passing 100 metres gained inside the first 20 minutes, and she shrugged off Fran Goldthorp to send Kelleher over for Australia's third try.[S2]
Injuries and a debut
Julia Robinson, moved from the wing into the centres, scored Australia's fourth try but was forced off after Shaylee Bent's shoulder caught her in a tackle, and she left the field holding her arm with a suspected broken wrist. Her exit brought a debut for Sariah Paki, a Roosters NRLW premiership winner and two-time Olympian in rugby sevens. England also lost second-row forward Eva Hunter, who went off with an ankle injury.[S1][S2]
Australia kept pressing after the break. Tarryn Aiken, Olivia Kernick and Quincy Dodd all scored, and Abbi Church finished a sweeping move after Kelleher gathered her own kick and linked with Upton. Mackenzie Wiki, Tiana Penitani Gray, Isabelle Kelly and Shaylee Bent also crossed. Kelly, the Jillaroos captain, had already scored before half-time as the hosts reached 30 points.[S1][S2]
What England must do next
Despite the defeat, England can still reach the semi-finals. In their final group match they face Samoa, and the winner will take a place in the last four. The task is urgent: last year's 90-4 loss to Australia in Las Vegas now looks less like an anomaly than a warning, and England had lost all four of their previous meetings with the Jillaroos.[S1][S2]
The wider tournament picture is also relevant. Only two of the six nations in Pools B and C of the 10-team competition advance to the final four. Samoa arrive unbeaten after thrashing Papua New Guinea 64-6 in Port Moresby, scoring 13 tries after trailing early and quieting a sold-out crowd at Santos National Football Stadium.[S3]
