Australia sealed a place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals by posting a record score in their 92-0 thumping of France in York.
Brad Donald’s side surpassed the 88-point margin set in the last World Cup in 2017 against Canada, running in 17 tries to set up a final group game clash with New Zealand on Thursday (Friday AEDT).
The undefeated Kiwis Ferns brushed the Cook Islands aside earlier on Sunday (Monday AEDT) to claim a 34-4 win with both teams now set to square off for the chance to top Group B.
“It was really clinical,” Donald said.
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“The zero (was most pleasing). We’d happily win this tournament 2-0 and we showed up for each other.
Olivia Kernick. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images for RLWC)
“We haven’t got a best side, you could pick anyone from the 24 and they’d perform similarly.
“There’s a lot of post-contact metres in those Kiwi forwards so we have to make sure we are on our game defensively.”
In Group A, both England and Papua New Guinea are assured of a place in the semi-finals.
Winger Shenae Ciesiolka scored after two just minutes, kickstarting the Jillaroos’ dominant first half to finish 58-0 at the break.
Jessica Sergis scored four tries, her fellow centre Jaime Chapman grabbed a hat-trick on debut and winger Julia Robinson also crossed three times.
Fullback Emma Tonegato, Tallisha Harden, Olivia Kernick and Tarryn Aiken also touched down with Evania Pelite contributing a try-scoring double.
It was another harsh reminder of the disparity between Australia and the rest of the world.
Australia have yet to concede in this campaign and the chasm between players exposed to the NRLW and those who haven’t, has been laid bare at this tournament.
“We’ve got an open door policy on what we’ve done and we’d love to share that with any nation,” Donald said.
“They all work but they have transitioned from amateurs into professionals, like Olympians.
“We would be more than happy to share our programs on what these girls have done to raise the bar.”
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I agree. It could be the best way for the players to earn a proper full time wage and avoid a 2nd job. I believe AIC school sport in Brisbane has 1 term of Rugby and 1 term of league. Imagine going from NRLW > State of Origin> Super W > Pac4> WXV each year. Throw in the 7s world series, olympics, comm games and world cups in their 4 year cycles.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Aces, the NRWL need to be flexible in their scheduling so Rugby players can participate because they are going to need them with the expanded comp, that's if they want competitive teams. It would be great if both League & Union could work together so players can play both if desired.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
Hopefully the NRLW can scout and import some of the best international players. This will improve the standard of the NRLW plus the international teams. They should also look at the Womens Rugby World Cup in NZ for players. The fullback, winger and 10 for France were very good.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
they've gone from full time professionals in 7s not from the Wallaroos. Very different.
David Anable
Roar Rookie
Nah better to be big fish in little pond.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
A lot of them have gone the other way . Funny that.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Some Jillaroos need to come & play for the Wallaroos to test themselves on the world stage. Scoreline very embarrassing, not only for the French but for League.
Luka Nowitzki
Roar Rookie
Would be very surprising if they did given the Infancy of Australia's competition and it being a much bigger sport than it is in France. The top teams will be dominant or a long time (look how long it has taken men's rugby league to start fielding more competitive international teams). The quality is crap let's be fair, and then money from the men's game will prop up the women's for ages, but the recent push seems to be getting a lot of women involved in the code, so the powers that be probably see it as money well spent long term.
Pete
Guest
Do they have a women's league comp in France these Aussie players are professional players or are the French players misfit NRWL players...watched the women's Rugby World Cup semi finals two awesome games such a contrast final will be interesting sold out im told great for womens sport.