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Key events
27 mins: The Ferns nearly make a grave error from the kick off, but they manage to hold on to the ball. They’re playing with more confidence after the try and it’s a good set. The Jillaroos push down field, wanting to add more points before half time.
GOAL! Australia 24-6 New Zealand (Kiria-Ratu 24′)
An easy conversion for Kiria-Ratu and she closes the gap.
TRY! Australia 24-4 New Zealand (Mato 23′)
Chapman takes the ball brilliantly, but the Ferns get the ball back as Penitani Gray is ruled to have made an illegal tackle on the kicker. Another penalty follows soon after for Aiken getting her hands in the ruck and the Ferns capitalise, with Mato crashing over the line, right next to the uprights.
22 mins: A good kick receive from the Jillaroos this time after that mix up earlier. A good set from Australia, gaining more than 60m, as they have on many of their sets today. Hufanga makes a nice little run, but is brought down on her own 30m line.
We’ve got the aforementioned drinks break happening now. Some contention about the last try, as it appears there was a forward pass to Sergis, but the bunker can’t rule on that, so the try stands.
GOAL! Australia 24-0 New Zealand (Southwell 20′)
The simplest conversion yet for Southwell – she knocks it over from right in front.
TRY! Australia 22-0 New Zealand (Sergis 18′)
A huge line break from Sergis, who sprints through and runs the length of the field to score under the post.
19 mins: A solid set from the Ferns, but nothing particularly dynamic or exciting about it, which is what they need at the moment to break through this Jillaroos defensive line.
18 mins: Another strong run from the Jillaroos to start the set – they are looking so dominant out there. Nicholls takes the ball strongly from the last tackle play and Jillaroos captain Isabelle Kelly is penalised for tackling her in the air.
GOAL! Australia 18-0 New Zealand (Southwell 15’)
A stunner from Southwell from right up against the sideline, she slides it right between the posts.
TRY! Australia 16-0 New Zealand (Chapman 14′)
A loose ball from the penalty sets the ball back to the 30m line, but the Jillaroos make a strong play down the short side and Chapman almost does a handspring putting it down in the corner!
14 mins: A huge run from Church down the sideline sees the ball quickly over to Aiken who puts in a great kick for Sergis, but Nicholls dives on it for the Ferns and the Jillaroos get a line drop out. A big line break from Aiken on the third tackle forces a defensive error from the Ferns and the Jillaroos get a penalty.
12 mins: A strong kick from Kiria-Ratu is fielded well by Church and the Jillaroos make their way back down the field. An error from Elliott hands the ball back to the Ferns. A strong run from Mele Hufanga sets up a good play and Waaka nearly breaks through, gets it to McGregor, but Upton steals the ball for Australia.
10 mins: Not the best decision-making from the Ferns on the last tackle, getting caught without any options and having to take the tackle a few metres out from the line. They make up for it with strong defence, that nearly drags Sergis back into the in goal. A solid set from the Jillaroos follows and the Ferns start again from their own 30m line.
8 mins: A miscommunication between Upton and Taufa, crashing into each other and dropping the kick off as a result. New Zealand nearly make an immediate error when they get the ball back, but manage to control in and keep their field position.
GOAL! Australia 12-0 New Zealand (Southwell 6′)
An easier conversion from Southwell this time and she makes no mistake.
TRY! Australia 10-0 New Zealand (Bent 5′)
A powerful start for the Jillaroos, with a strong set and a simple line break from Bent.
5 mins: We’ve found out that due to the heat and humidity today, there will be a drinks break taken halfway through each half and an extended half time break.
GOAL! Australia 6-0 New Zealand (Southwell 3′)
A stunning conversion from the sideline, Southwell shows no sign of nerves at all.
TRY! Australia 4-0 New Zealand (Chapman 2′)
A set play from the scrum feed gets the ball quickly from one side of the field to the other and Chapman gets it down in the corner, dragging three defenders with her.
2 mins: A good kick off from the Ferns to get us started and Taufa gets the first run of the final. It’s a good first set from the Jillaroos and they make the Ferns start deep in their own half. Nerves from Atai who drops the ball early in the tackle count to give the Jillaroos a scrum feed 10m out.
The Kiwi Ferns have kicked off and we’re underway!
We now have the Haka from the Kiwi Ferns – a very powerful moment on the field.
The teams have entered the field now for the pre-match ceremony – not long to go until kick off.
The weather is muggy and humid in Brisbane today – it’s currently 28.6 degrees and 72% humidity. Both teams will have to be smart in how they manage their benches to reduce the impact of fatigue.
Both teams will line up as listed, with no late changes. New Zealand will play the same 17 who beat Samoa 32-0 in their semi final in Newcastle last Saturday. Australia has made one change from their semi final win over Fiji, bringing Jesse Southwell in at five eighth, replacing Jocelyn Kelleher.
Team list: New Zealand
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa Interchange 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti
Team list: Australia
1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Abbi Church 6. Jesse Southwell 7. Tarryn Aiken 8. Millie Elliott 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Simaima Taufa 11. Tiana Penitani Gray 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Olivia Kernick Interchange: 14. Keeley Nizza 15. Keilee Joseph 16. Kezie Apps 17. Sariah Paki
If you’d like a refresher on how the Jillaroos made it to today’s final, Jack Snape’s match report from their semi final win over Fiji will help you get up to speed.
Preamble
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Megan Maurice
Hello and welcome to the final of the Rugby League World Cup! It feels like it’s been going for most of this year at least, but at last here we are at its conclusion. I don’t think you’ll find too many people are surprised with the fact that we have ended up with an Australia v New Zealand final.
The Jillaroos are naturally the favourites, having only lost one of their previous 12 matches to the Kiwi Ferns, the loss taking place in 2023 – so it’s been a long time between drinks.
The last three World Cup finals have featured these two teams and the Jillaroos have won all three. The last time the Kiwi Ferns won a World Cup final was 2008, when they had a dominant 34-0 win against the Jillaroos at Lang Park, Brisbane – coincidentally the same venue where today’s final is being played. Fun fact – when the Kiwi Ferns last won a World Cup final, Jillaroos’ five-eighth Jesse Southwell was just three years old.
However, while the Jillaroos go in as the favourites, don’t discount the Kiwi Ferns, who will be determined to create an upset. Stacey Waaka has her sights on becoming the first ever player to win both a rugby union 15s and a rugby league world cup, which will be quite the achievement if she manages it. Kiwi Ferns’ halfback Raecene McGregor is also an extremely smart and talented player, who will certainly have some plans to try to undo the Jillaroos’ dominance.
There’s plenty to discuss, so let’s get into it!
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