Key events
Team news
Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner is unleashing some serious firepower on the Bulikula. Powerful props Simaima Taufa and Millie Elliott return to the side after earning a rest in last week’s record win over Wales, while Tiana Penitani Gray is back in the second row after recovering from a foot niggle. In the halves, Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken will recombine as Australia’s attacking axis.
Here’s how the green-and-gold line-up today…
1. Tamika Upton. 2. Jaime Chapman. 3. Jessica Sergis. 4. Isabelle Kelly (c). 5. Abbi Church. 6. Jocelyn Kelleher. 7. Tarryn Aiken8. 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. 18. Sheridan Gallagher. 19. Ellie Johnston. 20. Jesse Southwell. 21. Quincy Dodd. 22. Makenzie Weale
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
Greetings sports fans! Welcome to Sydney’s Allianz Stadium for live coverage of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final between Australia and Fiji.
The winner today will advance to the Big Dance next week against New Zealand who disposed of Samoa by 32-10 in Newcastle last night. Will Australia continue on their merry way through this tournament to set up a trans-Tasman blockbuster? Or will Fiji spring the mother of all ambushes today and crack the final in their first ever World Cup?
The Fiji Bulikula have had a wonderful tournament so far. They almost pulled a major upset against New Zealand in round one, going down 18-12 after leading at half-time. They went one better in round two, pummelling Papua New Guinea by 40-4 in Port Moresby. Last week, they flayed the French 54-6 on the Gold Coast, a 10-try romp that put the World Cup frontrunners on notice.
Australia’s Jillaroos have been awesome in every game, scoring 242 points and only conceding six. They started their World Cup campaign with a 40-0 demolition of Samoa in Sydney then put 78-points on England without conceding one in Perth. Last week they had Wales on the rack to the tune of 100-0 before they finally leaked a try. They ran out 124-6 winners as winger Jamie Chapman bagged six tries.
That forms spells trouble for Fiji but the Bulikula are fast starters and will throw everything they have at the home side. Either way, an exciting afternoon awaits. I’ll be back with team sheets shortly. But feel free to drop me a line at angus.fontaine.freelance@theguardian.com if you’ve got thoughts, theories or throwaways throughout the day.
Kick-off today is 5:45pm AEDT. Batten ‘em down and buckle ‘em up. It’s semi-finals time!
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