Key events
Team News:
Jillaroos: Plenty of changes for the hosts, including an almost entirely new pack, as Jess Skinner spreads the load ahead of the knockout phase. Jessica Sergis, Jesse Southwell, Ellie Johnston, Quincy Dodd, Makenzie Weale, Kezie Apps, and Sariah Paki all come into the run-on side.
Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher is also in line to make her Test debut off the bench after a transformational few days. She was only flown into camp on Tuesday to replace the injured Julia Robinson, and then made the interchange late on with Tiana Penitani Gray resting a sore foot.
Wales: Two changes to the starting XIII that was put to the sword by Samoa. Dual-code international Ffion Lewis replaces Amberley Ruck at five-eighth, and Carys Marsh comes in at dummy-half after Jasmine Gibbons failed an HIA in last week’s defeat.
Australia’s squad will be familiar with at least two Welsh players, namely Townsville-born North Queensland Cowboys winger Sian Williams, and inaugural Bulldogs co-captain, halfback Tayla Preston.
Wales XIII
1. Leanne Burnell, 2. Zoe Heeley, 3. Jade Mullen, 4. Hannah Bluck, 5. Siân Williams, 6. Ffion Lewis, 7. Tayla Preston, 8. Agnes Wood, 9. Carys Marsh, 10. Emily Hughes, 11. Georgia Cussons, 12. Paige Travis, 13. Bethan Dainton (capt).
Interchange: 14. Kathryn Salter, 15. Erin Williams, 16. Gracie Hobbs, 17. Lucia Davies.
Replacement: 18. Dani McGifford
Australia XIII
1. Tamika Upton, 2. Jaime Chapman, 3. Jessica Sergis, 4. Isabelle Kelly (c), 5. Abbi Church, 6. Jesse Southwell, 7. Tarryn Aiken, 8. Ellie Johnston, 9. Quincy Dodd, 10. Makenzie Weale, 11. Kezie Apps, 12. Sariah Paki, 13. Olivia Kernick.
Interchange: 14. Keeley Nizza, 15. Keilee Joseph, 16. Sarah Togatuki, 22. Sheridan Gallagher.
Replacement: 19. Olivia Higgins
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Wales in the 2026 women’s Rugby League World Cup. Kick-off at Commbank Stadium in Sydney is from 3.40pm local time (4.40am GMT).
Pairings in international sport are rarely this one-sided. The Jillaroos are the three-time defending world cup champions, number one ranked team in the world, and they have suffered only one defeat since 2016.
Wales meanwhile only played their first official Test five years ago, and this is just their 16th fixture.
In the tournament so far Australia have yet to concede even a single point, Wales have scored only six. England dismantled Wales 70-6 in round one, then themselves were taken apart by Australia 78-0 in round two.
The Jillaroos’ record victory of 92-0 against France in 2022 is under serious threat. The women’s international record scoreline of France 116-0 Serbia from 2023 could also be given a run for its money.
I’ll be back with final team lists and more shortly. Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the afternoon. The address is jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
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