Australia (34) 34
Tries: Chapman 3, Bent, Surgis, Upton Goals: Southwell 5
New Zealand (6) 10
Tries: Mato, Wiki Goals: Kiria-Ratu
Jaime Chapman’s grin after acrobatically diving over in the corner said it all. Her second try of the match and Australia’s third – the World Cup final put to bed inside 15 minutes.
The red-hot Australian winning machine blew New Zealand away in the first half as they cantered to a record fourth World Cup title – and fourth in a row – with a 34-10 win in Brisbane.
Making light work of the blistering conditions, which necessitated a drinks break in either half and an extended interval, the Jillaroos ran in six tries to the Kiwi Ferns’ one in the opening 35 minutes, including an initial burst of 24 unanswered points and a hat-trick for Chapman.
Record books were consulted at the break, with Australia on course to challenge New Zealand’s 58-0 winning margin from the 2003 final. But the two sides neutralised one another during the second period, New Zealand maintaining their record of not conceding after the break at this tournament – and bagging a consolation try – albeit with Australia long out of sight.
The undisputed dominant force in women’s rugby league, Australia are now unbeaten in 16 World Cup matches – a run stretching back to July 2013.
Aside from a brief first-half scare against Fiji in the semi-finals, who became the first side for 13 years to open the scoring in a World Cup game against Australia, it has been a serene procession to the title, scoring 306 points while conceding just 30.
It was a ruthless first-half performance from the Jillaroos, who capitalised on the field position presented by a succession of errors and ill-discipline from New Zealand- combined with some sluggish defending – for their opening three tries.
Chapman overpowered three defenders on the left wing to open the scoring after just 125 seconds and produced a flying finish from a sharp offload in the same area after Shaylee Bent had sliced through New Zealand’s defence from close range for Australia’s second.
After Jess Sergis went the length of the field for Australia’s fourth, albeit with a suspected forward pass in the build-up, Shannon Mato dived over as New Zealand profited from back-to-back infringements from the hosts.
However, normal service quickly resumed, with Chapman evading multiple tackles as she ran 60 metres to complete her hat-trick before slick handling down the right wing allowed Abbi Church to feed Tamika Upton on her inside for a simple score under the posts.
Head coach Jess Skinner’s decision to select Jesse Southwell ahead of Jocelyn Kelleher at stand-off paid off, as she nonchalantly kicked five of her six conversions, including two from the left touchline.
Australia went completely off the boil in the second half, with Tarryn Aiken – denied by a try-saving tackle from Georgia Hale – producing their only scoring opportunity of note.
New Zealand, to their credit, vastly improved when defending on the front foot but remained frustrating in attack, completing barely half of their sets due to repeated handling errors, loose passing, and a consistent failure to feed stand-off Chantay Kiria-Ratu.
Mackenzie Wiki’s 70th minute try was a deserved, if futile, reward for their second-half efforts.