The record-breaking Jillaroos have warmed up for the challenge of the World Cup semi-finals with a destruction of Wales that highlights the gulf between rugby league haves and have nots.
The 124-6 victory sets a new women's World Cup record score and winning margin, eclipsing the 92-0 win recorded by Australia over France in 2022. The Jillaroos even went past the men's tournament record – set by the Kangaroos in a 110–4 humbling of Russia in 2000 – even though the duration of the women's game is 10 minutes fewer than the men's. Their 124 points was also the highest score recorded in an international rugby league match.
By half-time, Wales had only five tackle sets, illustrating the merit – in some cases – of altering rugby league's kick-off rules to allow the conceding team to receive. By full-time, it was 20 tries to one. In the lopsided contest, the Jillaroos ran for more than 2,000 metres, almost 10 times that of the opposition. Line breaks were 22 to zero; tackle breaks 56 to one.
But the highlight might have been Wales's lone try with 10 minutes to go, when Paige Travis picked up a grubber from Bulldogs halfback Tayla Preston, triggering wide smiles and universal applause. It was the only try Australia conceded in the pool stage and it would ultimately mean the margin was not the highest in a rugby league international. That honour remains with the men's French team from their 120-0 win over Serbia in 2003.
The Jillaroos had already booked their semi-final place against Fiji next Sunday, making this outing a chance to stretch their legs against a team who were never going to test them in the ordinary grind of rugby league. Australia coach Jess Skinner brought in halfback Jesse Southwell for her first match of the tournament, spelling Jocelyn Kelleher. Makenzie Weale and Sariah Paki – debutants off the bench last week – were both promoted into the XIII.
The wrist injury to Julia Robinson might have been the worst thing to have happened to the Jillaroos this tournament, having easily overcome Samoa and England in their first two games. The fortunes of the Welsh could not have been more different, having also been beaten 70-6 by England and 76-0 by Samoa.
It was the visitors who started better on Sunday, however, with an early kick towards Tamika Upton, who caught well under pressure. But that was an anomaly and a splendid short ball from Olivia Kernick to Weale shortly afterwards opened up the Welsh defence for the first time. Weale's return back to Kernick, a sensational flick, started a try-scoring frenzy.
Within minutes, a simple shift left put winger Jaime Chapman through for the Jillaroos' second, with a sharp catch and pass from Isabelle Kelly. Chapman streaked away and suddenly Australia had more points than there had been minutes.
The Jillaroos' speed on the edges was simply too much for the Welsh amateurs to match, and the first half became something worse than a bloodbath. Instead, it was fodder for a thinkpiece about this tournament and the lack of competition from sides distant from Australian professionalism. With more blowouts than a Michael Bay car chase, this World Cup has been a relief for the nail-biters.
But there was still something glorious about watching the Jillaroos in a canter. By half-time it was 60-0, the home side easily scoring more points than minutes in an exhibition of skill and athleticism. When they went into the sheds at the break, Chapman already had a hat-trick. It was impossible not to think back four years ago to her debut, when she crossed for three in that 92-0 destruction of France.
Through Chapman and her fleet-footed teammates in Kelly, opposite centre Jess Sergis – who ended with four tries herself – and right winger Abbi Church, the Australians were relentless. By half-time all the outside backs had scored, along with veteran Kezie Apps and Paki.
Keilee Joseph crossed within two minutes of the start of the second half, and the procession continued. Southwell's perfect conversion record finally ended at her 15th attempt, and that 92-point mark was passed with 15 minutes to go.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Upton not scoring sooner. The conversion from the first of her two tries brought up three figures, before Wales recorded their consolation. Chapman crossed for a remarkable sixth try in the final minute, a fitting conclusion to a wild afternoon.