Factual. Independent. Impartial.
Support AAP with a free or paid subscription
Sport
Morgan Reinwald

A record win but 'not perfect': Jillaroos get picky

Jaime Chapman scored six tries in a Jillaroos' rout of Wales but the team wants improvement. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

The Jillaroos are their own biggest critics after a performance that produced the biggest margin of victory in international women's rugby league history. The Australian side steamrolled through Wales in a 124-6 win on Sunday that saw winger Jaime Chapman match another record, her six-try haul equalling the mark for most tries in a game for the Jillaroos.

The toppling of Wales came on the back of a 78-0 thrashing of England and 40-0 thumping of Samoa.

ff
Keeley Nizza en route to a try for the Jillaroos against Wales. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

But the Jillaroos are intent on dissecting what they need to improve.

The performance could absolutely have been better, winger Abbi Church insisted at training on Wednesday.

"No performance is perfect, and there's always things that we can improve on," Church said.

"What we're trying to be in this camp is to be the best.

"(We) reflect on our own performances and be quite critical and look to where we can improve individually and as a team."

dd
'Be the best': Abbi Church says the Jillaroos always look for improvement. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Sunday's win secured Australia's in the semi-finals on Sunday against Fiji and the side aren't buying into the bookmakers belief that it'll be another walk in the park.

In their World Cup pool, Fiji pummelled Papua New Guinea 40-4 and France 54-6, after giving New Zealand a run for their money and falling short in an 18-12 loss.

Church said the Jillaroos squad watched that game with a close eye.

"We know that Fiji did put in quite a fight against New Zealand," she told the media.

Jillaroos fullback Abbi Church discusses the upcoming Rugby World Cup semi-final against Fiji. (Morgan Reinwald/AAP VIDEO)

"We know they're going to come out this week and we have to obviously be prepared for that".

Coach Jess Skinner believes it will be challenging to face off against a Fiji side carrying so much belief and an underdog mentality.

ff
Fiji showed they are a force to be reckoned with against New Zealand. (Darren Pateman/AAP PHOTOS)

Fiji are a dangerous side that are quick with the ball, Skinner said after the Wales win..

"They've had an outstanding campaign, and what they did to the Kiwis put the rest of the competition on notice.

"We'll go to another level this week, do our due diligence to make sure that we're prepared best on both sides of the ball for them.''

License this article

Sign up to read this article for free
Choose between a free or paid subscription to AAP News
Start reading
Already a member? Sign in here
Top stories on AAP right now