Jillaroos come from 8-0 down to beat debutants Fiji as Abbi Church’s four tries set up a fifth straight final with the Kiwi Ferns

For forty minutes on Sunday afternoon, the most lopsided rivalry in women’s rugby league looked like it might produce its biggest upset.

Fiji, in their first World Cup semi-final, led the three-time defending champions 8-0 in Sydney and went to the break level at 8-8. Australia then pulled away to win 30-14, with winger Abbi Church finishing with four tries, and the Jillaroos are through to a fifth straight World Cup final against New Zealand.

How close did Fiji come?

Closer than anyone had predicted. Fiji’s halves, Luisa Yaranamua and Losana Lutu, pinned the Australians in their own half with their kicking, and heavy defence forced errors from a side that had looked untouchable through the tournament.

Yaranamua kicked a penalty goal in the 12th minute after an Australian knock-on, then scored a try of her own and converted it for an 8-0 lead. It was only the second try Australia had conceded all tournament.

The Fijians had the better of the half by the numbers too: they controlled 56 per cent of possession and completed 80 per cent of their sets, against Australia’s 63 per cent. Taina Naividi made a try-saving tackle, and Lorren Ieli’s hits rattled the Australian forwards.

Church struck back from a Tarryn Aiken cross-field kick, and Tamika Upton levelled the scores at 8-8 by half-time.

How did Australia break away?

With the pace on their edges. Church crossed for her second try early in the second half, Jaime Chapman scored in the corner and Jocelyn Kelleher converted for 20-8, and Church’s third made it 24-8.

Fiji refused to fold. Maria Paseka scored in the corner late in the match and Yaranamua converted to cut the gap to 24-14. Church then ran in her fourth from about 25 metres to close it out at 30-14.

Jess Sergis said afterwards that the hard contest was “what we needed” before a final.

Who is hurt?

Australia will be watching two of their try scorers this week. Chapman was hurt in a twisting tackle early and came off in the 53rd minute, and both Church and Chapman were treated for leg or ankle problems at full-time. No injury update had been given by Sunday evening.

Why does Fiji’s run matter?

Women’s rugby league internationals have long been a two-nation story: next Sunday will be the fifth World Cup final in a row between Australia and New Zealand. Fiji’s run to the last four, and a half in which they outplayed the champions, is the clearest sign yet that the Pacific nations are closing the gap.

The other semi-final told the more familiar story. New Zealand beat Fetu Samoa 32-0 in Newcastle on Saturday, with Stacey Waaka scoring a hat-trick, to reach their seventh straight women’s World Cup final.

What is at stake in the final?

Australia are chasing a fourth consecutive World Cup title. New Zealand have not lifted the trophy since 2008 and have lost their last four matches against the Jillaroos. The Jillaroos were described as overwhelming favourites coming into Sunday; on this performance, the Kiwi Ferns will not see them that way.

The men’s semi-final, the Kangaroos against Samoa in a rematch of the last men’s World Cup final, followed at the same ground on Sunday evening.