Fairytale end for Jillaroos
AUSTRALIAN greats Renae Kunst and Steph Hancock will walk into retirement as world champions after the Jillaroos retained the World Cup trophy with a stunning 23-16 victory over the Kiwi Ferns.
In a thrilling and hardfought showdown at Suncorp Stadium yesterday, the Jillaroos overcame a slow start to be crowned the queens of the 2017 tournament.
The game went right down to the final buzzer, as the Australians repelled a determined Kiwis line-up to claim the win.
Halfback Caitlin Moran kicked a wonderfully executed field goal just 30 seconds from fulltime to seal victory.
The win was one the Jillaroos had been dreaming about since last November and it was the perfect farewell for retiring Queensland forwards Kunst and Hancock.
The pair were both on the field when Moran kicked the field goal and many tears were shed as they realised what they had all achieved together. AUSTRALIA Tries: Goals: Field goals: NEW ZEALAND Tries: Goals:
In the lead-up to the decider, the duo had said the win would be the “ultimate fairytale” and fans witnessed that yesterday.
It was a very strong second half from the Jillaroos after an error-riddled first 40 minutes against the fierce Ferns side left fans on the edge of their seats.
The Jillaroos also copped a blow eight minutes out from fulltime when fullback Nakia Davis-Welsh’s leg was caught in a nasty tackle and she had to be assisted from the field.
The Australians were forced into a reshuffle, with Corban McGregor moving to fullback and bench utility Zahara Temara switching to the centres.
But the late changes were not enough to shake the Jillaroos in a nail-biting finish.
Despite the scrappy first half, the Australians still managed to go into halftime with a 12-10 lead, but the Ferns were undoubtedly the better side in the opening 40 minutes.
Star Kiwi winger Honey Hireme scored a double within 21 minutes – taking her tournament total to a stunning 13 tries.
But her efforts were not enough to keep the Kiwis in the lead after Jillaroos halfback Moran scored through a sensational solo effort four minutes from halftime.
It was coach Brad Donald’s bench that helped spark the Jillaroos through the middle period of the game.
Forward Elianna Walton ran for 109m and scored a crucial try in the second half while utility Lavina O’Mealey made an instant impact off the bench late in the first stanza, with her work leading to Moran’s try.