Jillaroos survive scare from Fiji to move into Cup final

The Jillaroos have survived a major scare from World Cup first-timers Fiji to come away with a 30-14 triumph at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

The star for the world champions was winger Abbi Church with four tries and 205 run metres while skipper Isabelle Kelly ran for 165 metres and back-rower Olivia Kernick had 19 runs for 156 metres as Australia set up a World Cup Final against arch-rivals New Zealand in Brisbane.

Making their World Cup debut the Bulikula had a number of heroes as they the star-studded Australian side to the limit, with five-eighth Luisa Yaranamua standing tall and outside backs Cassie Staples and Maria Paseka also delivering on the big stage.

The Bulikula came out full of intensity and forced early errors from Jess Sergis and Jocelyn Kelleher before taking the lead through a Yaranamua penalty goal in the 12th minute.

That 2-0 lead to Fiji signalled the first time since the 2013 World Cup Final that the Jillaroos have not scored first points in a Test match.

An error by Jaime Chapman coming out of her own end in the 15th minute handed Fiji more field position and they capitalised when Yaranamua powered over from dummy half and converted her own try for an 8-0 lead.

A mistake by Losana Lutu in the 24th minute handed the Jillaroos their best field position of the match and they made it count when Tarryn Aiken and Tamika Upton combined to put Church over in the right-hand corner. 

Trailing 8-4 the Jillaroos went to their big gun Upton on the right and she got on the outside of Sienna Laing and raced away for her third try of the tournament to tie things up.

In the final minute of the half Fiji had a golden chance to take the lead with several sets inside the red zone but a dropped ball by Lutu sent us to the break deadlocked at 8-8 after a magnificent first half from the Bulikula.

Five minutes into the second half the world champions had the lead when Jess Sergis produced a classy tip-on for Church to dance her way through from 10 metres out to give her a double. Kelleher added the extras to make it 14-8.

The Jillaroos had their fourth try and Jaime Chapman her 10th of the tournament in the 44th minute before a pinpoint crossfield kick from Aiken was taken on the full by Church to complete her hat-trick and give the Jillaroos breathing space at 24-8.

Fiji hit back in the 62nd minute when Yaranamua produced a peach of a pass to send Paseka over on the right edge and the Bulikula were back within 10.

With Fiji daring to dream it was the flying Church who put the game out of reach after taking a bomb and sprinting 80 metres to score her fourth try, evading several defenders and putting a huge step on Cassie Staples.

The Jillaroos closed it out 30-14 but will have some concerns around winger Chapman who left the field with 20 minutes to play due to cramping.