Arabic version: منتخبا أستراليا يحجزان مقعديهما في نهائي كأس العالم لدوري الرغبي

According to ABC News, the Kangaroos and Jillaroos have reached their Rugby League World Cup finals after semifinal victories over Samoa and Fiji. Both Australian teams will face New Zealand at Brisbane’s Lang Park next Sunday.

The Kangaroos overwhelmed Samoa 44-12 at Sydney Football Stadium to book a rematch with the Kiwis. Australia had narrowly beaten New Zealand 24-22 in the tournament opener four weeks earlier, but produced what ABC described as its most convincing performance of the competition against Samoa.

Fullback Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick, while five-eighth Cameron Munster supplied three try assists. Tom Dearden’s opening try helped launch Australia into a 26-2 half-time lead. Samoa scored second-half tries through Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago, but Walsh completed his treble and Jack Bostock added a late try.

Samoa had opened the scoring with a penalty goal, but later lost prop Spencer Leniu to a dismissal after dissent to referee Adam Gee. Before the match, Samoa winger Brian To’o and Kangaroos prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui touched foreheads during the siva tau. Fa’asuamaleaui is eligible to play for Toa Samoa.

Earlier, the Jillaroos recovered from an 8-0 deficit against Fiji’s Bulikula to win 30-14. The result sent Australia into a fifth consecutive Women’s Rugby League World Cup final against New Zealand. The women’s final is scheduled for 4:10pm AEDT next Sunday, followed by the men’s decider at 7:35pm AEDT.