Baxter Backs Jillaroos as Flag Furore Overshadows Dominant World Cup Run

Former World Cup winner Corban Baxter has defended the Jillaroos amid a furore over flag displays that has overshadowed one of the most dominant runs in Women's Rugby League World Cup history. Australia are yet to concede a point at this year's tournament and have scored 118 points across their opening matches, including a 78-0 demolition of England, yet the dominant story this week has been criticism of a few players for not singing the national anthem and for draping themselves in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags before games. Baxter, who won a World Cup with the Jillaroos in 2017, said being proud of your background is something that should be celebrated, pushing back against suggestions the displays amount to a political protest. The defending champions are expected to do even more damage against Wales in Sydney on Sunday, with the mismatch so great that Australia could crack 100 points in a single match. The Jillaroos have already booked their semi-final place, and the focus now is on whether anything can slow a team that has barely been troubled on the field all tournament.