The Wallaroos’ 100th Test match, and the Test debut of Australia’s all-time leading rugby 7s try-scorer, has been soured by a dominant New Zealand performance in Auckland.
The Black Ferns maintained their unblemished record against the Wallaroos in Test rugby, with a 66-19 win at Mt Smart Stadium.
New Zealand came into Saturday’s Test having not lost to Australia in all 30 Tests between the two nations, and a 10-try haul ensured that streak would continue.
The Wallaroos scored three tries, including a score from Waiaria Ellis who started at fly half for the first time.
Maddison Levi, Australia’s all-time leading rugby 7s try scorer, made her Wallaroos debut with a 30-minute stint off the bench. Meanwhile, Emily Chancellor became the first woman to represent the Black Ferns and Wallaroos in Test rugby when she made her Australian debut off the bench.
Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona said her team was disappointed in the result, but was pleased the Australians continued fighting, managing to score two of the game’s final three tries.
“New Zealand started off really fast, so we were on the back foot,” she said.
“But you could see towards the end that we can get back, it’s just a matter of starting well.”
Highlights were few and far between for the Wallaroos as the Black Ferns dominated from the opening whistle.
A brilliant counter ruck inside Australian territory gave the home side possession, and the Black Ferns then methodically worked their way to the goal-line before fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored on the right flank in the fourth minute.
The Black Ferns continued their early dominance. The Wallaroos were forced to scramble on their goal line to hold out a rampant home side, with New Zealand lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos held up over the line from a line-out maul.
That was just a reprieve for the Wallaroos, as the Black Ferns continued to attack, with prop Chryss Viliko charging over from close range for the second try.
The Black Ferns had a third try in the 24th minute, with lock Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu making a big line break up the middle of the field before passing to fly half Ruahei Demant, who scored under the posts.
New Zealand’s one blemish in the first half was Vaipulu being sent to the sin bin, not lowering herself enough in a tackle and making head-on-head contact with Wallaroos’ flanker Lily Bone.
Being down to 14 women did not seem to matter to the Black Ferns, who scored a fourth try when Liana Mikaele-Tu’u touched down in the 35th minute.
The Wallaroos were able to take momentum into half-time with their first try of the afternoon. A free kick against the Black Ferns from their own line-out, gave the Wallaroos the ball near the opposition goal-line. The visitors seized the opportunity, with left winger Desiree Miller scoring and then converting her own try.
Down 26-7 at half-time, any hope the Wallaroos had of making a famous comeback was doused quickly.
After being held up early in the first half, Roos finished off a nice passage of play to score New Zealand’s fifth try just three minutes into the second half.
By the time Australia’s Rugby 7’s all-time leading try scorer Levi came on for her Wallaroos debut, the game was not a contest.
Tries to Ayesha Leti-I’iga in the 50th minute and reserve hooker Vici-Rose Green in the 56th minute piled on more misery for the Wallaroos.
The Black Ferns crossed the half-century mark with a try to Maia Joseph, then Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a charged down a kick from Wallaroos fullback Faitala Moleka inside the Australian in-goal, and grounded the ball.
A lovely side-step from Wallaroos fly half Waiaria Ellis sliced open the Black Ferns defensive line for a try in the 67th minute.
That was the start of a bright spot for the Wallaroos, who produced a driving maul from close range, with reserve hooker Brittany Merlo scoring Australia’s third try.