Wallaroos lose badly in historic 100th Test to strong Black Ferns

By Michael Doyle

Topic:Rugby Union

The Black Ferns team won easily against the Wallaroos in Auckland today. (Getty Images: Phil Walter)

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 kept their perfect record against the Wallaroos in Test rugby, winning 66‑19 at Mt Smart Stadium.

New Zealand entered Saturday's Test unbeaten in all 30 Tests versus Australia, and a 10‑try haul kept the streak alive.

The Wallaroos scored three tries, including one from fly‑half Waiaria Ellis, who started in that position for the first time.

Maddison Levi, Australia’s all‑time leading rugby 7s try scorer, made her Wallaroos debut with a 30‑minute bench appearance. At the same time, Emily Chancellor became the first woman to play for both the Black Ferns and Wallaroos in Test rugby when she debuted for Australia off the bench.

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona said her side was disappointed with the result, but was happy the Australians kept fighting, scoring two of the last 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 for the Wallaroos as the Black Ferns led from the first whistle.

As the Wallaroos get ready for their 100th Test, past and present players look back on the journey and the challenges to reach this milestone.

A strong counter‑ruck inside Australian territory gave the home side the ball, and the Black Ferns then moved methodically to the goal line before full‑back Braxton Sorensen‑McGee scored on the right side in the fourth minute.

The Black Ferns kept their early pressure. The Wallaroos had to scramble on their goal line to stop a fast‑moving home side, with New Zealand lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos held up over the line from a line‑out maul.

That was only a brief relief for the Wallaroos, as the Black Ferns kept attacking, with prop Chryss Viliko charging over from close range for the second try.

The Black Ferns scored a third try in the 24th minute, when lock Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu broke through the middle of the field and passed to fly‑half Ruahei Demant, who scored under the posts.

New Zealand’s only mistake in the first half was Vaipulu being sent to the sin bin for not lowering herself enough in a tackle and making head‑on‑head contact with Wallaroos flanker Lily Bone.

Even with only 14 players, the Black Ferns scored a fourth try when Liana Mikaele‑Tu'u touched down in the 35th minute.

The Wallaroos built momentum into half‑time with their first try of the afternoon. A free kick from their own line‑out gave them the ball near the opposition goal line. Left winger Desiree Miller scored and then converted her own try.

Down 26‑7 at half‑time, any hope the Wallaroos had of a big comeback faded quickly.

After being held up early in the first half, Roos finished a nice move to score New Zealand’s fifth try just three minutes into the second half.

When Australia’s rugby 7s all‑time leading try scorer Levi came on for her Wallaroos debut, the game was no longer close.

Tries by Ayesha Leti‑I'iga in the 50th minute and reserve hooker Vici‑Rose Green in the 56th added more misery for the Wallaroos.

The Black Ferns reached the 50‑point mark with a try by Maia Joseph, then Shyrah Tuliau‑Tua'a stopped a kick from Wallaroos full‑back Faitala Moleka inside the Australian in‑goal and grounded the ball.

A nice side‑step from Wallaroos fly‑half Waiaria Ellis opened a gap in the Black Ferns defence for a try in the 67th minute.

That started a brighter moment for the Wallaroos, who made a strong maul from close range, with reserve hooker Brittany Merlo scoring Australia’s third try.

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