New Zealand v Australia
The first of an unparalleled five test matches taking place around the globe on the same day.
Unfortunately, it was same old, same old in Hamilton. It’s a great sadness that these two teams who have no other opponents of comparable standard close by, remain so widely separated in ability themselves.
Five first-half tries for the Ferns ended the drama all too early – half-time 31-0 – but the Wallaroos put on a better show in the second half.
The Ferns are continuing the running style of play adopted when Sir Wayne Smith was in charge. Quick movement of the ball and off-loading proved too big a handful from the Wallaroos, who were limited to a single penalty-kick by Carys Dallinger after the break.
Allan Bunting will no doubt be working hard to eradicate the handling errors that inevitably come from this risk-vulnerable approach. Stronger opposition might well gain greater profit from turnovers.
We had the first (and only?) red card of the weekend when Bridie O’Gorman was sent from the field for a head-on-head tackle on Charmaine Smith. So my fears about the progress of the coming WXV already look justified. Cards may come to decide the outcome of too many games.
It brings to an end a terrible week for Rugby Australia. After the damaging fall-out at the men’s World Cup, this result serves to justify the Wallaroos’ complaints about the lack of support they get from the top.
Far more encouraging was the attendance, 10,700. Not only NZR can breathe a sigh of relief to see that people are willing to turn up in such good numbers.
Result: New Zealand 43 Australia 3 Teams
Black Ferns: 1. Krystal Murray (10 caps), 2. Georgia Ponsonby (16), 3. Amy Rule (16), 4.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (17), 5. Charmaine Smith (27), 6. Alana Bremner (15), 7. Kennedy Simon
(16) (co-captain), 8. Liana Mikaele Tu’u (14), 9. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (15), 10. Ruahei Demant
(29) (co-captain), 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (2), 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt (9), 13.
Amy du Plessis (10), 14. Mererangi Paul (2), 15. Patricia Maliepo (3)
Bench: 16. Luka Connor (16), 17. *Chryss Viliko, 18. Tanya Kalounivale (8). 19. Lucy Jenkins (2),
20. *Layla Sae, 21. Iritana Hohaia (3), 22. Rosie Kelly (3), 23. *Martha Mataele
Wallaroos: 1. Bree-Anna Cheatham (19 caps), 2. Adiana Talakai (12), 3. Eva Karpani (17), 4. Sera
Naiqama (10), 5. Michaela Leonard (18) (captain), 6. Kaitlan Leaney (11), 7. Emily Chancellor (32),
8. Ashley Marsters (23), 9. Layne Morgan (15), 10. Carys Dallinger (2), 11. Ivania Wong (11), 12.
Trilleen Pomare (21), 13. Georgina Friedrichs (15), 14. Maya Stewart (5), 15. Lori Cramer (17)
Bench: 16. Tania Naden (6), 17. Emily Robinson (20), 18. Bridie O’Gorman (15), 19. *Leilani
Nathan, 20. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (1), 21. Jasmin Huriwai (4), 22. Cecilia Smith (8), 23. Faitala
Moleka (2)
*uncapped
Officials
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tyler Miller (RA)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)
