Australia v New Zealand
Pacific Four Series, Match Two
The current standings stood 27-0 to the visitors. As a counter, the Wallaroos could boast a new record of four consecutive wins.
But they couldn’t find a way of overturning history. Their best form came too rarely to match the power and accuracy of the Ferns.
The Wallaroos made four thunderous tackles as if they’d prepared for them. When finally Tia Hinds put up a kick, it was charged down by Maia Joseph, and they had to start all over again.
The Wallaroos’ first line-out went well. Desiree Miller twice made a dangerous run, but the Ferns had the last word, forcing a knock-on under pressure.
It took them seven minutes to develop; twice off-loads nearly brought the desired result. Then the breakthrough came as Ayesha Leti-I’iga spotted an unguarded ruck and raced through under the posts. 0-7
Australia kept possession well, but were having difficulty gaining ground. Two errors by the Ferns’ props gave them chances, but Tia Hinds failed to find touch. That’s an interesting case of a 7s player switching to a key post in 15s where a skilled boot is vital. Was she under orders to prefer the handling game? There were open spaces behind the line of black shirts.
It needed desperate defence and a good tack by Katalina Amosa to prevent a second Ferns’ score.
Two Aussie penalties to touch gained little territory. Then the repeat of an old question: why persist in long line-out throws? They’re so rarely straight.
One more short Australian clearance cost dear. A slick move brought a second Kiwi try. Leti-I’iga, looking more like a 7, scored by the posts. Simple Aussie exit procedures weren’t good enough, the kicks barely clearing the 22-metre line. In the process Emily Chancellor may have been lucky to avoid a yellow for a high tackle. 0-14
At last a good clearance by Hinds took her team to halfway. But New Zealand were winning the collisions.
On the half-hour Tanya Kalounivale was off and Amy Rule on. Opposition analysts will decide what lay behind that decision, but Rule played thoroughly well from then on.
A Wallaroos drive looked promising, crossing the NZ 22, but the Ferns won the call as the move halted.
After they threatened through the middle, Joseph threw a long pass to Braxton Sorensen-McGee on the right flank, and she just managed to touch down inside the flag.
Oh, it’s TMO time again. Does slo-mo reveal separation? No, it’s a try, BSM’s first.
Half-time 0-19
The score reflected one team’s ability to continue moves till they count.
Martha Fua got the crowd roaring with a bullocking run, but a loose pass put the Ferns back in control. With clinical accuracy they went for the line and Chryss Viliko scored. That was the bonus wrapped up. 0-26
A really nice Wallaroos line-out move, back to the front, was spoiled by a hopeful extra-long pass. Fortunately they had a penalty. A catch and drive went to ground, but Eva Karpani profited to cross wide out for their first score. 5-26
Charlotte Caslick’s chance came on 49 minutes, roughly 49 later than normal of a 7s pitch. This was thanks to a nice dummy and give by Faitala Moleka. The ensuing ruck was slow and Layne Morgan sent one pass low, the next high, resulting in a midfield knock-on.
Allan Bunting introduced Hannah King on 52 minutes. Her first clearance was very short, and she did little to justify her back-up place to Demant. Australia profited with good thrusts, but Georgina Friedrichs couldn’t quite claim a grubber before it ran touch in-goal.
For the present it was all Oz. Siokapesi Palu reached over the line but was held up. It was these split-second decisions that counted – drive or long pass? Neither was working.
At last a perfect sequence! A clean line-out and a drive: try to Ash Marsters. 12-26
Then they let the Ferns straight back into the game; a quick ruck short of the line and Layla Sae had scored their fifth.
TMO, chapter 2: the ball had deflected forward off a Fern hand at the line-out. No try.
It was typical of the way the game was running that a huge hit by Tania Naden on Sorensen- McGee left the Wallaroo on the deck injured.
Sylvia Brunt went over for the Kiwis’ sixth try on the end of a lovely intricate passing move. Once more a midfield tackle wasn’t decisive enough. With momentum gained, they exploited space ruthlessly. 12-31
Natalie Wright had a box kick charged down and it needed the TMO to decide that Iritana Hohaia had knocked on as she dived for the ball on the line.
The Ferns finished with their best move yet. Pinpoint passes by both centres gave Sorensen-McGee all the room she needed to dummy and accelerate past groping hands.
As the siren moaned, the kick-off failed to reach 10 metres. A fitting end.
Result; Australia 12 New Zealand 38
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) & Jessica Ling (RA) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Teams
Australia
1. Martha Fua, 2. Katalina Amosa, 3. Eva Karpani, 4. Kaitlan Leaney, 5. Michaela Leonard, 6. Siokapesi Palu (captain), 7. Emily Chancellor, 8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Tia Hinds, 11. Desiree Miller, 12. Cecilia Smith, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 14. Charlotte Caslick, 15. Faitala Moleka
16. Tania Naden, 17. Lydia Kavoa, 18. Bridie O’Gorman, 19. Tiarah Minns, 20. Ashley Marsters, 21. Natalie Wright, 22. Trilleen Pomare, 23. Lori Cramer
New Zealand
1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Tanya Kalounivale, 4. Alana Bremner, 5. Maia Roos, 6. Layla Sae, 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Ruahei Demant (co-captain) 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, 13. Amy du Plessis, 14. Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 15. *Braxton Sorensen-McGee
16. Atlanta Lolohea, 17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18. Amy Rule, 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 20. Dhys Faleafaga, 21. Iritana Hohaia, 22. Hannah King, 23. Mererangi Paul
*uncapped
Afterthoughts
For the coaches the quandary is: ‘Do we go on experimenting, or give our preferred first-choices another run-out together?’ I would query Hinds at 10 (Moleka was shifted to 15) and King as back-up 10. Caslick saw little of the ball.
Will Bunting find a way of readmitting Ruby Tui to the pantheon? She had surrendered her place in the 7s squad to have another shot at a World Cup win. He was questioned closely in interviews, looking like a man in search of answers.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee turned down the chance of joining the NZ Warriors Rugby League team in the Australian NRLW. it remains to be seen whether this was just a short-term decision to take part in the RWC or a permanent rejection of the big enemy, RL.
Palu has voiced her wish to see the Wallaroos facing top-class opposition far more often. The authorities may agree, but the questions remain: where and when? And how to fund the enterprise?
The Aussie coaching box won its own match 2-0. No woman is deemed good enough to join the NZ coaching staff.
Interested onlookers included Phil Waugh, Joe Schmidt and David Kirk.
Commentary: it sounded as if the voices were coming both ways round the globe to the northern hemisphere, audible but disconcerting. Engineers sorted the trouble.
