At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Black Ferns 43 (Katelyn Vahaakolo 2, Krystal Murray, Patricia Maliepo, Sylvia Brunt, Lucy Jenkins, Martha Mataele tries; Ruahei Demant 3, Rosie Kelly con) Australia 3 (Carys Dallinger pen). HT: 31-0.
Red card: Bridie O’Gorman 69min.
The gulf between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos remains as wide as the Tasman Sea after another mismatch on Saturday.
The world champion Kiwis were always expected to dominate in Hamilton’s standalone O’Reilly Cup test and won a scrappy fixture, 43-3, after Australia lost replacement prop Bridie O’Gorman to a late red card.
In coach Allan Bunting’s first test on home soil – also the first in New Zealand since last year’s epic World Cup win – they were relentless in attack and defence for long spells, although their intensity dropped after half-time.
O’Gorman’s red card was obvious after she clashed heads with Charmaine Smith in a tackle attempt, but the Australian defence prevented the hosts from scoring any points in the second half until Lucy Jenkins’ 77th minute try. Wing Martha Mataele added their seventh try after the hooter on her test debut.
It was nonetheless another tough result in a terrible week for Australian rugby, whose bosses were called out publicly by senior Wallaroos over a lack of resources only last month. It’s easy to see why.
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Black Fern Katelyn Vahaakolo celebrating one of her tries in the first half in Hamilton.
They are nowhere near the professionalism, speed, power and skill of the Black Ferns, who are growing as a full-time programme, and another significant margin between the trans-Tasman rivals is not a good look for the international women’s game.
Australia did improve immensely in the second half, slowing the Black Ferns down and causing problems around the ruck, and the frustrated hosts made plenty of errors in attempting to unleash their attack.
Heavyweight tests the Black Ferns crave are coming, starting against France in Wellington in three weeks, with the World Cup final rematch against England in November. They are genuine challenges for Bunting’s refreshed side.
Teenage midfielder Sylvia Brunt was a menace again for the Wallaroos and No 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u was a force from the back of a dominant Black Ferns scrum.
Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon are the undisputed leaders of this team and were excellent, but they had to toil in a slack second half.
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu has cemented her position at halfback and links their attack with composure, as outside backs Patricia Maliepo and Katelyn Vahaakolo showed great promise, too.
Australia’s only points in this season’s two tests against the Black Ferns, including the 50-0 June scoreline in Brisbane, were via a peculiar Carys Dallinger penalty goal in the second half in Hamilton. She missed a second attempt.
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Black Ferns lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos is tackled by Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard.
The Wallaroos were going nowhere in possession from the first minute and struggled to get over the gain line.
Aimless kicks into the gleeful arms of the Black Ferns’ outside backs allowed the hosts to build pressure.
Krystal Murray and Maliepo were the first to cross, while Australia were stuck inside their own 22.
The Aussies were fortunate not to lose a player to the sinbin in the first half because of their ill-discipline. They were still having a difficult time with 15 and making tackle after tackle against the wave of attackers in black.
Demant’s precise grubber kick bounced up for the first of winger Vahaakolo’s first-half double and her second try effectively ended the contest, ominously, in the 34th minute.
Australia had plenty to ponder standing behind the posts for Brunt’s try on the stroke of half-time, with the Black Ferns leading 31-0.
The big moment
The second quarter when the Black Ferns were in top form, scoring four tries to demoralise the Wallaroos. The game was over at half-time.
MVP
Vahaakolo’s double and brilliant carries were a feature of her best performance in black in her third test.
Match rating: 5/10
The healthy Hamilton crowd of more than 10,000 weren’t treated to a gripping clash. The Black Ferns struggled to find their rhythm in the second half.
The big picture
The Black Ferns had already retained the O’Reilly Cup and were presented the trophy in Hamilton.
They have three weeks to prepare for the opening round of the inaugural WXV1 in New Zealand, with tests against France in Wellington, Wales in Dunedin and England in Auckland.
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