Black Ferns hammer Australia

There was always a chance this could be a one-sided affair with the Black Ferns mixing their experienced squad with a handful of the country's best sevens players while Australia arrived with 12 debutants, none of their Olympic stars and were playing their first test game since 2014.

The Black Ferns started strongly opening their account inside five minutes when  Fiao’o Fa’amausili touched the ball down.The Wallaroos built into the game and registered their first points after the New Zealanders were caught offside, with Captain Ash Hewson slotting a penalty from 35 metres out taking the score to 7-3.New Zealand’s experience at this level began to show with three quick tries to Chelsea Alley, Kendra Cocksedge and Selica Winiata taking the Black Ferns lead to 26-3.With the Wallaroos scrambling to hold back the waves of New Zealand attacks, ill-discipline crept into the Australian game, with Louise Burrows sent to the sin bin.Australia had their best passage of play just before half time with some patient play bringing them within New Zealand’s 22, but a strong defensive effort kept them at bay leaving the score at 31-3 at the break.

The Wallaroos defence improved significantly at start of the second half with New Zealand really having to work for their first points which eventually came in the 49th minute whena well timed inside ball from Cocksedge put Subritzky-Nafatali through a gap and over the line.

Two tries to fullback, Selica Winiata continued the good form of the Black Ferns as they extended their lead to 48-3.When Burrows was yellow carded for a second time in the final ten minutes, the home side pressed home the advantage to run in some late tries against a tiring defence to take the score to 67-3.How it Happened:4 mins: Fiao’o Fa'amausili try, Kendra Cocksedge con NZ 7-0 AUS10 mins: Ash Hewson pen, NZ 7-3 AUS14 mins: Chelsea Alley try, Kendra Cocksedge con, NZ 14-3 AUS19 mins: Kendra Cocksedge try, Kenda Cocksedge con, NZ 21-3 AUS24 mins: Selica Winiata try, NZ 26-3 AUS31 mins: Eloise Blackwell try, NZ 31-3 AUS49 mins: Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali try NZ 38-3 AUS59 mins: Selica Winiata try, NZ 43-3 AUS66 mins: Selica Winiata try, NZ 48-3 AUS76 mins: Fiao’o Fa'amausili try, NZ 53-3 AUS78 mins: Selica Winiata try, Kelly Brazier con NZ 60-3 AUS80 mins: Honey Hireme try, Kelly Brazier con, NZ 67-3 AUS