Ferns dismiss Aussies 5-1 in Olympic warm-up

It is pretty clear that the Black Ferns have still not got over their defeat in the 2016 Olympic final, and as we move to within two months of the next Games they are absolutely determined to put it right this time.

Australia may have slipped a little in the rankings since 2016 – when they went into the Games as World Series champions – but they remain greatest threat to New Zealand winning the one title that has so far eluded them.

So this weekend gave the world a chance to witness the likely Olympic final six times over, and see whether the winner of gold in Tokyo will again be wearing gold.

The Ferns only slipped up once, in the second game of the first day at Orakei Domain in Auckland when coaches Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney rotated their squad and gave the Possibles a run out, and – despite an early lead – they lost 19-15, Madison Higgins-Ashby being the star in the Aussie’s only win.

In contrast in the opening game the Ferns won 19-0, with Michaela Blyde scoring two tries and Ruby Tui also crossing the line.

“In the second game we chucked quite a few of our young ones out there and threw them to the lions and they did bloody well,” Bunting said. “It took them a bit of time to get going, but in that second half, once they started playing, they started to connect together and played well. It was good to see them front, score some tries and show some courage.”

Day two, and this time it was Eden Park, and New Zealand taking no prisoners.

In the first game was won 26-12, with Portia Woodman, Michaela Blyde, Ruby Tui, Gayle Broughton all scoring tries. The second tougher battle for the, with Australia’s Evania Pelite scoring in the first minute and Demi Hayes running from the halfway line for Australia’s second try a couple of minutes later. But the Ferns came back to win 15-12.

Back at Orakei Domain on Sunday the Ferns were not letting up. A Portia Woodman hat-trick in the first match saw New Zealand cruise to their biggest win of the weekend, 33-12. Woodman was looking like her old self in her first international matches for over 30 months following Achilles and hamstring injuries.

After five games in three days – the same challenge that they will face in Tokyo - both teams set themselves up to play the last game of the weekend as if it were the Olympic final, and New Zealand took it 24-12 with Woodman sealing victory with the last play for her fourth try of the day after Australia had lead 12-0 at the break.

“It’s awesome to get back out there,” Woodman said post-match on Sky Sports, who covered the series live. “Nothing makes you hungrier than injuries and being away from the field for about three years. I know I'm in a better space mentally and physically. I'm a lot stronger than I was.”