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Devastating scoreline registered as Black Ferns obliterate the Wallaroos

Jasmin Huriwai of Australia reacts after a Black Ferns try during the Pacific Four Series & O'Reilly Cup match between the Australian Wallaroos and New Zealand Black Ferns at Kayo Stadium on June 29, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The Wallaroos have been no match for world champions New Zealand, crashing to a 50-0 loss to open their Pacific Four rugby campaign.

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Former elite netballer Mererangi Paul bagged a double on debut while teenage centre Syliva Brunt also crossed twice for the Kiwis at Brisbane’s Kayo Stadium on Thursday night.

The tournament also involves Canada and the USA, who the Wallaroos face next with two games in Ottawa.

They could be without exciting young fullback Faitala Moleka, with the 18-year-old suffering a leg injury while attempting to stop Alana Bremner’s try.

The Black Ferns kept the Australians on the back foot with some physical defence while they showed silky skills in attack to end home hopes of a breakthrough win over the trans-Tasman rivals.

New Zealand have now won 24 straight against Australia, continuing to ride high under new coach Allan Bunting who took over after their home World Cup triumph last October.

Five-eighth Carys Dallinger, playing her first Test against her country of birth, struggled to make an impact with the Wallaroos’ flat attack easily picked off by their opponents.

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The game was effectively over by halftime, with the visitors leading 26-0 and making ground at will through the middle and dominating the ruck.

Brunt, 19, showed her footwork to dot down in the 23rd minute, and then again 10 minutes later.

Prop Tanya Kalounivale opened the scoring when she charged over off a set move from a line-out while debutante Paul scored either side of halftime, the winger chipping ahead to score her first Test try.

The 24-year-old played netball with the Northern Mystics in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership before taking up Sevens rugby in 2022 and then 15-a-side last year.

Arabella McKenzie replaced Queensland playmaker Dallinger early in the second half and straightened the attack.

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But the Black Ferns were relentless at the breakdown and kept the pressure on the brave Wallaroos, adding four tries before th e final whistle.

New Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant praised the work of the six debutantes.

“There’s definitely been a change of personnel and myself, the girls and the coaches are proud of our debutantes to night,” the five-eighth said.

“We have changed some players but haven’t changed the Black Ferns style that we want to play.”

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3 Comments
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Gary 490 days ago

Watched the game and thought that the Wallaroos looked like a club side playing against a test side Black Ferns. The Wallaroos didn't seem to know what to do at times, whether to go into the ruck to clean out or to stand off. Very indecisive. The Set piece was OK but the Wallaroos dropped ball, got caught out behind the gainline multiple times and just looked amateurish. Full marks to the Black Ferns they were really good, a polished exhibition of how to play rugby. But the Wallaroos looked like they didn't know what to do. They looked way out of their depth. Just lacking the basic qualities that are needed to play rugby. To me IMO it looked very much like a coaching problem, either that or it was the Wallaroos totally overawed.

M
MattJH 491 days ago

Lot of handling errors, but that’s a first game/new combinations thing because when they put it together they were impressive.
That first Mererangi Paul try was sick!
The Aussie prop, Cheetham I think her name is played great in a team getting a hiding.

P
Pecos 492 days ago

Well, I didn't see that coming, what a good old fashioned belting. Plenty of cobwebs from the BFs though & they'll need to address multiple work-ons, but the potential seems unlimited. Plus, only 6 starters from the RWC Final were in the run-on squad, & then add in the return of Fluhler etc - & wow! The future is mega.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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