Women’s International rugby: New Zealand Black Ferns beat the Wallaroos at ANZ Stadium

Australia has never beaten New Zealand in a women’s rugby Test and the task was beyond them today. But a win is coming.

Leilani Perese of the Wallaroos is tackled by Eloise Blackwell of the Black Ferns during the Women's International rugby match between Australia and New Zealand at ANZ Stadium.

Australia has never beaten New Zealand in a women’s rugby Test and the task was beyond them today in the first match of the double-header at ANZ Stadium, but there is little doubt that a win is coming and it might not be far away.

The advent of the Super W competition has dramatically improved the standard of the Wallaroos and though the Black Ferns came away with a 31-11, it was a far cry from the only other time that these two sides have played a curtain-raiser to a Bledisloe Cup Test. On that occasion in 2016, the New Zealanders put the Wallaroos to the sword 67-3, giving them not a sniff of a chance.

But a world record crowd of 28,846 — beating the previous record set by France and England during this year’s Six Nations event in Grenoble — watched appreciatively as the Australians took the battle right to the world number one side. The Wallaroos began strongly, through erratically, squandering a number of early chances with poor ball retention. They lost two early lineouts and it was to prove a harbinger of doom because the Black Ferns zeroed in on this weakness, scoring three of their five tries from lineouts that quickly turned into driving mauls.

All three of those tries were scored by the New Zealand captain Fiao’o Faamusilli, although there was little doubt that the player of the match was Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge.

She scored the first try of the game, backing up on the inside as winger Renee Wickliffe cut back infield as a backline move broke down but she was instrumental in the only other try the Kiwis scored from general play, taking a quick tap that promptly led to a try for tight-head Aldora Itunu right on the stroke of halftime.

Grace Hamilton of the Wallaroos is tackled by Stacey Waaka and Ruahei Demant (right) of the Black Ferns.

That sent the Black Ferns into the break with a 19-3 advantage — Australia’s only points coming from a penalty goal directly in front of the posts from loose-head Emily Robinson — but the Wallaroos managed to maintain their composure and were the first to score in the second half. Sadly, the points came from the boot of Robinson but the Wallaroos will quickly learn a lesson the Wallabies have long understood — you will not beat the New Zealanders with penalty kicks.

Two more driving maul tries followed in quick succession although it was left to the Australians to produce the try of the match. Reserve prop Hana Ngaha laid the groundwork with a thunderous run straight down the middle of the field and when she was finally tackled, the Wallaroos moved the ball left when Shanice Parker released number eight Grace Hamilton down the wing.

It seemed for a moment that she would make the line but as the cover defence dragged her to the turf, she passed infield to Alisha Hewitt who strolled over for the try.

Australia tried desperately to add to its tally as the clock ticked down and looked to be finishing full of steam but, all too quickly, the Test was over.

Certainly there is plenty that coach Dwayne Nestor can take from this performance. The Wallaroos backs looked every bit as threatening as the Black Ferns and at times the handling was inspired. Certainly the pass that five-eighth Trilleen Pomare slipped to put impressive outstanding outside centre Atasi Lafai through a gap would have done credit to Steve Larkham.

Fullback Mahalia Murphy made the run of the match, an electrifying sprint that opened the Black Ferns wide open, though sadly she ignored winger Sam Treherne on her left and cut back infield where the cover defence was waiting.

Hooker Liz Patu played very much a captain’s knock before she was replaced with 15 minutes remaining while Hamilton — though yellow carded in the first half for collapsing a maul — was another who shone.