The Black Ferns' victory is their 27th on the trot against the Wallaroos and their biggest in Australia. The Black Ferns blanked Australia for the fifth time, prompting Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant to comment.
“Really proud of the girls' effort on attack and especially defense…All the behaviours we do we want to show care, care for each other, care in our line.”
Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard observed, “Obviously not the game we wanted to play.”
Winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo was in record-breaking form. She scored four tries, two in each half, to match the efforts of Vanessa Coutts in 1995 and Selica Winiata in 2016 against Australia.
Vaha’akolo has scored tries in eight consecutive internationals. Coutts accomplished that feat in her first nine Tests between 1995 and 1998.
The Black Ferns forwards paved the way with an immediate breakout from the kick-off and a ruthless attitude throughout. The last play of the match was a penalty try from a lineout drive. Moments earlier reserve hooker and debutant Atlanta Lolohea had scored from the same methodology.
The Black Ferns loose forwards Liana Mikaele Tu'u, Layla Sae and Kaipo Olsen-Baker were rampant, but it was the backs that dazzled.
Vaha’akolo finished two sweeping movements in orthodox fashion in the left corner while an individual effort shortly after halftime was a quick anointment for a rare knock on, over the line. Vaha’akolo stepped wickedly off the foot and blitzed the cover over 30m in her first touch of the second spell.
The chip and chase was a nightmare for Australia. Vaha’akolo retrieved a Syliva Brunt grubber. The centre later kicked and regathered for herself; busting 30m at the next kick-off too. Renee Holmes and Ruby Tui repeated their double act from the 2022 Rugby World Cup semi-final against France with Tui scoring from a Holmes kick. Holmes had 18 carries in a vibrant display from fullback.
Australia had a promising period between the 20th and 30th minutes when prop and 2023 Wallaroos Player of the Year Eva Karpani barged through Maia Joseph from a switch move at a lineout and appealed for a try. Video evidence showed Mikaele Tu'u and Tui held up the 26-Test veteran over the chalk.
The lopsided nature of the contest was illustrated by the fact the top seven individual tacklers were Wallaroos with loosehead prop Briana Hoy leading the count with 11. Olsen-Baker made eight tackles for the Black Ferns with keen support from Sae and Tui who made seven each.
The Black Ferns made ten line breaks to two, 311 post-contact metres to 69, and enjoyed an imperious scrum and a 13/13 lineout record.
The Black Ferns next international is at Twickenham against England on September 14. The Red Roses have won 45 of their last 46 Tests but will be weary of a Black Ferns side that can execute at breakneck speed when a solid forward platform is laid.
Black Ferns: 62 (Georgia Ponsonby, Layla Sae, Ruby Tui, Katelyn Vaha’akolo 4, Sylvia Brunt, Atlanta Lolohea, penalty tries; Renee Holmes 5 con) Australia: 0 HT: 29-0