MATCH DETAILS: Wallaroos v Black Ferns, Sunday 14 July, 4.30pm NZT, Ballymore, Brisbane
There is a determination to repeat that overwhelming success, or at least fire a warning shot to the Red Roses ahead of the September 14 blockbuster at Twickenham.
Mererangi Paul scored two hat-tricks in the Pacific Four Series. She is on the bench on Sunday which suggests there is fierce competition for places.
Rugby World Cup winners Chelsea Bremner and Pip Love are back as is damaging midfield back Monica Tagoai. A two-test Black Fern in 2018, the damaging Marist St Pats midfielder has scored 66 tries in 60 games for her club. That, and her destructive form for an otherwise struggling Hurricanes Poua in Super Rugby Aupiki was too irresistible for the national selectors to ignore.
On the subject of the Poua, Hannah King starts in the ten-jersey pushing skipper and 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year Ruahei Demant out to second-five-eighth where she started her distinguished Black Ferns career.
The loose forward trio doesn’t feature Kennedy Simon, but Layla Sae and Kapio Olsen-Baker are formidable young talents.
Miller Time
Three defeats on the bounce in the Pacific Four Series consigned Australia to WXV 2. Less than a year ago Australia won two games in the inaugural WXV 1, including a staggering 29-20 upset of France. Prop Eva Karpani scored an incredible hat-trick.
Australia was sharp in their most recent international, a 64-5 hiding of Fijiana. Winger Desiree Miller scored four tries matching the Wallaroos record of four tries scored by Ruan Sims in 2006 against South Africa.
A former gymnast, swimmer and dancer, the 22-year-old also played hockey, soccer, basketball and tennis before kicking a footy in the park with her brother in 2020 changed everything. She scored a hat-trick for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby W final win and speaks with characteristic Australian bravado.
"We have nothing to lose, and we know a win is coming," Miller insisted. "Each time we get better and pick apart more and identify more opportunities."
Australia have made one change to their starting XV that slayed Fijiana. Veteran flanker Ashley Marsters returns for her first Test since injuring her ankle in a 25-32 loss to the USA in May. Her return sees Leilani Nathan revert to the bench, with last week's debutant Lydia Kavoa making way.
Wallaroos winger Biola Dawa, scrumhalf Natalie Wright and prop Allana Sikimeti retain their spots in the team after earning their maiden caps in Sydney last week.
No.8 Pip Duck is world-class, likely to stop anything in her way.
Laurie’s Legacy
In the first Lauire O’Reilly trophy international the Black Ferns beat Australia 21-10 at Cook Gardens in Whanganui on Tuesday, October 16, 2007.
O’Reilly was the Black Ferns first coach and a staunch advocate for wāhine rugby. Such is the growth of the Black Ferns, last week at the Paremata-Plimmerton rugby club in Wellington, Erika Rere’s jersey was re-presented to her.
The loosehead prop attended the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1991 and her No.1 jersey from that tournament hung on the wall unnamed until last Saturday.
Rere was one of O’Reilly’s favourite players. After a barnstorming performance in a 12-4 win by a New Zealand XV against a World XV in the 1990 World Rugby Festival in Christchurch, O’Reilly said, “She’s only recently turned to prop, but she’s fast, strong and good on the charge.”
Black Ferns Sisters
If reserve hooker Atlanta Lolohea gets on the field, she will join six other combinations to become Black Ferns sisters. Older sister Maratha Mataele played two Tests on the wing in 2023 and scored a try in the 43-3 win against Australia in Hamilton.
Atlanta exudes the exuberance of the sprawling American city she is named after. Atlanta, Georgia, boasts the biggest airport in the world, hosted the Olympic Games and is renowned for its vibrancy, Coca-Cola, blues and hip-hop music.
“Big, I guess that matches my personality,” Lolohea, 20, laughed
“My cousin was actually performing in Atlanta at the time of my birth. She’s a singer, Tongan music, and was doing quite well. My parents were looking for a name and Atlanta sounded good.”
Lolohea has played 13 games (11 wins) for Canterbury and eight games for Matatū. A Farah Palmer Cup Premiership and Super Rugby Aupiki winner Lolohea was striking when describing her reasons for selection. “I’m powerful, I’m fast and I’m fit,” the Cantabrian said.
The other Black Ferns sisters are, Jude & Flo Broughton, Anna & Fiona Richards, Justine & Vania Lavea, Linda & Aldora Itunu, Kiritapu & Ruahei Demant, Alana & Chelsea Bremner.
Ballymore Battle
The Black Ferns whitewashed Australia 50-0 in their only previous international in Brisbane at Kayo Stadium in 2023. Mererangi Paul bagged a double of tries on debut while centre Sylvia Brunt was named player of the match and scored two tries.
Ballymore hosted its first game in 1966, a club match between Teachers and Wests, before becoming the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) headquarters in February the following year. On April 21, 1968, Ballymore's first grandstand (later named the McLean Stand in 1980) was officially opened, while the 4670-seat Eastern Stand opened formally on 21 June 1992, increasing capacity to 24,000.
The All Blacks played five thrilling internationals (two draws) at Ballymore between 1974 and 1992. A 19-15 win against the Wallabies in 1984 was the most lopsided margin in the intense Ballymore battles - the best of which was the All Blacks 12-9 win in 1980 highlighted by an iconic try to hooker Hika Reid.
Ballymore is groomed and manicured by Putāruru proud Ben Engels.
Teams
Black Ferns (1-15): Chryss Viliko (5), Georgia Ponsonby (23), Tanya Kalounivale (13), Maiakawanakaulani Roos (24), Alana Bremner (20), Liana Mikaele Tu'u (21), Layla Sae (6), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (5), Maia Joseph (3), Hannah King (2), Katelyn Vahaakolo (9), Ruahei Demant (36), Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (16), Ruby Tui (15), Renee Holmes (17)
Reserves (16-23): Atlanta Lolohea (Debut), Pip Love (27), Amy Rule (22), Chelsea Bremner (18), Lucy Jenkins, Iritana Hohaia (9), Monica Tagoai (2), Mererangi Paul (8)
Australia (1-15): Brianna Hoy (7), Tania Naden (14), Eva Karpani (25), Kaitlan Leaney (19), Michaela Leonard (26), Atasi Lafai (13), Ashley Marsters (28), Piper Duck (14), Layne Morgan (23), Arabella McKenzie (25), Desiree Miller (6), Cecilia Smith (14), Georgina Friedrichs (23), Biola Dawa (1), Lori Cramer (22)
Reserves (16-23): Tiarna Molloy (2), Allana Sikimeti (1), Bridie O'Gorman (21), Leilani Nathan (6), Siokapesi Palu (10), Natalie Wright (1), Trilleen Pomare (28), Faitala Moleka (10)