By Melissa Woods
The Wallaroos have been no match for world champions New Zealand, crashing to a 50-0 loss to open their Pacific Four women’s rugby series campaign.
Any hopes that the Australians were bridging the gap on their trans-Tasman rivals was erased early at Brisbane’s Kayo Stadium on Thursday night with the visitors dominating every aspect of play.
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 74th minute try.
Wallaroos stand-in captain Michaela Leonard, replacing injured flanker Piper Duck in the role, said her team let themselves down with poor execution.
“It was the execution of the little skills – it definitely wasn’t the performance we wanted and definitely not the performance we trained for this week,” the Western Force lock told Stan Sport.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos crashes into the Wallaroos defence.Credit: Getty
“We’ll head back to training and work out our attack shapes and execution of our catch-pass. We’ll definitely come out firing for the next two (games).”
Former elite netballer Mererangi Paul bagged a double on debut while teenage centre Sylvia Brunt, named player of the match, also crossed twice for the Kiwis.
The Black Ferns kept the Australians on the back foot with some physical defence while they showed silky skills in attack to quickly end home hopes of a breakthrough victory.
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.
Grace Hamilton attempts to get the Wallaroos’ attack going.Credit: Getty
Australia 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.
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.
But the Black Ferns were relentless at the breakdown and kept the pressure on the brave Wallaroos, adding four tries before the 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 tonight,” the five-eighth said. “We have changed some players but haven’t changed the Black Ferns style that we want to play.”
AAP
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