The Black Ferns have retained the Pacific Four (PAC4) Series title and won overall honours for the third time in four years, outmuscling Australia 40-5 in a historic Laurie O'Reilly Cup/ANZAC Day Test at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Unfortunately, the torrential rain that plagued the PAC4 series hit the Gold Coast, too, but the game kicked off on time.
The Black Ferns were swift out of the blocks with Amy du Plessis scoring her ninth try in 25 Tests in the fourth minute. The Black Ferns won clean lineout possession, clinically built phases, and Sylvia Brunt put the South African-born Southland centre in a hole.
The Black Ferns were denied a second try in the 15th minute. No.8 and top tackler Kaipo Olsen Baker received a forward pass from co-captain Ruahei Demant.
Stubborn Australia crossed in the 23rd minute when workhorse No.8 Siokapesi Palu (11 carries, 7 tackles) barged over from close range.
Demant took onus to ensure the Black Ferns responded swiftly. A pinpoint grubber was mopped up by Wellington winger Ayesha Leti-I'iga. The Ories flyer had a blinder, charging for more meters (110) than any other player and scoring a second try by exchanging passes with du Plessis in a swoop that traversed half the field.
Tighthead prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu joined the fray in the second half. The influential Waikato powerhouse plunged over in the 42nd minute, running off the shoulder of Maia Joseph to make it 26-5.
The 55th minute had the Petone Rugby club in raptures as Justine McGregor, 20, scored her first Test try. The Black Ferns outflanked Australia after several phases.
On ANZAC Day, it was perhaps fitting that lock Laura Bayfield, a 2nd Engineer Regiment Captain, based at Burnham Military Camp, scored her second Test try. In the 62nd minute, McGregor slashed through the gold wall, linking with du Plessis, who connected with Renee Holmes. From the next ruck, five meters out, Australia was reeling, and Bayfield was celebrating.
Australia finished strongly, enjoying 78 per cent of possession in the last ten minutes. They won 13 of their 14 lineout throws but couldn’t breach the Black Ferns. In addition to Olsen-Baker, Bayfield (12), du Plessis (11), and Kennedy Tukuafu (11) finished with double-digit tackle counts.
Demant was delighted that the Black Ferns scooped two pieces of silverware.
“It’s extremely exciting; a step in a direction that’s the beginning of a new era for us,” she told Stan Sport.
“I think what’s exciting is that we’ve been able to celebrate a lot of milestones. We’ve been able to celebrate debuts, we’ve come out mostly injury free and this was all before the start of our domestic competition, so I think [there will be] a fair few headaches for a lot of our coaches as we lead into a very exciting Super Rugby Aupiki.”
Former French international Aurélie Groizeleau was the referee.
The Black Ferns have won 118 of 143 Test matches, including all 30 Tests against Australia.
