Following Canada’s 45-7 walloping of Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the Black Ferns had to trounce the Eagles by 25 points with a four-try bonus point.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored seven tries, passing Vanessa Coutts as the Black Ferns all-time leading try scorer with 45 in 26 Tests. Cootes scored 43 tries in 16 Tests. Her most famous performance was against the USA when she scored five tries in the Black Ferns first Rugby World Cup final win in Amsterdam in 1998.
In 1999, Tammi Wilson scored six tries against the USA in Palmerston North on her birthday. She bemoaned that she was at fault for the Eagles' solitary try, allowing the ball to bounce into an opponent's hand.
Woodman-Wickliffe scored four tries against the USA in Belfast in the 2017 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. She matched her tally for the most tries she has scored in a Test in New Zealand. She also bagged seven in a 95-12 win against Japan at Eden Park in Auckland in 2022. She scored eight in a 121-0 whitewash of Hong Kong at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Dublin. Cootes scored nine in a 109-0 demolition of France in Edmonton in 1996.
On the opposite wing, Katelyn Vahaakolo bagged a quartet of tries to boost her tally to 23 tries in 16 Tests. She actually carried three more metres (153-150) than Woodman-Wickcliffe.
The pathway for the lethal finishers to flourish was paved by the forwards. Props Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu on debut and Kate Henwood set the tone in the lower numbers. Lock Alana Bremner was twice held up over the line while Sevens superstar Jorja Miller ran amok on her debut. The 2024 Kel Tremain Memorial Medal winner had two linebreaks, 69 metres gained, 13 tackles, and assisted a try for Woodman-Wickliffe with hands that could put Humpty Dumpty together again. No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker topped the Black Ferns stats charts with 25 carries and 16 tackles.
Coach Alan Bunting complained the Black Ferns first half was “clucky.” Some lineouts went astray, handling wasn’t always precise and discipline wavered. In three Pacific Four matches, the Black Ferns conceded 34 penalties. The concession of two close-range tries to flanker Freda Tafuna, who scored against the Black Ferns in Hamilton last year, and prop Hope Rogers (53 Tests) showcased the Eagles at their belligerent best. Erica Jarrell topped the tackle count with 19.
The second half was 45-0 to the hosts. Debutant halfback Risi Pouri-Lane grew in stature. First five Ruahei Demant kicked a conversion, falling over, giggling. Fullback Braxton Sorenson-McGee gained 114 metres in nine carries with two linebreaks.
The Black Ferns delivered double the passes of the USA, 235-117, and had 18 linebreaks to one.
The biggest win the Black Ferns have enjoyed against the USA was 86-8 in Edmonton in 1996. Cootes scored five tries in that match too.
Hooker Georgia Ponsoby and openside Kennedy Tukuafu celebrated their 30th Test matches. Co-Captain Tukuafu labeled the Black Ferns display as “epic.”
Black Ferns: 79 (Portia Woodman-Wickliffe 7, Katelyn Vahaakolo 4, Ruahei Demant, Stacey Waaka tries; Demant 4 cons, Hannah King 3 cons) USA: 14 (Freda Tafuna, Hope Rogers tries; McKenzie Hawkins 2 cons) HT: 34-14