The Black Ferns employed their forwards to build initial cohesion, but headway was tricky because of rain, a lack of discipline, and stubborn Wallaroos defence.
Livewire winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga is never afraid to roll up her sleeves. The Oriental Rongotai pocket rocket scored the first two tries, each resembling the failed catching of a rat in a drainpipe.
In the 13th minute, Leti-I’iga was floored by three defenders but shot back to her feet to flash clear. A dozen minutes later, Kaipo Olsen-Baker came steaming around the corner from a lineout secured at the back. The 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year was grounded inches short of the paint. Leti-I’iga lurked at the ruck and squirmed through a pile of bodies.
Blues fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee celebrated her debut with two tries. Her 39th-minute stretch to score incurred the wrath of the crowd, who questioned the legitimacy of the grounding. Her 75th-minute runaway showcased her graceful potency.
When rampaging, prop Chryss Viliko skittled aside multiple Wallaroos in the 43rd minute, a commanding win looked likely with the lead stretched to 26-0.
Instead, Australia rallied with some lineout ingenuity. In the 46th minute, prop Eva Karpani crashed over after the Wallaroos secured a lineout at the back, transferring the ball to the middle to create a hole on the wing.
Australian Sevens maestro Tina Hinds added flair in just her second Test match. Australia was cruelly denied a try when a grubber from the first five-eighth saw centre Georgina Friedrichs ground the ball at full stretch. The officials saw it differently.
Ashley Masters left no room for doubt with her try from a lineout drive in the 58th minute. The veteran was a powerhouse replacement.
The Black Ferns stymied Australia’s momentum with a Layla Sae turnover. The Hurricanes Poua flanker would be denied a try soon after following a knock-on in a lineout.
In the 67th minute, Sylvia Brunt erased any anxiety about the outcome when she pierced through the Wallaroos' wilting resistance.
Olsen-Baker was huge with 16 tackles and carries. She gained 81 metres with only Sorenson-McGee (112) and Leti-I’iga (87) gaining more. Layla Sae made 14 tackles and eight carries. The Black Ferns will be disappointed with a lineout that operated at 56% compared with Australia’s 82%.
Wallaroos lock Kaitlan Leaney topped the tackle count with 24 and won six lineouts. Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu was immense with 14 tackles and 13 carries. The blindside flanker reflected afterwards. “It’s all about energy and body language. If I can lead, others will follow.”
Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu was satisfied with the first outing of 2025: “Australia, it runs so deep, it’s always a battle of the fittest. It’s awesome, we’ve had a really good battle.”
Black Ferns: 38 (Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Braxton Sorensen-McGee 2, Chryss Viliko, Layla Sae, Sylvia Brunt, tries; Ruahei Demant 3 cons, Hannah King con) Australia: 12 (Eva Karpani, Ashley Masters tries; Faitala Moleka con) HT: 19-0