A four-try effort from New Zealand fullback Selica Winiata has relegated the Wallaroos to a 14th consecutive trans-Tasman defeat, 67-3.
The visitors battled hard against their Kiwi counterparts during the game, but ultimately the Black Ferns proved too polished to overcome, with fullback Winiata leading the way for New Zealand in their highest score against the Wallaroos and their equal largest win over Australia.
The Black Ferns drew first blood through captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili, who pounced on the ball in the in-goal after Australia fullback Sarah Riordan narrowly avoided grounding it.
Wallaroos captain Ash Hewson hit back six minutes later, slotting the first penalty of the match to put her side just four points down.
A superb breakaway run from winger Renee Wickliffe set inside centre Chelsea Alley up for New Zealand’s second try in the 15th minute, with another from scrumhalf Kendra Cocksedge stretching the lead out to 21-3 20 minutes in.
The Black Ferns had their fourth by the 24th minute, with right winger Honey Hireme getting an offload away for fullback Selica Winiata to score in the corner and make the margin 23.
Australia suffered from some poor discipline, with two yellow cards to front rower Louise Burrows costing her the chance to finish the match, with lock Eloise Blackwell pouncing on the first one-player advantage in the first half.
Despite their adversity, the Wallaroos eked out some late scrum advantage and put themselves in their attacking half, though they couldn’t eke out a score.
On the other side of the break, Australia battled hard deep in defence but Black Ferns flyhalf Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali slipped through the Wallaroos wall to take scores to 38-3.
That second half was a lot tighter on the scoreboard, with the Wallaroos' defence stepping up under immense pressure from New Zealand.
A blistering sideline run from left winger Wickliffe unravelled Australia, though, with the speedster setting Winiaca up for her second of the afternoon, before the fullback had her third just seven minutes later.
Burrows' second yellow put the Wallaroos in serious danger with eight minutes to go and captain Fa'amausili capitalised eventually, with New Zealand's ninth try in the 76th minute.
That wasn't the end of the scoring tally though, with Winiaca sprinting away for the Black Ferns' 10th overall and her fourth, to seal the deal, before winger Honey Hireme put the result beyond any shadow of a doubt
The late flurry made it a 64-point margin to the Black Ferns, their biggest win over Australia since a 64-0 defeat in Auckland in 1995.
Australia takes on New Zealand in their second Test next Wednesday at North Harbour Stadium.
NEW ZEALAND 67
(Tries: Winiata 4, Fa’amausili 2, Alley, Cocksedge, Blackwell, Subritzky-Nafatali, Hireme Cons: Cocksedge 4, Brazier 2)
AUSTRALIA 3
(Tries: Cons: Pens: Hewson )
