Australia’s Trans-Tasman win drought will enter its 30th year after the Wallaroos fell 62-0 to New Zealand in Brisbane.
A blistering Black Ferns start left the hosts at sixes and sevens with Georgia Ponsonby, Layla Sae, Ruby Tui all crossing early before four-try hero Katelyn Vaha’akolo twisted the knife.
Tickets to the Wallabies 2024 Home Tests are available to purchase here.
The visitors finished with 10 tries in front of 5365 fans at Ballymore Stadium to condemn Australia to yet another Laurie O’Reilly “black-wash”.
The Wallaroos’ scoreless afternoon was perfectly summarised by a 78th minute raid with Faitala Moleka fumbling Arabella McKenzie’s chip-through with the try line begging.
Conversely, it took just four minutes for Ponsonby to burrow over from a powerful maul platform and open New Zealand’s account.
The Wallaroos received two early reprieves but wouldn’t get a third from the world champions as Maia Roos sparked an end-to-end counterattack with Ruahei Demant putting Mikaele-Tu’u away untouched.
A rampaging Kaipo Olsen-Baker then put Australia on the backfoot from their restart with McKenzie’s scrambled exit handing New Zealand another attacking lineout.
Tui wasted little time getting her name on the scoresheet, latching onto a cross kick to post her side’s third try and when Sylvia Brunt slid an inch-perfect grubber to Vaha’akolo in the other corner three minutes later, the Kiwis led 24-0 rolling a point-a-minute.
The shellshocked Aussies looked to hit back with their first attacking opportunity when Eva Karpani stormed over from a well-worked lineout play after 27 minutes.
However, a TMO intervention rightly overruled the try with replays showing Karpani failed to grass the pill.
Vaha’akolo’s second try in the 36th minute compounded Australia’s woes, though the Wallaroos did well to scramble late and deny the New Zealander on half time hooter for a 29-0 margin.
The 2023 Breakout Player of the Year didn’t need long to complete her hat-trick though, swerving through the Wallaroos’ defence and scoring inside the 41st minute.
Trilleen Pomare, Biola Dawa and the returning Ash Marsters provided some defensive starch as the half rolled on but the Black Ferns wave was unstoppable with standout Brunt scoring a brilliant solo try in the 51st minute to take the margin past 40.
The loss of Piper Duck to a dislocated finger and a yellow card to McKenzie compounded Australia’s woes as New Zealand’s set-piece dominance came to the fore.
Nat Wright’s introduction on the left wing for Desiree Miller was a welcome surprise midway through the half with the former sevens flyer locking down her left corner.
Vaha’akolo continued to terrorise Australia’s right flank with a stray bounce in goal denying her a fifth try in the 72nd minute, though debutant Atalana Lolohea would score just two minutes later from another powerful maul to post New Zealand’s half century.
A final penalty try added insult to injury after the full-time hooter.
Tries: Ponsonby, Sae, Tui, Vahaakolo 4, Brunt, Lolohea, Penalty try
Cons: Holmes 5/9
Australia (1-15): Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Atasi Lafai, Ashley Marsters, Piper Duck, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Cecilia Smith, Georgina Friedrichs, Biola Dawa, Lori Cramer
Reserves: Tiarna Molloy, Allana Sikimeti, Bridie O'Gorman, Leilani Nathan, Siokapesi Palu, Natalie Wright, Trilleen Pomare, Faitala Moleka
New Zealand (1-15): Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Liana Mikaele Tu'u, Layla Sae, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Maia Joseph, Hannah King, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ruahei Demant, Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt, Ruby Tui, Renee Holmes
Reserves: Atlanta Lolohea, Pip Love, Amy Rule, Chelsea Bremner, Lucy Jenkins, Iritana Hohaia, Monica Tagoai, Mererangi Paul
