A much-improved second half effort salvaged some pride for the Wallaroos although they still had to absorb a heavy loss to the Black Ferns in Hamilton.
The final scoreline read 43-3 on Saturday at windy FMG Stadium but it was a far more competitive second half after the 31-0 procession of the first half.
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The Wallaroos kept the Black Ferns scoreless for the 28 minutes to open the second half before conceding two late tries when down to 14 players because of the red card to prop Bridie O’Gorman (head-on-head contact in the tackle).
With the wind at their backs in the second term, the Australians got greater value from their kicking game and their harassing attitude in defence.
The gulf between the Wallaroos and the Kiwi world champions, on a 16-game winning streak, is still significant but there is no lack of commitment to bridge it in the next O’Reilly Cup clash.
1 INTENSITY
The Wallaroos knew they had to bring more intensity and aggression after the chastening lesson of Brisbane in June when the Black Ferns beat them 50-0.
It was there in the opening minutes from hooker Adiana Talakai and centre Georgie Friedrichs in particular. Both made forceful tackles including Talakai’s strong front-on tackle on Kiwi danger Sylvia Brunt.
With more than 75 per cent of possession in the first half, the waves of Kiwi runners were always going to pound out dominance and they did.
The Wallaroos defenders kept fronting up as the Kiwis took advantage of having the wind at their backs in the first half.
Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard pinpointed the “the shift in mentality to get off the line and compete” as a lesson learnt from failure in Brisbane.
2 SET PIECE MALFUNCTIONS
The Wallaroos conceded five tries in the first half and two were directly the result of set-piece hiccups.
The Black Ferns rolled over the Wallaroos scrum to set up their second try. Wallaroos centre Friedrichs got over the ball superbly to force a turnover and penalty to rescue her team in defence shortly after.
The blessing was wasted when the Wallaroos lost their ensuing lineout and the Black Ferns turned it into a try for winger Katlyn Vaha’akolo.
That lack of consistency at set piece time was costly and needs to be cured if the Wallaroos want the victories they hope for in the upcoming WXV competition.
3 WALLAROOS STANDOUTS
As ever, there were standouts for the Wallaroos. Talakai and No.8 Ashley Marsters played with sustained intensity.
Halfback Layne Morgan had a busy game, including gaining one excellent turnover at the scrumbase.
Prop Eva Karpani toiled strongly, including one leg-pumping run, and winger Ivania Wong stayed busy on defence when attacking chances were at a trickle.
Friedrichs again showed her class in the centres. She earned two penalties getting her hands on Kiwi ball, tackled resolutely and will curse just the one moment when rival centre Brunt bumped through her for a try on half-time.
4 FIGHTBACK
It’s hard to imagine but the Wallaroos did not enter the Black Ferns’ 22 for a single second in the first half.
It was a measure of the wind behind the Black Ferns but also the Kiwis really hitting the game at top speed. It’s something the Wallaroos will have to work on because ripping into the game from the outset is essential to take charge.
It’s a credit to how the Wallaroos regrouped that they earned momentum of their own from the opening Marsters’ charge of the second half.
Unfortunately, the Wallaroos only once looked like scoring a try after the Marsters and Karpani charges. The attack again stuttered and always looked flat-footed without quick ruck ball because black jerseys were always in their faces.
5 BAD NEWS FOR CRAMER
Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer will undergo scans but the initial assessment is a serious knee injury after she was forced off in the first half.
It’s a cruel outcome for the backline regular.
