The Black Ferns have maintained their unbeaten record against Australia with a 62-0 thrashing in Brisbane today.
Left wing Katelyn Vaha'akolo scored four tries as New Zealand, the Laurie O’Reilly Cup holders, ran amok at Ballymore.
The Black Ferns were dominant across the park, with loose forwards Layla Sae, Mikaele Tu’u and Kaipo Olsen-Baker outstanding.
They were given an excellent platform via the Black Ferns’ set piece, but the entire team's offloading and handling skills – and appreciation of space – were levels above the Wallaroos.
They led 29-0 at halftime, with Vaha'akolo mishandling the ball on the line just before the break. It would have given her five tries.
As it is, the pacey Vaha'akolo now has 13 tries in 10 internationals.
Sae, Georgia Ponsonby, Sylvia Brunt, Ruby Tui and Atlanta Lolohea also scored for the Black Ferns.
In hooker Lolohea’s case, it was a try on her international debut. She could have had a double but dropped the ball over the line on fulltime, referee Sara Cox signalling a penalty try anyway to add insult to injury for Australia.
The home side went close to scoring several times, only to be repelled by the Black Ferns’ outstanding defence or their own errors.
A curious incident occurred in the first half when Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani was over the line and the try quickly awarded by Cox despite there being no evidence of a grounding.
After the conversion was missed, Cox checked with the television match official and ruled out the try.
If Karpani had her time again she may have passed to her unmarked hooker outside her.
A complicating factor for the home side was first-five Arabella McKenzie’s sinbinning for an intentional knock on when the Black Ferns were looking likely again.
For the Black Ferns, who beat Australia 67-19 North Harbour Stadium in May, the victory may go some way to making up for their disappointment in losing to Canada in Christchurch earlier the same month.
It would doubtless have played a part in their current world ranking of No.3 behind England and the Canadians.
Black Ferns 62 (Katelyn Vaha'akolo 4, Georgia Ponsonby, Layla Sae, Ruby Tui, Sylvia Brunt, Atlanta Lolohea tries, penalty try; Renee Holmes 5 cons)
Australia 0
Halftime: 29-0
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