A ruthless response from the Black Ferns by destroying the Wallaroos after their defeat at the hands of Canada last week in the Pacific Four Series.
The home side came close to a half century of points in the first-half, before eventually winning 67-19 and retaining the O'Reilly Cup.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Wing Mererangi Paul crossed for a hat-trick with skipper Kennedy Simon scoring twice in the sides 11 tries to three thrashing.
New Zealand were on the scoreboard within five minutes as Kaipo Olsen-Baker charged over off the back of a scrum.
The Australians struck back quickly through first-five Arabella Mckenzie who eased through a gap and ran away before converting her own try to equal the scores.
However, from then on it was a procession of tries. Second-five Sylvia Brunt scored from close range before Paul was over next as Renee Holmes sent a weighted kick to be picked up.
Just as the Wallaroos were looking to get back in the contest, Iritana Hohaia made a half break and got an offload away to Liana Mikaele-Tu'u who ran 30 metres unimpeded.
The points kept coming, hooker Georgia Ponsonby finishing off some more slick play.
Katelyn Vaha'akolo capped the half with an absolute stunner.
Vaha'akolo showed her incredible gas to skin her opposite before nailing a perfect chip and regather to saunter around under the posts and give her side a commanding 45-7 halftime advantage.
Three minutes into the second spell and the Ferns scored as prop Chryss Viliko stormed over for a debut try after Ponsonby again went close.
Following confirmation from the TMO, Paul picked up her hat-trick in the right hand corner, deploying some serious strength to get it on the grass.
Maya Stewart pulled one back for the Australians but a quick tap from Hohiah then sent skipper Kennedy Simon over with a nice dummy and step.
McKenzie and the Wallaroos kept fighting, the first five grassing it by a finger tip for her second and her side's third.
Simon topped off the dominant performance with her second, again showing brute force and determination to get over.
New Zealand 67 (Mererangi Paul 3, Kennedy Simon 2, Sylvia Brunt, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Georgia Ponsonby, Mikaele-Tu'u, Katelyn Vaha'akolo, Chryss Viliko tries; Renee Holmes 6 con) Australia 19 (Arabella McKenzie 2, Maya Stewart tries; Arabella McKenzie, 2 cons). HT: 45-7
Comments