First things first let us start on a positive, 7,055 attended the game. A record for a stand-alone women’s rugby match in Australia.
The Wallaroos result, in reality, was not a surprise, although the final score line was.
The Black Ferns were just too big, too strong, too fast and did everything at speed. They have a great offload game, too. Their defence was ferocious and their line speed incredible. There are going to be some sore Australian bodies.
The Wallaroos were not given an opportunity to fire a shot.
The Black Ferns smashed the Wallaroos on Thursday. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Australian women were always going to face an onslaught from the Black Ferns. It was their first game since the World Cup final and they will have been training full time for months. So they were no doubt itching to hit a real match.
The Walleroos were on the end of that hit. Even with multiple changes from their World Cup final team it was a juggernaut.
Apart from a couple of big runs in the first 10 minutes the Wallaroos were on the back foot from the outset. It was a wave after wave of black jerseys. But credit to the Aussie women they did not give up and kept throwing themselves at the Kiwis.
In an ominous sign they made a few handling errors and were, understandably, a bit rusty. Yet, the Black Ferns blew them away in the first half with four tries.
The next two games are in North America, as the Wallaroos take on USA next weekend and Canada a week later. They must jag a win to qualify for World Rugby’s WXV Tier 1 competition later in the year.
So what were the take outs of the Kiwi game?
Forwards
The set piece generally held its own; the Wallaroos won their lineouts, although they did lose two of their 12 scrums. Even when the bench came on the scrum was still solid.
The best description of the forwards is industrious. Even though they bulked up the pack by including Kaitlan Leaney at six and Ash Marsters at seven, the Wallaroos were unable to regularly get over the advantage line. Even Grace Hamilton, who has been a regular carrier to get over the line, could not consistently make a dent. On the flip side the Kiwis did and provided front foot ball for their backs.
Grace Hamilton wasn’t able to dent the Black Ferns’ defence like usual. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It was all very similar to some of the Aussie men Super Rugby teams when playing the Kiwis. (In some ways also like the Aussie sevens women’s team that has issues against the bigger and more physical teams.)
The Wallaroos just did not seem to have the size or strength to dominate in defence or attack. Unfortunately there does not appear to be alternative players available to provide that size and strength. It is painful to say but they missed Grace Kemp, who has gone to the NRLW.
Backs
As mentioned earlier, the Wallaroos backline did not have an opportunity to fire a shot.
There were very few occasions where the backline could get a roll on with front foot ball. It is hard to remember if winger Maya Stewart touched the ball while Olivia Wong seemed to only receive the ball in traffic.
The Kiwis line speed was amazing and the tackles dominant. While Carys Dallinger at fly-half has a great passing game it is better suited when the forwards provide a platform. Arabella McKenzie, fresh from a strong campaign for Harlequins in the Premier 15s, made a difference when she came on, straightening up the attack and taking the line on herself.
Arabella McKenzie made an impact after coming on in the second half. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
In the centres, the Wallaroos were constantly on the back foot, and as such missed having a big running 12 to get over the advantage line like a Samu Kerevi or Sharni Williams.
Similarly, a backline weakness is the lack of a big strong winger. At the World Cup the Wallaroos had Aussie sevens player Bienne Terita who was big and fast.
On a positive, fullback Faitala Moleka looks very good, at just 18 she is a classy player with ball-in-hand. In addition, she puts her body on the line in defence. Unfortunately, she appears to have got injured in the dying minutes of the game as she threw herself at a Kiwi diving over the line for a try. Hopefully she is available for the trip to Canada.
Like the Wallabies, the Wallaroos must live with the fact they have to play the Kiwis a lot.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Possibly it's still the way it was back in the day, as far as $$$ goes. All talk & no action, as far as promoting the game, seeking out better sponsorship deals, etc etc. Honestly they have this offshore mining giant already sponsoring them, as a tax perk, so why can't they at least negotiate for better funding. or sponsorship.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
He is - in a Mentoring Role that all Coaches - ABs, AB7s, BF's BF7s....
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Yep Hugh, I know what you mean about media organisations, but what disappointed me that even a lot of rugby based organisations that trumpet the promotion of game etc, still didn't find it it worth reporting on. But anyway, I was pleased to see your article, and although I someone who used to basically write off women's game myself, I think it where the games biggest growth possibilty is.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Thanks Danny. It is one of the challenges these days for media organisations between reporting news & reporting popular news. Unfortunately at this stage women's rugby isn’t in the popular news category yet. Agree with you the BFs just too physical & unrelenting. Similarly was surprised by the gap in the score line, watching the game it didn’t seem reflective of the effort the Wallaroos put it but that happens. Also agree BF 10 Demant is very good, calm & in control throughout. The BFs just have too much depth & play at a higher level in the FPC. Anyway keen to see how the Wallaroos pull up after such a physical game & the travel when they take on the USA.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Like your idea for women's comp Joe, very much!
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Hi Hugh and first I will say good on you, good to see an article on the Women's test. We see on here often how it's good to see women's game promoted, but then seemed to ignore the test for a couple of days. On game itself, I said to my wife I would watch until halftime etc (as I found it fairly hard to watch with picture quality etc at start) but ended up sitting here until 11pm enjoying the game. I have to admit I wasn't surprised at result, only the gap, as it confirmed what I hasd seen from Super Aupiki and Super W, plus Wallaroos had a warm up game that they won, was not a huge win against a Super W team. The biggest dirfference no doubt was the physicality of both teams, as indicated by BFs first try when basiclly 3 players stepped aside so they didn't have to tackle the BF head on. I not sure there was hell of a huge difference in ball skills etc really, just the physical part, and maybe rugby nous. We all hope with more games the Wallaroos will improve in this area. Also I will add it was a joy to see the skill of some of the BFs , Sylvia Brunt was obviously very impressive, and her late footwrok as she got to conact was great to see, I also a big fan of DeMant, a 10 who really knows how to control a game. Anyway was good to see first up test and look forward to more. I will also add I think just maybe this test showed one other thing, when we hear of maybe a combined super womens comp, keep teams ltd in numbers etc until there is depth for teams etc. I will also add another bit of a chestnut, once again the NZ women also have the FPC in their development pathways, and hopefully when RA gets a few more $s to spare something is added there too!
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
I’m just assuming RA don’t have the $$ yet. Otherwise I would be very disappointed.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
IMO Hugh, it's RA not doing their job as far as women's rugby goes ATM. Like NZR has put into place $20 million ( obviously SilverLake money ) from sponsorship, towards the womens game in Aotearoa. Sadly RA hasn't done the same through procuring more from this off shore mining company Santos. They do have the finance, as they don't pay tax on their profits, & sponsorship, is also a tax dodge.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
True about the NRLW, Hugh as they've already picked up one of our BF Sevens Wahine.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well the ' Professor' is not there now!! Lol :laughing:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Why not Speights Tim?? As it was I was weaned on it!! Lol :crying: :crying: :crying: :crying:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Tim, the Bledisloe was named after a certain Governor- General we had back in the day. A Pom, with the title of ' Lord Bledisloe ' who donated the the Cup for Trans Tasman rugby competition.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
It’s all about time together on the training paddock. You just needed to see how the Wallaroos improved game by game at the World Cup when the spent an extended period together.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Most pleasing was the crowd attendance, it would have been embarrassing if only a couple of 1000 attended, just a pity the Walllaroos couldn’t match it with the Kiwis. Watching the game was a bit like watching the Aussie7s women up against most teams, they are faster, fitter, more skilled because they are professional. You can’t beat time on the training paddock, repetition for skills & technic. Am looking forward to seeing the team selection for the USA game.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
At this stage I’m just pleased the inaugural WXV had got off the ground & they are investing in the women’s game opportunity. Sure the clash with U20s is unfortunate, it’s the same with the WXV later in the year with the World Cup. I do tend to sort of agree re being in the Tier 2 comp, players get to go to Sth Africa too.
moaman
Roar Guru
Exactly my point.
ojp44
Roar Rookie
I'd wager Laurie did a damn sight more for Rugby (especially womens rugby) than Lord Bledisloe; he deserves his name on the cup.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Great to see a good crowd but the idiocy of letting WR run your competitions and not SANZAAR becomes the problem. WR love a central location tournament which the Pacific 4 and WXV are so who knows when the next game at home is, not great for growing a base. Sticking it on the same time as the u20s not great either. In my view Oz getting into the XV2 will be better for them long term. Playing England, France and NZ won't do much for confidence but winning the XV2 gives them the big day out, good media story and another year to prepare. Coming last in the XV1 doesn't have the same ring to it. Get the girls more tests at home.
Nivlek
Roar Rookie
Thanks Hugh. It was a pleasing crowd there at Redcliffe. better than I was expecting. Unfortunately I thought our forwards were comprehensively outgunned in this match. They looked short of a gallop to me but maybe that was just the relentless play from the BF. We went backwards for most of the match, our set piece was rubbery, defence and breakdown work was poor and our kicking game under pressure. I’m sure the girls are pretty disappointed with the result. Marsters was much more potent against Fiji out in wider channels on the left edge (playing at 6) rather than an on baller 7. I’d persist with Dallinger at 10 and put Mackenzie at 12 (as much as like C Smith) - but our forwards have to give them front foot ball. I can’t remember 11, 13 or 14 getting any clean ball all match. Anyway RA needs to throw some money at women’s rugby or we’ll be left well and truly behind. I was devastated that Grace Kemp went to NRLW for example - she was really starting to hit her straps in rugby.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Maybe be the Foster Cup sponsored by Fosters Brewery moaman… :laughing: