Key events
All three (Kiwi) commentators believe the Ferns will win by 13+ today, but the Wallaroos won’t mind being written off like that. The key for them will be to not get blown off the park from the start and stay in the match as long as they can. Meanwhile, NZ will want to be clinical and ruthless in the way they play and not give the Australians even a sniff of victory.
Plenty of rain around in Wellington at the moment, as well as the customary wind. It’s going to be a tough and muddy battle out there today. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp speaking before the match says the Wallaroos have started a few years behind the Black Ferns, but that the team have tried to really focus on themselves and their own game.
Yapp also has plenty of praise for the team’s young debutant today – 17-year-old Waiaria Ellis, who will play on the wing. Yapp says she is a very mature and composed player who brings a lot to the side.
Team list: New Zealand
15. Renee Holmes
14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
12. Sylvia Brunt
13. Stacey Waaka
12. Katelyn Vahaakolo
10. Ruahei Demant (co-c)
9. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
7. Jorja Miller
6. Alana Bremner (co-c)
5. Chelsea Bremner
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
3. Tanya Kalounivale
2. Georgia Ponsoby
1. Chryss Viliko
Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Layla Sae, Iritana Hohaia, Kelly Brazier, Ruby Tui
Team list: Australia
15. Faitala Moleka
14. Waiaria Ellis
13. Charlotte Caslick
12. Trilleen Pomare
11. Desiree Miller
10. Tia Hinds
9. Layne Morgan
8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra
7. Ashley Marsters
6. Siokapesi Palu (c)
5. Michaela Leonard
4. Kaitlan Leaney
3. Bridie O’Gorman
2. Tania Naden
1. Faliki Pohiva
Replacements: Adiana Talakai, Lydia Kavoa, Eva Karpani, Annabelle Codey, Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor, Samantha Wood, Cecilia Smith
Preamble
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Megan Maurice
Hello and welcome to what is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon of rugby action! The Wallaroos are taking on the Black Ferns in windy Wellington, with the aim of causing an upset and taking their first ever win against their neighbours across the ditch. It’s a huge ask – the teams last met in Newcastle in May as part of the Pacific Four series, where the Ferns claimed a 38-12 win.
The Wallaroos have been an improved side in recent times, pulling off a 27-19 win over the USA during that same series, and with the addition of sevens star Charlotte Caslick into the mix this year, they have shown plenty of spark.
However the Black Ferns are an incredibly formidable team, not least because they feature Portia Woodman-Wickliffe – New Zealand’s leading women’s fifteen-a-side try scorer of all time.
With a World Cup on the horizon, this is important preparation for both teams, and though the Black Ferns are heavily favoured, the Wallaroos will be throwing everything at this match to try to pull off an unlikely win.
Kick off is at 4:30pm local time (2:30pm AEST), so let’s get into it!
