The Black Ferns have shown why they are one of the most dangerous sides in women’s rugby, overcoming a determined Wallaroos to run out 40-5 winners at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday night.
Both sides braved torrential conditions, with the Wallaroos down three tries to one at halftime but asking plenty of questions of the world number two side.
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However, the class of the visitors shone through in the second half, as three tries to Laura Bayfield, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, and Justine McGregor iced the result in the second half.
The result sees the Black Ferns reclaim the Pacific Four trophy, the world number two ranking and the O’Reilly Cup, as both teams head into their respective domestic seasons.
So, what did we learn?
The evening on the Sunshine Coast saw many winners extending beyond the result for the Black Ferns.
From a touching pre-match ceremony to current members of the military playing on the field, it was an even bigger win for the concept of ANZAC Day Tests.
Despite torrential conditions in the Sunshine Coast, 5,508 fans packed into the Sunshine Coast Stadium, resulting in one of the largest crowds ever between the two sides.
The result has proven that not only can Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day tests work, but they also have the potential to be extremely popular if both the men’s and women’s games continue to lean into the concept.
The opening three test matches of the Black Ferns 2026 season have been extremely promising, and it signals the side is on the rise under new coach Whitney Hansen.
The daughter of All Black World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen, there is plenty to suggest Whitney is set to climb just as high in the women’s game.
In her first three matches in charge, she had gotten her side back to number two in the world, and reclaimed the Pacific Four Series title and the O’Reilly Cup for another year.
However, following Super Rugby Aupiki in June, Hansen’s real test begins.
Following matches against Australia and South Africa, she’ll go head-to-head with England at Twickenham, followed by a three-test series in the WXV tournament at home against France.
Despite what the scoreline would suggest, the match proved to be far from a cake walk for the Black Ferns, particularly when it came to set piece.
Bar two moments at the end of the first and second half, the Wallaroos scrum - the biggest and most experienced ever assembled - showed that the gap has significantly closed between the two sides in terms of set piece.
Disrupting the lineout all night, the Wallaroos also pinched a scrum penalty later in the match, Martha Fua having a particularly strong cameo off the bench.
Despite the disappointing Pacific Four campaign, the parity achieved suggests that all this team and coaching staff need is more time in the saddle together.
Despite the contest at set piece, the final scoreline also told a story, with the Black Ferns continuing to better the Wallaroos in two key areas: speed and physicality.
With ball in hand, nearly all of the Black Ferns’ tries came off extended periods of time on attack, consistently getting over the gain line to keep the hosts on the back foot.
With lightning-fast speed on the outside, the result saw the Wallaroos consistently stretched and running out of numbers, with the visitors reaping the rewards.
These two key elements have proven to be the difference when the Wallaroos have faced the highest-ranked sides in women’s rugby, and it needs to be addressed if they want to push deep at the 2029 World Cup.
The Wallaroos camp will now take time to reflect and turn their attention to pre-season for Super Rugby Women’s, with games taking place across mid-late May ahead of the season getting underway on June 6th.
However, with the interim staff contracted until the end of the Pacific Four Series, the key question on everyone’s lips now is who will be named head coach and lead the Wallaroos to the 2029 Rugby World Cup?
While Super Rugby Women’s kicks into gear, the next few months are set to be a busy one at Moore Park for the women’s program, with a technical director to oversee all women’s pathways set to be appointed within the next month, followed swiftly by the Wallaroo head coach.
With Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh indicating earlier this week that the governing body is on track to deliver a full-time Wallaroos program, fans and players will have to wait and see who will lead that program.
Whoever is in the coaching box come August 22nd when the Wallaroos next take the field (also against the Black Ferns), they will already be part of an historic moment: with the forthcoming clash in Auckland set to mark the Wallaroos’ 100th Test match.
