The Black Ferns have put on a strong performance over the Wallaroos, winning 66-19 at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.
The game marked the Wallaroos' 100th test match, going back to the inaugural match in 1994. In that time, they are still to beat the Black Ferns from 31 attempts.
Watch every second of the Wallaroos 100th Test live and on demand via Stan Sport.
A new look side that saw sevens stars Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Maddison Levi and Bienne Terita looked to challenge, but the hosts hit the ground running with relentless pressure, leading to two tries to Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Chryss Viliko early.
The visitors struggled to match the hosts' pace and pressure, with Ruahei Demant and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u adding to the tally even after Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu was sent to the bin for a high shot.
However, a critical late entrance to the hosts' 22 on halftime saw the visitors capitalise, with Desiree Miller scoring to finish the half with some much-needed momentum.
A second half comeback was not to be, as the Black Ferns piled on the pressure in the second half, with tries to Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Ayesha Leti-l’iga, Maia Joseph, and debutants Vici-Rose Green, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a and Amarante Sititi.
However, despite a difficult afternoon, the visitors had some positives to take from the second half, with Brittany Merlo and Waiaria Ellis coming away with tries for their efforts, while Maddison Levi and Pia Tapsell had strong debuts in a well-beaten side.
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The Wallaroos have one last stab, as they look to score four tries against the Black Ferns for the first time ever.
They win a penalty and kick into enemy territory, then tap and go after the Black Ferns didn't close the gap.
Levi breaks three tackles and forces the pass, but the hosts tidy up and kick it into touch. Game over.
The Black Ferns restart well, and get the ball back, then the visitors concede a penalty for going off their feet.
Black Ferns opt for the scrum, fling it wide, and Sititi scores on debut. Conversion successful.
The Black Ferns concede a penalty for clearing out from the side after advancing well, and the visitors kick to the corner.
The hosts are then penalised for a high shot, and kick to the 5m line, and they maul it well… and Brittany Merlo gets over the line to score her first ever try. Conversion unsuccessful, but the visitors are finishing well.
After a great steal by Levi, the Wallaroos' spend some time in the 22, and Waiaria Ellis finds a gap and scores a brilliant individual try!
Conversion successful, and gives the visitors something to cheer about.
After great pressure from the hosts, the Wallaroos turn it over and attempt a clearance… but it's charged down and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a scores another!
Conversion unsuccessful, and the hosts are flying now in Auckland.
After being penalised for playing on the ground, the Black Ferns continue to dominate, as Maia Joseph catches the Wallaroos around the ruck and gets the score past 50.
Conversion successful.
Leti-l’iga cuts the line to shreds, and Green gets over, benefitting from the lack of numbers out wide to dominate the carry and get over.
Conversion successful, as the hosts close in on 50 points.
Levi makes several early impacts, pinching the ball off the restart, but the Wallaroos are penalised for not staying on their feet and the hosts kick to the 22.
The Black Ferns try to go wide but knock it on, visitors win the scrum, and Ellis clears.
Advantage for a high tackle, and the Black Ferns have another chance to add another try, and are looking comfortable.
They opt for a scrum, go wide and Leti-l’iga brushes off two tackles to breeze through and score. Conversion successful.
Big moment as Maddi Levi makes her debut, while Tapsell joins her to become the first player ever to play for both nations.
Hinds knocks it on off the ruck, and things are not going well for the visitors are they face a scrum on the 10m line.
The hosts kick ahead, but the ball goes into touch and it's a Wallaroo lineout on their own 5m line. They win and clear, but the visitors are not out of danger.
Back-to-back penalties against the Wallaroos for errors at the ruck, and not the best start for the visitors.
The hosts win the lineout and march up the field, then fling it wide… and the great support play results in Roos getting over the line to score. Perfect start for the hosts as the conversion is successful.
Black Ferns are now back to a full compliment.
Both teams are back out on the park, and we are back underway.
Bienne Terita is now on the park, partnering Lefau-Fakaosilea in the halves.
Penalty advantage, and the visitors go wide effectively and Miller scores in the corner.
She converts her earn try, and the we're off down the tunnel, the visitors finishing the half well but have a lot of work to do.
The Wallaroos play better, as Bone and Leaney break the line up to halfway, and Moleka gets the visitors into the 22 with a great kick deep into the 22. After the Black Ferns make errors at the lineout, the hosts have the chance to attack for the first time as the clock goes red.
The hosts win the scrum and attack well, and finally Liana Mikaele-Tu’u twists her way out of a tackle to score. Massive moment scoring with a player advantage, completing a dominant half.
Conversion unsuccessful.
The Wallaroos get a turnover, and then earn a penalty for a high shot on Lily Bone. We're going upstairs to confirm if it warrants a card. The replay looks bad for Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, and it's a yellow card and off-field review.
The visitors clear and win the lineout scrappily, but the hosts turn it over and kick ahead, Moleka taken back over, 5m scrum to the hosts.
Cecilia Smith has been forced off the field with an eye injury, as the Black Ferns take a quick lineout and go quickly. The Wallaroos clear a few times, but then as Sorensen-McGee breaks the line, the visitors are penalised for offside.
The hosts go to the corner, but the lineout isn't straight as the visitors get a reprieve. They get a free kick off the scrum and clear it to the 22, and the hosts attack.
After several resets, a great scrum between both sides, and the hosts send it to the air, however Leti-l’iga is off side at the kick, and the hosts get a penalty in the 22.
However, the lineout misfires and the hosts go wide quickly up to halfway. After scrambling defence stops it at halfway, the Black Ferns find some weak shoulders and Vaipulu cuts through, finding Demant who scores under the sticks. Conversion successful.
Penalty advantage for a high tackle, and a first opportunity for the visitors to build some phases. The kick towards the 22, but Roos disrupts the lineout and it goes to ground. Scrum to the visitors.
They win it and go on the attack, but fumble it and it will be a New Zealand scrum.
Black Ferns pinch the lineout, but the visitors hold them up over the line for a goal line drop out. Hosts attack, but a Wallaroo hand sees a knock on, scrum to the Black Ferns.
It's an imposing record at scrum time for the hosts, but the Wallaroos hold and the hosts attack. However, the play breaks down, another scrum to the hosts with a Wallaroo hand in the way, this time in the 22.
Free kick, and the hosts go quickly. The speed is overwhelming, and finally Viliko barges over to get the hosts' second. Conversion successful, and the hosts are going a point a minute.
The Wallaroos started composed, with a good opportunity to attack on halfway. Ellis attempts a kick-through, but the hosts regather and attack well!
They make it to the 5m line before the Wallaroos turn it over and clear, but the hosts take a fast throw in, and then earn a penalty for the visitors being offside. They go to the corner, looking to take the wind out of the sails of the visitors.
The hosts attempt the maul, but are brought down, the Black Ferns try to overwhelm with speed going wide, but Leti-l’iga is bundled into touch.
The Wallaroos start well, a kicking battle ensues before Ellis decides to run it.
The Wallaroos go wide but lose it through a good counter ruck, and the hosts attack, getting up towards the 22, and the visitors are playing with Naden down in back play.
After 17 phases, the hosts have chewed away at meters, and they go wide and Sorensen-McGee scores in the corner. She converts, and a composed start from the hosts.
Maggie Cogger-Orr blows her whistle, and the 100th Wallaroo test match is underway in Auckland!
Tries: Miller, Ellis, Merlo
Cons: Miller 2/3
Tries: Sorensen-McGee, Viliko, Demant, Mikaele-Tu’u, Roos, Leti-l’iga, Green, Joseph Tuliau-Tua’a, Sititi
Cons: Sorensen-McGee 8/10
Cards: Vaipulu (Yellow, 32')
The Wallaroos assemble into a boomerang as the Black Ferns perform the Ko Uhia Mai… and they advance up to the line.
Challenge accepted. The preparation is over, it is time for action.
Both anthems are in the book and we're almost ready to go!
The Wallaroos receive a wonderful choir version of the anthem performed by the Auckland Secondary Schools Pasifika Choir, followed by New Zealand. We're ready to go for the haka!
No changes for either side confirmed as both teams depart the warm up and enter the final stages of preparation.
A healthy crowd is developing in the stands, we should be set for an exciting afternoon of rugby.
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Wallaroos' clash with New Zealand in Auckland.
Conditions in the north of NZ is currently overcast, with an 18km/hr wind heading south east across the city, which is likely set to play a factor in today's game.
A strong home crowd has just started coming through the gates, though there are several gold jerseys around for the visitors' historic 100th test match.
BLACK FERNS (1-15): Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakaleu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elinor-Plum King, Kaipo Olsen-Barker, Maia Joseph, Ruahei Demant (cap), Ayesha Leti-l’iga, Sylvia Blunt, Amy du Plessis, Mererangi Paul, Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Maddi Robinson, Santo Taumata, Amarante Sititi, Mia Anderson, Ariana Bayler, Hannah King, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
WALLAROOS (1-15): Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (cap), Piper Duck, Tia Hinds, Waiaria Ellis, Desiree Miller, Cecilia Smith, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Maya Stewart, Faitala Moleka
Replacements: Brittany Merlo, Allana Sikimeti, Bridie O’Gorman, Pia Tapsell, Emily Chancellor, Samantha Wood, Bienne Terita, Maddison Levi.
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Amber McLachlan & Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR)
The Wallaroos' clash with the Black Ferns will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 12:30 pm with kickoff expected at 1:05 pm.
The game will also be shown on free-to-air television on 9Gem, with coverage beginning at 12:30 pm
