Australia’s Wallaroos have produced a gallant efficiency in a 41-17 loss to reigning champions New Zealand of their ladies’s Rugby World Cup opener at a sold-out Eden Park.
Having by no means overwhelmed the Black Ferns, the Wallaroos – boosted by the inclusion of a few of Australia’s sevens stars – surprised their extremely fancied opponents within the first half.
They established a 17-0 lead after 27 minutes, with Bienne Terita scoring a double and fellow winger Ivania Wong additionally crossing the stripe.
However the Black Ferns – five-time World Cup winners — confirmed why they’re match favourites on house soil, scoring back-to-back tries by way of winger Portia Woodman and lock Joanah Ngan-Woo.
They in the reduction of the Wallaroos’ benefit to 17-12 at half-time, earlier than levelling the rating seven minutes after the break when Woodman touched down out extensive for her second attempt.
With the Wallaroos lowered to 13 gamers on account of yellow playing cards, the Black Ferns took the ascendancy within the 56th minute through a transformed attempt to reserve Awhina Tangen-Wainohu.
Woodman then accomplished a hat-trick with one other five-pointer down the left flank, earlier than her wing associate Ruby Tui added two tries to seal the win for the Black Ferns.
The Wallaroos will face Scotland in Whangārei subsequent Saturday of their second pool match.
Within the earlier matches in Saturday’s triple-header at Eden Park, England thrashed Fiji 84-19 and France triumphed 40-5 over South Africa.
Extra to return.
