Key events
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28 mins: NZ have a miscommunication in attack and send the ball over the sideline, so once again the Wallaroos have an attacking opportunity. Desiree Miller makes a break down the wing and Australia push down field, but again NZ steal the ball in the ruck.
26 mins: A messy exit from the scrum for the Wallaroos, but they manage to hold on to the ball and then NZ give away a penalty, so they have an opportunity to get into good field position again. Australia win the lineout, but lose the ball soon aftewards and NZ are on the counterattack.
24 mins: Yet more scrum resets and referee lectures…
22 mins: NZ make some good ground down the wing and push into Australia’s territory, but they give up possession in the ruck close to the 22m line and Australia get a chance to get out of trouble. The wind catches Australia’s kick as they try to do just that and they don’t make much ground at all, but they quickly force an error – the experienced Bremner knocking on as the defence rushes up at her.
20 mins: A quarter of the way through the game now and the Wallaroos will be pleased that they have held on to their lead and competed strongly in all facets of the game so far. Kaitlin Leaney gets some medical attention, which gives the players time to rest and regroup. Another good lineout for Australia when play resumes, but they lose the ball in the ruck and hand the ball back to NZ for another scrum.
18 mins: The Wallaroos win the line out again, but immediately concede a penalty in attack.
16 mins: Australia keeps the ball in hand against a wall of black in front of the tryline. They lose some metres, but persevere for 14 phases until the Ferns manage to steal the ball and Holmes puts in a deep kick to get the ball out of dangerous territory.
14 mins: A successful line out for the Wallaroos this time, but the ball is stolen by the Ferns in the ruck – they kick it deep and Miller makes a nice run down the middle of the field in return. A bit of a kicking duel ensues and Tia Hinds for the Wallaroos wins the battle with a great kick and then a line out win from the Ferns’ throw puts them in strong field position.
12 mins: It takes quite some time to get this scrum reset. “There is far too much complaining for the first scrum of the game,” says the referee. Finally the scrum is completed to her satisfaction and the Wallaroos get their own chance at moving the ball nicely. Ellis makes some good ground down the wing, but Australia lose the ball in the next play. However a penalty against the Ferns returns the ball to them.
10 mins: Great ball movement from the Ferns as they swing the ball wide, but Australia’s defence is up to the challenge and they manage to disrupt the breakdown enough to force an error. We get our first scrum of the game, with the Wallaroos getting the feed. It’s immediately reset after collapsing on the wet ground.
8 mins: A little pause while Tania Naden from the Wallaroos is assessed by medical staff after going down in a tackle. She’s all good to continue. There’s another line out for Australia, but Bremner steals it and then NZ gets a penalty to add insult to injury for the Wallaroos.
ShareGOAL! NZ 5-7 AUS
The try is converted and the Wallaroos go ahead!
ShareTRY! NZ 5-5 AUS (Caslick 6′)
No contest from NZ on the line out and Australia get into a good position and create some space for Caslick to dive over the line.
4 mins: The conversion is missed and the Wallaroos get a much-needed penalty and win the line out. They put on a rolling maul close to the line. It’s nearly a try, but the referee rules it’s held up. She was playing advantage, so the Wallaroos get another penalty.
ShareTRY! NZ 5-0 AUS (Woodman-Wickliffe, 2′)
The Ferns put in an early, deep kick, which is fumbled, but fortunately goes backwards. Ellis the debutant gets an early touch, but NZ are ruthless when they get the ball back, with Woodman-Wickliffe finding space on the outside and running over for an easy try.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe charges towards the tryline to score. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 00.39 EDT
The Wallaroos have kicked off after a spine-tingling haka from the Black Ferns and we’re underway!
New Zealand perform a haka. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 00.36 EDT
The teams are on the field now for the anthems and pre-match ceremony,
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.
Waiaria Ellis. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 00.26 EDT
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
Updated at 00.18 EDT
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
SharePreamble
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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!