Australia have booked their spot in the Pacific Cup final after fullback Tamika Upton starred in a 14-0 defeat of titleholders New Zealand in Christchurch.

Already under pressure from their loss to the Kiwi Ferns in last year’s Pacific Cup final and a handful of controversial selection choices since then, the Jillaroos were made to overcome second-half injuries to Kezie Apps and Olivia Higgins on Sunday. But Upton’s attacking brilliance proved the difference between the sides, despite New Zealand being the better starters and holding firm on their goal line for long stretches.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald praised Australia’s defensive resolve in becoming the first team to hold the Kiwi Ferns scoreless, and was relieved to have avoided a second-consecutive loss to the traditional rivals.

“No doubt,” Donald said. “I’m just really happy with the defensive effort. There’s not many teams that would be able to keep players like Mele Hufanga, Annessa Biddle, Amber Hall and their team to nil. It just showed how much the girls wanted to show up today.”

“I think the best thing to come out of that is how good the women’s game is going at the moment. I don’t think anyone would be upset with the spectacle that both teams put on today.”

To book a rematch with Australia in the final at CommBank Stadium on November 10, New Zealand must defeat PNG in Auckland next week.

“I was really proud of the effort that the girls brought,” Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry said. “[But] we gave them too much ball, for starters, and were a bit clunky in attack.”

After a scoreless first half hour at a chilly Apollo Projects Stadium, Upton forced the first of two consecutive line dropouts that finally helped the Jillaroos break the Kiwi wall. On the back of sustained pressure, veteran Ali Brigginshaw sent Tiana Penitani over with a flat ball down the right side, where the Jillaroos had looked their most dangerous.

The Kiwi Ferns continued their stoic defence into the second half, with Annessa Biddle making a try-saving tackle on Simaima Taufa as the Canberra wrecking ball charged to the line. But Upton soon took matters into her own hands. The 2023 Dally M Medallist spied a gap between New Zealand captain Georgia Hale and Ash Quinlan before lunging over with a burst of speed.

The Jillaroos appeared to close in on victory when Jess Sergis burst over down the right side on the back of an Upton line break as the final 15 minutes approached.

Higgins’ arm became caught awkwardly in a tackle on Kiwi Ferns prop Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa in the second half, with support staff rushing onto the field to assist her during a stoppage. “It looks like Liv might have dislocated her wrist at some point but popped it back in and she was asking to go back on,” Donald said.

Jillaroos second-rower Kezie Apps left the field with an injury to her left foot early in the second half but returned for the final minutes with strapping on the area.