Kiwi Ferns kept scoreless in rugby league first as Jillaroos secure tough victory
- by Admin
- October 27, 2024
A superb solo try to superstar fullback Tamika Upton helped the Jillaroos exact some revenge on the Kiwi Ferns as Australia ground out a history-making 14-0 win ahead of a likely rematch in Sydney in a couple of weeks.
A week after they obliterated Papua New Guinea 84-0 thanks to a combined 11 tries to their wingers, the Aussies struggled for the same fluency in attack with the World Cup champions also picking up a couple of injury concerns in Christchurch.
Points were at a premium with just one try in the first half before Upton took control of the contest to ensure Australia bounced back from their shock loss to New Zealand in last year’s decider.
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The Newcastle fullback gave the visitors some breathing space when she put on a huge left foot step, hopped out of a tackle and reached out to score to extend the lead, before she latched onto a Millie Elliott offload to put them back on the attack.
The defence never recovered after that break and Jess Sergis punished them a play later when she got on the outside of Mele Hufanga to make it 14-0.
The real test will come in a fortnight when they will likely face the Kiwi Ferns again at CommBank Stadium, with the Aussies desperate to reverse last year’s shock result against a team that will be a lot better once their combinations click into gear.
Sunday’s result was the first time New Zealand had ever been held scoreless in a Test match, with Australia able to keep back-to-back clean sheets with a week off coming up.
CASUALTY WARD
Australia desperately missed Quincy Dodd’s speed around the ruck, but the livewire dummy-half is expected to overcome a minor quad injury in time for the final.
So the last thing they needed was for Olivia Higgins to go down, with the back-up hooker forced off in the second half with an arm injury.
Unbelievable Kiwi Ferns HAKA | 00:49
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Higgins was solid in her first stint but caused a major reshuffle when she came off for a break in the opening half, with Ali Brigginshaw shifting to dummy-half which forced Tiana Penitani into the halves, with Jess Sergis coming on at right centre.
Brigginshaw has dominated in the halves and at lock, and it turns out the skipper is just as effective around the ruck, with the veteran laying on the first try for Penitani when she jumped out of dummy-half to link up with the makeshift five-eighth.
But coach Brad Donald won’t want to have to make mass changes to accommodate a substitution which is why he’ll be hoping Dodd is right to go for the final.
There was better news for back-rower Kezie Apps who came off with a leg issue in the second half but was able to return for the final few minutes, with the veteran missing the final six rounds of the NRLW with a knee injury.
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