Wallaroos draw positives from 28th straight loss to NZ
Darren Walton |
The Wallaroos are drawing only positives after the Black Ferns maintained their trans-Tasman women’s rugby stranglehold with a 38-12 victory in the Pacific Four series opener in Newcastle.
Doubles to winger Ayesha Leti-l’iga and exciting teenage fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee on debut and further five-pointers to prop Chryss Viliko and centre Sylvia Brunt earned New Zealand their 28th victory from 28 Tests against Australia.
But the Wallaroos are claiming a morale boost of sorts after dominating much of the second half at McDonald Jones Stadium and clearly narrowing the gap on the world champions.
The Black Ferns thumped the Wallaroos 62-0 in Brisbane in their most recent encounter last year.
On Saturday, the Wallaroos briefly threatened a famous triumph after pulling the deficit back to 26-12 with 15 minutes remaining through gritty second-half tries to front-rowers Eva Karpani and Ashley Marsters.
Jo Yapp’s team were unfortunate to trail 26-0 at the break after officials missed a clear knock-on, before 18-year-old Sorenson-McGee’s first try was awarded in the 38th minute.
Adding to the Wallaroos’ frustration was a no-try ruling against Georgina Friedrichs after TV replays showed the classy centre had won the race to a brilliant chip kick from scrumhalf Tia Hinds to touch down.
Sevens star Hinds was superb running the show for the Wallaroos, while lock Kaitlan Leaney was enormous, controlling the lineout and Australia’s effective rolling maul.
With a little more than three months before the start of the World Cup in England, the Wallaroos are staying upbeat.
“I back ourselves and I back our team. We’re obviously growing. We’ve grown so much in the last 12 months together,” Marsters said.
“Obviously we’re sad about the result, but you can’t fault the effort out there.
“There was a big turnaround in the second half.
“We went into sheds and we know obviously coming off the bench we have to change the momentum out there, and that’s our job off the bench is to change the momentum and put it in our favour.
“So we fought well out there but the scores didn’t come our way.”
The tournament continues next Saturday, with the Wallaroos facing the USA in Canberra, and the Black Ferns up against second-ranked Canadians in Christchurch.
“Look, we have to start the game the way we’re finishing,” Marsters said.
“We can see that there’s good energy from the second half but I think we just need to start like that – and even better.”
AAP
