World champions blow away injury-hit Aussies
The Wallaroos are sweating on ankle injuries to captain Siokapesi Palu and star Charlotte Caslick after being blown away in the second half by the world champion Black Ferns on Saturday.
Sevens convert Caslick scored Australia's first try and the visitors only trailed 10-7 at halftime at Wellington's Sky Stadium.
But the Wallaroos couldn't maintain the rage after the break as legendary New Zealand winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe completed a hat-trick in the 37-12 win.
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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand charges towards the try line to score.
Australia are yet to beat the Black Ferns in 29 attempts.
Flanker Palu was in a moonboot after the match after making a try-saving tackle midway through the first half that could put her in doubt for the Rugby World Cup.
"We know they're a quality side, but just that self-belief is probably what we needed," Palu said on Stan Sport's coverage.
Siokapesi Palu of Australia receives medical attention.
"There's definitely a lot of positives in that first half to show that we can actually stay in it. We know we can play that 40 minute, quality game against the top sides. Now it's just now trying to hold it out for 80. We've got a lot of stuff happening in the background, so for girls to turn up and put on a performance like that, we're just really proud."
Caslick appeared to injure her ankle in the final minutes when tackled by New Zealand try-scorer Ruby Tui.
Coach Jo Yapp said both Palu and Caslick would require scans with Australia now facing two Tests against Wales before the World Cup in England.
Ruby Tui of New Zealand celebrates after scoring a try in Wellington.
But it was Woodman-Wickliffe's day as she celebrated her 33rd birthday in style with three tries.
She was simply unstoppable, scoring the opening try of the game after just 62 seconds.
Woodman-Wickliffe's first two tries proved the difference as the Black Ferns went into halftime with a narrow 10-7 lead.
https://x.com/WallaroosRugby/status/1943919392871289258New Zealand ran riot in the second half, scoring five tries and 27 consecutive points to kill off any hope of Australia finally ending their long-running drought against their trans-Tasman rivals.
After a tense first half, the Black Ferns kicked into gear and clinched an emphatic win in their final hit-out before the World Cup squad is named.
Woodman-Wickliffe combined brilliantly with sevens superstar Jorja Miller, who played a major role in the opening try and scored a sensational individual effort herself in the second half.
https://x.com/WallaroosRugby/status/1943922780170276884Wearing the No.7 jersey but playing like a back, Miller broke the contest open when she stepped inside her defender and released Woodman-Wickliffe down the right wing.
In the 52nd minute, Miller did it all herself.
She caught the ball from an Australia drop out just inside the opposition half and beat as many as five defenders to score.
It was a world class individual performance that should not only cement Miller's place in coach Allan Bunting's best XV for the upcoming World Cup but make her one of the first names on the team sheet.
The big question now is where she is best utilised as the 21-year-old would be an absolute weapon at centre or fullback.
Australia's own sevens star, centre Caslick, gave the Wallaroos hope of an upset when she responded to the Black Ferns' early try, hitting back four minutes later.
https://x.com/WallaroosRugby/status/1943895567366848869Australia attacked down the blindside when a lineout drive stalled and Caslick burst through the tackle of Risi Pouri-Lane and Alana Bremner.
The visitors hit the front when Faitala Moleka nailed a difficult conversion from the sideline and held their lead until Woodman-Wickliffe scored her second try of the game in the 34th minute.
That broke Australia. The second half was all New Zealand as Woodman-Wickliffe, Miller, Ruahei Demant and Sylvia Brunt piled on the points.
Woodman-Wickliffe has scored 10 tries in three Tests after coming out of international retirement to compete for a place at the World Cup.
Tui, recalled for the first time in 2025, also got in the action, racing through to score the Black Ferns' seventh try after replacement halfback Iritana Hohaia's clever kick in behind.
Australia scored a consolation try in the dying stages but goal-kicker Samantha Wood summed up their night when she slipped during her run up and fluffed her attempt along the damp surface.
Black Ferns 37 (Tries: Woodman-Wickliffe 3, Demant, Miller, Brunt, Tui; Cons: Holmes 1/5, Brazier 0/2) Wallaroos 12 (Tries: Caslick, Kavoa; Cons: Moleka 1/1, Wood 0/1
