The Black Ferns have dominantly beaten the Wallaroos 52-5 in the first of two tests in the O'Reilly Cup series.
Kendra Cocksedge of th.e Black Ferns scores a try in the Laurie O'Reilly Cup rugby match against Australia. Photo: Photosport
After pandemic restrictions curtailed their fixtures over the last two years, the Black Ferns and Wallaroos once again battled it out in the opening test of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup tonight at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
It was the Black Ferns' night as the side put on a clinical performance, leaving the result looking like a formality at half-time with the score sitting at 26-nil.
Kendra Cocksegde and Ayesha Leti-I'iga starred in the backline, while 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin both returned from injury to get amongst the action.
The home side managed to keep the Wallaroos scoreless up until the final minute of the game, with Piper Duck notching a consolation try for the Australians.
However coach Wayne Smith wasn't getting too excited about his side's performance.
"You've got to be happy with the score, no doubt about that, but we were disappointed with some of the skill level," Smith said
"We'd had a really good week, working really hard on playing an expansive game. I think we probably left five or six tries out there through either being too flat or just dropping ball.
"Hey, it's good. We've still got a lot of work to do."
In debuts, Tyla Nathan-Wong and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu both came off the bench to earn their first caps for the Black Ferns.
Black Ferns 52 (Ruahei Demant 2, Ayesha Leti-I'iga 2, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Amy du Plessis, Kendra Cocksedge, Luka Connor tries; Cocksedge 3 con, Renee Holmes 3 con) Australia 5 (Piper Duck try) HT: 26-0 Black Ferns
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