The Wallaroos were outmatched by the Black Ferns as the Kiwis took a 62-0 win in Brisbane on Sunday.
A blistering start from the visitors left the Wallaroos chasing the game with Georgia Ponsonby, Layla Sae, Ruby Tui all crossing early while Katelyn Vaha’akolo starred with four tries.
New Zealand finished with 10 tries to condemn Australia to defeat to finish their home Test season.
It took just four minutes for Ponsonby to burrow over from a powerful maul platform and open New Zealand’s account.
The Wallaroos received two early reprieves but wouldn’t get a third from the world champions as Maia Roos sparked an end-to-end counterattack with Ruahei Demant putting Mikaele-Tu’u away untouched.
A rampaging Kaipo Olsen-Baker then put Australia on the backfoot from their restart with Arabella McKenzie’s scrambled exit handing New Zealand another attacking lineout.
Tui wasted little time getting her name on the scoresheet, latching onto a cross kick to post her side’s third try and when Sylvia Brunt slid an inch-perfect grubber to Vaha’akolo in the other corner three minutes later, the Kiwis led 24-0 rolling a point-a-minute.
The Aussies looked to hit back with their first attacking opportunity when Eva Karpani stormed over from a well-worked lineout play after 27 minutes.
However, a TMO intervention rightly overruled the try with replays showing Karpani failed to grass the pill.
Vaha’akolo’s second try in the 36th minute compounded Australia’s woes, though the Wallaroos did well to scramble late and deny the New Zealander on half-time, keeping the lead at 29-0.
The 2023 Breakout Player of the Year didn’t need long to complete her hat-trick, swerving through the Wallaroos’ defence and scoring inside the 41st minute.
Trilleen Pomare, Biola Dawa and the returning Ash Marsters provided some defensive starch as the half rolled on but the Black Ferns wave was unstoppable on standout Brunt scoring a brilliant solo try in the 51st minute to take the margin past 40.
The loss of Piper Duck to a dislocated finger injury and a yellow card to McKenzie compounded Australia’s woes as New Zealand’s set-piece dominance came to the fore.
Nat Wright’s introduction on the left wing for Desiree Miller was a welcome surprise midway through the half with the former sevens flyer locking down her left corner.
Vaha’akolo continued to terrorise Australia’s right flank with a stray bounce in goal denying her a fifth try in the 72nd minute, though debutant Atalana Lolohea would score just two minutes later from another powerful maul to post New Zealand’s half-century.
A final penalty try added to the scoreboard on the full-time hooter.
BLACK FERNS 62 Tries: Ponsonby, Sae, Tui, Vahaakolo 4, Brunt, Lolohea, Penalty try Cons: Holmes 5/9 defeated WALLAROOS 0
