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Black Ferns 23 Australia 10
Ferns - Leti-I'iga 2, Olsen-Baker & A Bremner tries; Cocksedge penalty
Australia - Patu try; Cramer conversion & penalty
Fulltime
40th minute - Ferns win penalty advantage just metres out from the tryline, Tubic kicks to the in-goal, but the bounce eludes Tui. Referee Cox brings them back to the penalty.
TRY to Leti-I'iga
Cocksedge takes a tap and feeds her forwards. They pile up on the tryline and when the ball comes free, Cocksedge lobs a pass to the powerful winger for her second of the day.
Cocksedge hooks her sideline conversion left and the final whistle sounds on a great Black Ferns comeback from a 10-5 halftime deficit.
39th minute - Ferns scrum win a tighthead and they shift right to Tui, who enters the 22. Lafaele powers towards the posts...
38th minute - Tubic kicks across field and finds Leti-I'iga, who makes ground. Lafaele is next to carry into Aussie territory, but there's a knock on.
37th minute - Aussies have the ball near halfway and win a penalty. They tap and stream forward, but Ferns win a turnover.
36th minute - Ferns win a free-kick at the scrum, Cocksedge takes a quick tap and Tubis hacks upfield.
35th minute - Marsters throws crooked to another lineout and the Aussies squander another attacking chance in the 22. Ferns scrum feed and a chance to clear...
34th minute - Tubic kicks to the 22 and Cramer tries to clear, but her kick is charged down.
Aussies counterattack and Fredericks crosses halfway.
33rd minute - Aussies win a midfield scrum, but Cocksedge tackles Morgan and the ball bobbles free. Ferns look for a way out of their half.
31st minute - From the scrum, Cocksedge looks left, but Demant can't handle the pass, as she takes on the defensive line.
30th minute - Aussies secure the dropout and build their attack outside the 22. They try to shift left, but Cramer passes to touch.
29th minute - Cramer's kick drifts right, that's a bad miss from a handy position.
28th minute - Ferns try a quick lineout in their own half, but Tui drops the ball in midfield and the Aussies pounce, winning a penalty outside the 22. Parry calls for a shot at goal...
27th minute - Aussies clear a retreating scrum and try to bust out of their half. McKenzie tries another high kick and Leti-I'iga drops it backwards, picks up and dashes over halfway.
26th minute - Ferns win the lineout, but the ball goes loose in midfield and knocked on.
25th minute - Ferns scrum wins a penalty - that's been coming for a while - and Tubic finds touch towards the 22.
24th minute - McKenzie puts up a bomb and Leiti-I'iga drops it cold in midfield, so Aussie scrum just inside Ferns half.
23rd minute - Ferns forward rumble forward, but knock on. Lafaele runs on for her Ferns debut.
Ferns scrum dominates, but Aussies clear to Murphy, who dashes up the right touchline.
22nd minute - Tubic kicks to the 22 and Cramer clears to halfway. Tubic crosses halfway and Ferns build again.
21st minute - Ferns secure the kickoff and Teneti makes more metres down the right. Aussies knock on, but Ferns play on, crossing halfway.
19th minute - From the scrum, Olsen-Baker picks and runs, but Chancellor is penalised at the breakdown, so another penalty to the Ferns. Cocksedge lines up a kick at goal and slots it, NZ 18-10
18th minute - Ferns drive towards the posts and win a penalty. Cocksedge tries a quick tap, but Cox plays school matron and demands she come back.
17th minute - Another big Ferns scrum allows Cocksedge to kick into the 22. Cramer clears, but the Ferns attack rumbles forward.
16th minute - Ferns secure the kickoff and Teneti carries three tacklers to halfway. Demant tries to find a path close to the ruck, but there's an Aussie knock-on.
14th minute - TRY to Olsen-Baker
Another solid scrum by the Ferns, Cocksedge runs left, but the No.8 picks up and runs right, diving over in the corner. Cocksedge misses her conversion, but her side are ahead for the first time, NZ 15-10
13th minute - Marsters' throw to the lineout is crooked again, so the Ferns have an attacking scrum about 10 metres out from the tryline.
12th minute - Ferms win a lineout in their own territory, but the ball is loose and Aussies pour through. Roos picks up the ball and tears up centrefield, but Demant's kick beats Tui into touch.
10th minute - TRY to Alana Bremner
Ferns win the lineout and a penalty advantage. They shift the ball left and Alana Bremner plunges over in the corner.
The ball never lies! Cocksedge's sideline conversion is on line, but under the bar, 10-10
Eighth minute - Leti-I'iga pops up again with a ball to Alana Bremner and then again in centrefield, as the Ferns enter the 22. From a ruck near the line, the debutant prop is driven over by two teammates.
Much deliberation by match officials manages to find something they don't like and the try is disallowed. Ferns were playing advantage, so they kick to touch.
Seventh minute - Ferns win the lineout near halfway and Leti-I'iga bursts up centrefield.
Sixth minute - Wallaroos knock on and the Ferns will have a scrum feed under their posts. On queue, the entire Ferns front row is replaced.
Ferns win a scrum penalty and can clear.
Fifth minute - Aussies hack downfield, and Holmes' clearance is charged down and knocked on, so the Wallaroos have an attacking scrum inside the 22.
Semple leaves the field with a possible knee injury and Tubic replaces her.
Ferns scrum has taken some pep pills at halftime, but Aussies still have the ball and rumble towards the posts.
Fourth minute - Better scrum from the Ferns, but Aussies clear the ball.
Third minute - Ferns steal the lineout throw and kick ahead, but Leti-I'iga can't gather the rolling ball cleanly and knocks on.
Second minute - Aussies win another penalty at breakdown and Piliae-Rasabale clears to halfway.
First minute - Cocksedge kicks off and the rain seems to have eased in Tauranga. Her kick skids along the ground inside the Aussie 22 and Piliae-Rasabale slices her clearance, so the Ferns have good field position.
Ferns win the lineout and rumble towards the 22. Demant kicks through, Cramer hacks upfield, but the Ferns are still on attack.
Halftime
40th minute - Pomare finds touch near halfway, but Marsters' throw isn't straight again.
Olsen-Baker charges off the back of the scrum, but doesn't release in the tackle and is penalised. That's the end of the half, dominated by the Aussies.
39th minute - Big scrum from the Aussies pushes the Ferns off the ball and wins the clearing penalty.
38th minute - Marsters' throw to the lineout isn't straight, called this time, so Ferns will have a scrum on the 22.
37th minute - Demant's kick makes more ground this time and Ferns have a lineout on halfway. Ponsonby's throw wasn't straight, but Cox is happy with that.
Cocksedge kicks to touch on the Australia 22.
36th minute - Aussies win a midfield scrum and head towards the 22, but Ferns have a clearing penalty.
34th minute - Aussies win a lineout in NZ territory, but the ball rolls loose from a ruck. Wallaroos regain possession, Murphy dashes down the left touch, but Ferns steal it back.
31st minute - Leti-I'iga makes ground down the left and finds Ponsonby looming in support. Ferns have a penalty advantage.
TRY to Leti-I'iga
From the penalty, Cocksedge takes a quick tap and finds Lei-I'iga, who powers over, despite a head-high tackle. Referee Cox is happy with that tackle, but it would have been a card in Super Rugby.
Cocksedge's conversion drifts right, AUS 10-5
30th minute - Cocksedge's kickoff bounces and Pomare kicks upfield to Tui, who runs to halfway. Teneti makes 10 metres down the right.
29th minute - Cramer slots her kick, AUS 10-0
28th minute - Wallaroos try to shift left, but the attack breaks down and Cox brings them back for a penalty by the posts. Cramer will kick for goal...
27th minute - Wallaroos have an attacking lineout inside the 22 and try to drive towards the line. The maul collapses, but the Aussie forwards drive on...
26th minute - Aussies win the lineout and a penalty inside Ferns half.
25th minute - Leti-I'iga busts over halfway for the Ferns and they haven't been here very often, but they're penalised at the breakdown again.
24th minute - Teneti can't handle Demant's pass, so Aussies will have a scrum feed outside the Ferns 22.
They try to rumble off the scrum, but Ferns have a turnover and head upfield.
23rd minute - Aussies win the lineout and edge towards the tryline. Forwards keep the ball in hand in midfield, but Ferns steal the ball and break out of their 22.
22nd minute - Ponsonby's throw to the lineout is not straight, so Wallaroos have an attacking lineout inside the 22.
21st minute - Aussie prop Talakai is helped off the field, replaced by Marsters.
Batibasaga feeds the scrum, but Cocksedge catches her, before she can pass it. Aussies rumble into the 22 regardless, but Ferns win a clearing penalty.
Demant's kick doesn't clear the 22.
20th minute - Wallaroos rumble into the 22 on the back of 12 phases, but referee Cox eventually calls them back for a Ferns knock-on.
19th minute - Ferns defence holds so far, but Aussies building phases on the 22.
18th minute - Ferns win the lineout and charge up midfield, but Murray drops a pass and Aussies are back on attack.
17th minute - Wallaroos building phases outside the 22, but not making any ground. Pomare eventually kicks out on the full.
16th minute - Aussies dominate the scrum and win a tighthead.
15th minute - Aussies win a lineout outside the NZ 22, but O'Gorman drops the first pass off the ruck.
14th minute - Ferns kick off, but Australia win a penalty at the breakdown. They find touch on halfway.
Leaney wins the lineout for Australia, who get another penalty at the breakdown.
11th minute - TRY to Patu
Aussies' long throw goes over the lineout and Bremner knocks on, trying to gather for the Ferns. Wallaroos drive towards the line, and Patu picks from a ruck and dives over.
Cramer slots the conversion, AUS 7-0
10th minute - Ferns try to make progress up the left touchline, but Aussies win another turnover at breakdown - they are dominating this aspect today.
Ninth minute - Bremner wins the lineout and Ferns drive upfield.
Eighth minute - Aussies win the lineout and maul towards the tryline, but they're penalised for a truck-and-trailer.
Seventh minute - Big scrum from Australia, but Ferns control it off the back. Ferns shift right, but the pass from Holmes goes into touch.
Aussies win a penalty at the lineout.
Sixth minute - Aussies win a lineout outside the 22, but O'Gorman loses the ball in a tackle and Ferns will have a scrum feed.
Fifth minute - Semple crosses halfway for the Ferns, but Aussies win another turnover and then a penalty.
Fourth minute - Aussies win the scrum and try to run out of their 22, but then kick upfield.
Third minute - Roos wins the lineout and the Ferns maul towards the 22, but the Aussies hold the maul up and win a turnover.
Second minute - Demant kicks across field and Tui runs onto it. The ball shifts left and the Ferns cross halfway.
Chancellor is penalised at the breakdown and Demant will kick to touch.
First minute - Sara Cox to referee the game, as Piliae-Rasabale kicks off for Australia. Alana Bremner takes the ball outside the 22 and the Ferns forwards compile a couple of phases, keeping the ball in hand.
2:43pm - After the anthems, the Ferns performing an emotional haka and the Aussies walk towards the challenge - awesome stuff!
Let's hope this game is as good as the build-up.
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Pacific Four clash between NZ Black Ferns and Australia Wallaroos at Tauranga Domain.
After several months of off-field intrigue over the NZ women's programme - including a change of leadership and an injection of new blood into the roster - the Ferns will finally have a chance to being putting things right on the pitch.
While their culture has been under the spotlight lately, their most recent outings on their northern tour last year produced record losses to England and France, with a World Cup defence on home soil looming.
Time is running out for new 'coach' Wayne Smith to transform his team back into world champions. This fixture represents the first step in that journey against an Aussie team that have already had two outings, beating Fijian Drua, but losing to Japan.
The Wallaroos have never beaten the Black Ferns.
Halfback Kendra Cocksedge will become New Zealand's most-capped player, when she runs out against Australia, while seven of her teammates - including Olympic sevens gold medallist Ruby Tui - will make their debuts.
TAB Odds: NZ $1.11, draw $26, Australia $6
Black Ferns: 1-Krystal Murray, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Maia Roos, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9-Kendra Cocksedge, 10- Ruahei Demant (c), 11-Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12-Chelsea Semple, 13-Kelsey Teneti, 14-Ruby Tui, 15- Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Luka Connor, 17-Angel Mulu, 18- Tanya Kalounivale, 19-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20- Tafito Lafaele, 21-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 22-Hazel Tubic, 23-Cheyelle Robins-Reti
Wallaroos: 1-Liz Patu, 2-Adiana Talakai, 3-Bridie O’Gorman, 4-Michaela Leonard, 5-Kaitlan Leaney, 6-Emily Chancellor, 7-Shannon Parry (c), 8-Grace Hamilton, 9-Iliseva Batibasaga, 10-Trilleen Pomare, 11-Ivania Wong, 12-Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 13-Georgina Friedrichs, 14-Mahalia Murphy, 15-Lori Cramer
Reserves: 16-Ashley Marsters, 17-Madison Schuck, 18-Eva Karpani, 19-Annabelle Codey, 20-Piper Duck, 21-Layne Morgan, 22-Cecilia Smith, 23-Arabella McKenzie
Sevens mastermind Bunting helps reshape Black Ferns after damning review
by Ollie Ritchie
Allan Bunting is adamant the Black Ferns are in the best possible shape to rediscover winning form, as they enter a new chapter after a damning review into their culture.
The former Black Ferns Sevens mastermind is just a month into his new role as culture and leadership manager, but while improvements are clearly needed, he doesn’t feel a complete overhaul is necessary.
Bunting is happy staying in the background, offering his guidance when needed.
"I can explain it in one word," he told Newshub. "It's connection, connecting to yourself, and being clear around what that looks like and what you want that to look like to achieve what we want to achieve."
Bunting’s new role is integral in moving this team forward. A poor team culture was identified as a key issue in the damning Black Ferns review earlier this year.
"It's about how can we carve the story in the next part of this journey," he said. "I wasn't part that of that bit, so I’ve got no judgment on that, because I wasn’t in the arena, but for this next bit, there’s an amazing opportunity."
Bunting is no stranger to helping with that. His leadership was instrumental in the sevens success.
"Yes, it's great if you're a good rugby player, but this is a measurement of your mana," he said. "If you're really good at rugby, but you don’t do the other things well, it can take away from the rugby, so being good people is the most important thing."
His presence in the group has had an immediate influence. His better-people-make-better-athletes approach is being felt at the heart of the Black Ferns environment.
Black Ferns Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Tafito Lafaele and Ruby Tui. Photo credit: Photosport
"Allan Bunting is just an amazing human," says Renee Wickliffe. "He wants us to just be ourselves and be unique, that's something we've missed in the past.
"That's what I love about Bunts - he's himself and when he shows that, we can do that as well."
Bunting isn't out to overhaul the Black Ferns.
"I'm pretty lucky to be around some experience people, so there is much for me to do," he said.
Bunting would rather continue to strengthen what he believes can be a World Cup-winning environment, starting with their first test on home soil in nearly three years against Australia on Monday.
