BLACK FERNS 52 AUSTRALIA 5
FULLTIME
80min - AUSTRALIA TRY DUCK
Australia with what must be their last chance to score. They shift right to replacement loose forward Piper Duck and she's in the corner for their first and most likely, only try.
76min - BLACK FERNS TRY CONNOR
Black Ferns win another lineout, and look to drive their maul. This time, they're making progress and crash over for the score! Replacement hooker Luka Connor is the one who comes up with it.
74min - Black Ferns win the lineout ball and look to march their maul towards the tryline. Australia struggling to hold on and are penalised for collapsing.
72min - Black Ferns work their way into the Australian 22m, but lose the ball in contact and we'll have a scrum after the visitors weren't able to do anything with the advantage.
68min - The test has become a real stop-start affair. Errors and penalties aplenty as fatigue sets in for both sides.
66min - Cocksedge is back on the field, and straight away takes the quick-tap following another breakdown penalty. New Zealand not done yet, they want more.
64min - Australia again on attack, but really do look out of ideas as the Black Ferns attack the breakdown. The referee rewards New Zealand's persistence.
62min - Australia just a metre out but the referee blows them up for infringing at the breakdown! New Zealand survive and clear long for the lineout.
60min - Australia looking much better on attack, but the Black Ferns are numbering up well on defence and force the loose ball. But it'll be an Aussie put into the scrum.
58min - Australia with their best chance to score all game, with a lineout just 5m out from the tryline. They look to shift left out wide but are tackled into touch.
54min - BLACK FERNS TRY LETI-L'IG
Black Ferns win the penalty at the scrum and tap quickly! They're just a few metres out from the tryline. They have huge numbers out to the left and it's a case of who wants it, and it's Leti-l'ig who receives the pass and she strolls in untouched for her second try.
52min - Black Ferns playing with another advantage and try the cross-field kick but it doesn't come off, so we'll come back. New Zealand playing with real intent.
50min - BLACK FERNS TRY DEMANT
The Black Ferns forwards linking up really well up the middle, before Demant gets the pass and she's in to score her second try. Black Ferns running rampant.
48min - Cocksedge makes way for debutant Tyla Nathan-Wong. What a shift from the veteran. But excited to see how the sevens star does! Perfect game for her to make an impact. Meanwhile, the Black Ferns dominate the Australian scrum and win the penalty.
46min - BLACK FERNS TRY LETI-L'IG
Black Ferns winger Leti-I'ig gets the ball at a standing start around halfway, but shows the ball and she's away! She's got one to beat, puts the foot down and she's in the corner for the try. What a run.
44min - Australia win another penalty at the ruck, this time, an NZ player was pinged for being offside at the breakdown. Some big shots early in this second half too.
42min - We're back underway! New Zealand looking to exit the kick-off much like they did in the first half but are penalised at the breakdown for not releasing.
HALFTIME
40min - Black Ferns look to put the shove on at scrum time and do so, but Australia do enough to clear the ball and that's halftime! What a half from New Zealand.
38min - Black Ferns guilty of being isolated too much at the breakdown, as they are pinged for not releasing again at the ruck. Australia welcoming the breaks in play.
36min - Tui does so well to ground a low pass with her boot before picking it up. She's taken in a good tackle, before being penalised for not releasing as they she tried to get up and go again.
34min - Black Ferns are all over Australia here, as every time they get the ball they look like they could score. New Zealand look to left, but the pass is called back for being forward.
32min - BLACK FERNS COCKSEDGE
Cocksedge releases Leti-I'ig with a clever no-look pass. New Zealand right on attack straight away! Cocksedge looks up, decides to sell the dummy and Australia fall for it, and the veteran halfback is in for another Black Ferns try!
30min - BLACK FERNS TRY DU PLESSIS
Black Ferns looking to bash their way over the tryline, and are just a metre out. New Zealand shift it wide however, as the over-committed Australian defence struggle to number up! Du Plessis gets it, steps to her right before stretching and scoring the try!
28min - Fitzpatrick and Tui combine well down the right wing after a nice run from Holmes from the back. Australia are penalised at the breakdown as they looked to counter ruck.
26min - Pip Love is penalised for obstruction as New Zealand looked to clear Australia's restart. The visitors turn down the opportunity for three and opt for the lineout instead.
24min - BLACK FERNS TRY NGAN-WOO
Black Ferns win yet another lineout ball. This time, Kalounivale shrugs off a couple of tacklers, before Joanah Ngan-Woo beats one to roll over and score New Zealand's second try.
22min - Black Ferns piling all sorts of pressure on, as Australia look to clear the ball but the rush defence is too good and New Zealand win the penalty at the breakdown.
20min - New Zealand win another lineout ball, as they look to crash their way over with their big forwards. They pick and go again, but this time are penalised! Australia survive.
18min - Black Ferns win the lineout ball and behin to maul. Australia struggling to cope and are penalised. New Zealand opt for another lineout just a couple metres out.
16min - Black Ferns looking for more as Tui puts another clever kick through ahead and it comes back New Zealand's way. Black Ferns are just 5 metres out and they win the penalty.
14min - BLACK FERNS TRY DEMANT
Black Ferns win the lineout on Australia's 22m following the ruck penalty. New Zealand attack the defence like at pace, before Cocksedge pops the ball to Demant, who's though a huge hole and runs in for the opening try.
12min - Australia win the scrum penalty and go quickly! They shift right, before trying to cut back infield with a couple of strong carries. They try to go right again, but are tackled into touch.
10min - Holmes links up well with du Plessis, before she tries to find Bremner open on the left wing but the referee rules it was forward. Black Ferns really attacking Australia's lack of a kick-chase.
8min - Black Ferns try the cross-field kick but just eludes winger Ayesha Leti-I'ig for the Australian lineout inside their own 22m.
6min - Australia win their lineout ball and try to maul but New Zealand's defence hold firm before a crunching tackle forces the ball free. Ruby Tui tries the kick over the top but it can only bounce into touch. Black Ferns looking to counter early.
4min - Mahalia Murphy makes a nice run on the outside wing for Australia, before the Black Ferns are penalised. Ponsonby the guilty party for being offside.
2min - We're underway! Australia benefit off a loose Black Ferns pass as they looked to force the ball out wide. We'll have the first scrum of the test!
7:05pm - Veteran halfback Kendra Cocksedge leads the haka. Australia standing firm, with a hand on each teammates' shoulder before marching forward.
7:02pm - Time for the anthems, before New Zealand's haka. Australia have never beaten the Black Ferns, and will be looking to bounceback from their defeat earlier this year.
7:00pm - Welcome and thank you for joining us for what should be a great game! Both teams have made their way onto the field, so we shouldn't be far from kick-off.
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup between the Black Ferns and Australia at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.
This will be the 21st test between the two great rugby nations, with their last clash resulting in a 23-10 victory for New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series.
The occasion will mark the return of No.8 Charmaine McMenamin, who hasn't played a test match since 2019, after dealing with a number of serious injuries and surgeries.
Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith has decided to make the most of the sevens players at his disposal, with midfielder Theresa Fiztpatrick named to start, and Tyla Nathan-Wong on the bench.
Smith will want to get the Black Ferns campaign off to a winning start, as he looks to honour his former mentor and mate Laurie O'Reilly, who the Cup is named after.
TAB odds: New Zealand $1.12, Australia $5.75
Black Ferns: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Kennedy Simon, 8-Charmaine McMenamin, 9-Kendra Cocksedge, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'ig, 12-Theresa Fitzpatrick, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Ruby Tui, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Luka Connor, 17-Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18-Amy Rule, 19-Tafito Lafaele, 20-Kendra Reynolds, 21-Tyla Nathan-Wong, 22-Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'I (Sylvia) Brunt, 23-Hazel Tubic
Australia: 1-Bree-Anna Cheatham, 2-Ashley Marsters, 3-Bridie O'Gorman, 4-Michaela Leonard, 5-Kaitlan Leaney, 6-Emily Chancellor, 7-Shannon Parry, 8-Grace Kemp, 9-Iliseva Batibasaga, 10-Arabella McKenzie, 11-Ivania Wong, 12-Cecilia Smith, 13-Georgina Friedrichs, 14-Mahalia Murphy, 15-Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Reserves: 16-Adiana Talakai, 17-Emily Robinson, 18-Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, 19-Atasi Lafai, 20-Piper Duck, 21-Layne Morgan, 22-Trilleen Pomare, 23-Lori Cramer
Black Ferns switch sees Nathan-Wong move on from Commonwealth Games pain
by Alex Powell
After the upset of missing out on Commonwealth Games sevens gold, serial winner Tyla Nathan-Wong is grateful for the chance to shift her focus towards the 15-a-side game for a potential Black Ferns debut.
Nathan-Wong, 28, was part of the all-conquering Black Ferns Sevens side of recent years, winning Olympic gold, Commonwealth gold, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, and multiple World Sevens Series titles.
But in a shock result in Birmingham, New Zealand were handed a semi-final defeat by eventual champions Australia, before bouncing back to win bronze against Fiji in the playoff for third.
As the Black Ferns build towards the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year, Nathan-Wong has been included in director of rugby Wayne Smith's plans, and can debut from the bench in Saturday's O'Reilly Cup opener against Australia in Christchurch.
For Nathan-Wong herself though, being welcomed into the Black Ferns' environment has made the upset of Birmingham more stomachable, allowing her to quickly put that disappointment behind her.
"I think that everyone saw we were quite shattered with how that went," Nathan-Wong said. "We didn't play our best.
"It was awesome to be able to come into this camp with these girls, and have something to look forward to.
"For me, it's just about taking the moments I can. Train today, captain's run, the test. [The] World Cup is there, but that's not my main focus at the moment.
"I know these girls are super excited, they've been working towards that for ages.
"If I do get the opportunity to be in that squad for [the] World Cup, it'll be an absolute blessing."
Nathan-Wong is one of two debutants, along with forward Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, for Saturday's first test.
And experiencing her first test week as a Black Fern's delight at being named was obvious, and thanked her new teammates for the welcome she's been given.
"It's so exciting," Nathan-Wong added. "All the girls have been so, so supportive in helping me along this way.
"I just can't wait to get out there in training today, smash it out, captain's run tomorrow.
"I don't think it will really sink in until I get to pull that jersey, step out there on the field, sing the anthem and do the haka with these girls - I've been practising."
