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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Angus Fontaine

Brave Australia dealt reality check in defeat to ruthless New Zealand

Wallaroos Australia New Zealand World Cup Black Ferns Braxton SorensenMcGee the Black Ferns Charlotte Caslick Jo Yapp Ayesha LetiIiga
Black Ferns’ Braxton Sorensen-McGee is tackled by Wallaroos winger Desiree Miller
Black Ferns’ Braxton Sorensen-McGee is tackled by Wallaroos winger Desiree Miller during the Pacific Four Series opener in Newcastle. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA

With a dismal record against New Zealand – the most recent result a 62-0 blackout in Brisbane last year – breaking the Black Ferns’ 27-match hoodoo was always going to be a tough ask for the Wallaroos. And so it proved, as Australia’s women’s side were dealt a reality check ahead of the Rugby World Cup in August, crashing to a 38-12 defeat in their Pacific Four Series opener.

Even against the champions in six of the past seven World Cups, the Wallaroos went into this Test at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle with their tails up. Last week, they put Fijiana to the sword 43-7 in Suva for a fourth straight victory. It lifted their world ranking to No 6 and got them dreaming of a semi-final at the World Cup in England.

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