With Australia and New Zealand already locked-in to face-off in next weekend’s Pacific Championship final, last night’s international between the fierce rivals risked being little more than the lighting of a fizzing fuse for the “Big Bang” to follow. But when New Zealand’s Black Ferns upset the Jillaroos, snapping their 15-game winning streak in the curtain-raiser, all signs pointed to another trans-Tasman classic.
Ultimately, Australia ran out 36-18 winners before a crowd of 20,584 at Melbourne’s AAMI Park and will enter the final hot favourites over their arch-rivals. Despite their scary 50-0 shutout of Samoa last week, New Zealand were totally outgunned as they sought to avenge last year’s 16-14 loss to the Kangaroos in the World Cup semi-final.
