Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
The World Cup dreams of Australia’s women’s rugby side have been dealt a brutal blow by New Zealand after an 11-try demolition dealt them a 67-19 defeat in the final Pacific Four Series match at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. The loss leaves the Wallaroos 0-3 under new coach Jo Yapp and drops them out of the top WXV1 division, leaving them to qualify for the 2025 World Cup from the second tier WXV2 to be staged in South Africa over September and October.
Australia needed a bonus point victory to qualify for WXV1 and had the weight of history against them, having never defeated their Trans Tasman rivals. Yapp also had to reshuffle her lineup, with Ashley Marsters ruled out due to an ankle injury.