It was a far cry from the 84-point walloping they handed Papua New Guinea a week earlier, but the Jillaroos still managed a 14-0 victory against the Kiwi Ferns in Christchurch on Sunday.
The Jillaroos were out for revenge against the team that handed them their last Test match defeat, and along with securing themselves a spot in the Pacific Championships final in two weeks time, the Jillaroos also managed to keep the Kiwi Ferns scoreless for the first time in the team’s history.
Tamika Upton scores for the Jillaroos.
It was a closer match than the scoreline reflected, especially in the first-half where New Zealand managed to shut the Jillaroos out for the first 31 minutes. But three repeat sets and 23 straight tackles finally wore on the home side, with Tiana Penitani finding a way through to break the deadlock on teh cusp of half-time.
It was a positional switch that helped the Jillaroos finally strike gold, with Penitani moving to pair Tarryn Aiken in the halves and captain Ali Brigginshaw shifting to hooker with Olivia Higgins having a rest on the bench.
The switch relieved pressure in the second half when Higgins left the field with an arm injury, when Brigginshaw had to return to hooker once more without a back-up on the bench for Jillaroos coach Brad Donald.
It was in the second half where the Jillaroos experience and patience really shined.
With the difference just four points after half-time, and the Kiwi Ferns determined to keep a grasp on the game, Queensland teammates Tamika Upton, Tarryn Aiken and Brigginshaw took control and nagged away at the home side’s defensive line before Upton was able to crack the line.
Upton’s try marked a change in momentum, and was a turning point for the Kiwi Ferns who were grasped by fatigued and struggled to control the ball, especially in the final 20 minutes of the match.
Even when veteran forward Kezie Apps left the field injured, Australia kept their cool, and was able to build on the Upton try with one for Jess Sergis, who had been injected into the game earlier in the first half.
The masterclass of Penitani and Aiken in the halves causes a conundrum for Donald, who now has to find a way to fit Penitani, Sergis, Brigginshaw and Isabelle Kelly into three positions when the Jillaroos play in the final on November 10.
Australia will play the winner of a match between the Kiwi Ferns and Papua New Guinea.
