Five things we learnt from Wallaroos vs Black Ferns | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au – Rugby.com.au

The Wallaroos put a valiant effort together but were ultimately blown away by a dominant Black Ferns outfit.
41-17 isn't a fair reflection of their performance, producing one of the best 30 minutes an Australian side has delivered this year.
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However, they once again failed to deliver an 80-minute performance as legends such as Portia Woodman and Ruby Tui stepped up when the Kiwis needed them the most.
So what did we learn from the opening game of the Wallaroos' Rugby World Cup campaign?
1.Promise but fitness let Wallaroos down
The Wallaroos showed they can match it with the best for 30 minutes, however, past problems came back to haunt them and decided the game.
They were dominant in the first half an hour, clinical in attack whilst their rush defence cause plenty of problems.
However, the fast start took its toll and really showed towards the back end of the half as the Kiwis fought back.
Tregonning highlighted the ten minutes on either side of the half as key before the game and it let the Wallaroos down, conceding three tries and the momentum as they start to fall off tackles.
He was critical of their speed to their attacking breakdown, which allowed the hosts to control possession and territory late in the game.
They have the quality to trouble Scotland and Wales, but need to show it for longer if they wish to advance to the knock-out stages
2.Double trouble
The ultimate turning point in this game was the dual yellow cards to Ivania Wong and Shannon Parry with the teams locked at 17-all after 53 minutes.
Wong found herself in the bin after a cynical play after a Black Ferns break, despite the hosts arguably falling foul of a similar offence just before the break.
The interjection of the TMO came at the worse time possible, finding a high tackle from Shannon Parry in the build-up.
It was great work to mitigate what was a very passive tackle from Parry down from a red but the damage was done and put any dreams of a Wallaroos victory well and truly to bed.
3. Backing it up
Bienne Terita proved her Adelaide heroics were no fluke as she took it to a stacked Black Ferns backline.
Matched up with Sevens legend Portia Woodman, the 19-year-old held her own as she burst away for the opening try of the game, winning a crucial one-on-one match-up.
She then doubled up minutes later, breaking through the tackle of Woodman to dive over the line.
And to think, the only reason she finds herself in this side is because she couldn’t break the Sevens squad.
4. Sloppy start
It was a grand stage of Eden Park for the Rugby World Cup opener with a record crowd for a women’s sporting event in New Zealand. Early on, the Black Ferns looked overawed by the occasion.
They dropped the ball from the second phase of the game and Ivania Wong’s try came from a simple loose pass that gifted Australia seven points.
As all class teams do, they eventually settled and dominated the last ten minutes of the half to get back into the contest and erase the deficit within a blink of an eye.
This continued into the second half as the Black Ferns raced away with the win.
5. Difference maker
Sharni Williams takes the Wallaroos to another level.
From the first hit-up, she provided the go-forward they were missing as she threatened with each attack.
Her calm nature rubbed off on the rest of the backline, bringing the best out of Arabella McKenzie as she looked calm as ever in the first half.
Along with Williams, veteran performances from the likes of Emily Chancellor, Iliseva Batibasaga and Grace Hamilton spearheaded the Wallaroos’ opening push, needing that for the full 80 minutes to compete with Scotland and Wales
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