AUSTRALIA’S women’s rugby 7s squad will look to recover following a punishing loss to New Zealand in Bendigo on Friday night.
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The Pearls were mauled 34-0 by the visiting Black Ferns, who edged 2-1 ahead in the five-game exhibition series following a much closer 17-7 win in Friday’s earlier game.
The Aussies won Thursday night’s opener 14-12.
Kiwi stars Kat Whata-Simpkins and Michaela Blyde scorched the Aussies for two tries each in game three.
The Pearls were on the back-foot from the get-go after Crystal Mayes scored a try from the opening kick-off.
The Black Ferns led 17-0 at half time after tries to Whata-Simpkins and Tenika Willison, before adding three more in the second half.
Aussies coach Tim Walsh said it was hard to take any positives from the game, but was confident his young and inexperienced team would learn from the defeat.
“That second half, there was only one girl who had been capped – and she’s got three caps – and they were against some of the world’s best players and they taught them a lesson,” he said.
“But that is why those girls are here, to teach them that next level.
“They performed well at the AON series and they’ve come here to find out what it takes to get to the next level.
“We are obviously disappointed and were definitely outclassed in that game, but it’s a learning curve and now we are looking forward to (Saturday).”
Unlike the Black Ferns, Walsh has resisted the temptation to play many of his core players, including Olympic gold medallists.
That could change in the series finale, which will be the second of two games tomorrow starting at 3.30pm and 6.30pm.
“We’ll see how we go in game four – the idea was to put one of (the gold medallists) out in each game and lead the other girls through it,” Walsh said.
“This is not a world series event, we are not playing for sheep stations, but we are playing New Zealand and playing to win. We’re finding a balance and making sure we are getting a lot out of it.”
Try scorer Page McGregor and fellow emerging star Katie Harrison were the standouts for the Aussies in Friday’s earlier game.
Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting said wins were a bonus, but was more focused on the progress of his squad’s younger talent.
“We always go out to win, that’s what you do at this level,” he said,
“But for us, these are our first games of the year really, so it’s about getting out there, how much running you do and getting the match fitness you need.
“We haven’t got a whole squad here, we only have about 15 who are available to play, so we are trying to share the load.”
“We have quite a few ladies who have just come back from 15s, so they haven’t done much.
“It’s about getting them some game time.”
Bunting, who replaced former coach Sean Horan after he stepped down following the 2016 Rio Olympics, praised the performance of his half backs on Friday.
“Definitely after our first game (won by Australia 14-12), we were a lot better,” he said.
