Black Ferns player ratings vs Wallaroos | Laurie O'Reilly Cup

The Black Ferns have finished their preparations for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, with a 37-12 victory over the Wallaroos at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

The victory on Saturday afternoon means the Black Ferns will hold the Laurie O’Reilly Cup for another year, after the Kiwis also beat the Wallaroos in Newcastle on May 10, 38-12.

The Black Ferns have now won 29 games straight against the Wallaroos, after their convincing victory in Wellington.

Here’s how the Black Ferns players rated.

1 Chryss Viliko – 7.5

The 24-year-old started off well in Wellington, with a couple of solid pushes at scrum time, before pouncing on a loose ball at the ruck after the Black Ferns were defending for an extended period of time.

Viliko’s ball carrying ability was a weapon for the Black Ferns in the first half, taking at least two defenders to bring her down on multiple occasions.

Viliko’s covering tackle on Desiree Miller was outstanding, showcasing her work rate across multiple different facets of the game.

Off at 55 with eleven carries and ten tackles.

2 Georgia Ponsonby – 5

Ponsonby, who was playing her 32nd Test for the Black Ferns, made a couple of costly errors at lineout time, overthrowing one straight to a Wallaroos player before they broke through the Black Ferns defence.

Ponsonby had a chance to go over and give the Black Ferns the lead late in the first half, as the Black Ferns driving maul gained about 20 meters, before Ponsonby dropped the ball just short of the line.

Just after half time, Ponsonby threw a pass to ground when she had the ball in and around the ruck, stopping any sort of momentum the Kiwis were getting.

Off at 60 minutes.

3 Tanya Kalounivale – 7.5

The Fijian-born prop was strong with her carries in Wellington getting over the gain line on multiple occasions.

Kalounivale’s scrummaging was also effective, often getting the better of her opposite number.

Kalounivale’s first half was extremely busy, popping up in all parts of the field to offer a hand, making eight carries as well as eight tackles in her 40 minute stint.

Off at halftime after a huge shift.

4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos – 6

Roos is always one of the busiest on the field for the Black Ferns and on Saturday it was no different, throwing herself into contact on multiple occasions.

Roos might be slightly disappointed with a couple of handling errors and misfired passes in the first half, but overall, it was a solid 55 minute showing by the lock.

Roos made 10 tackles and was a reliable option for the Black Ferns all over the park.

5 Chelsea Bremner – 8

The 30-year-old experienced lock made an error on her first touch, missing the ball completely off the Wallaroos restart. Bremner then was able to disrupt the Wallaroos lineout on first attempt.

Bremner repeated that lineout steal late in the first half, causing havoc all across the field in Wellington.

Bremner, who was one of the Black Ferns’ busiest on the evening, showed her experience and reliability at Test level.

6 Alana Bremner (cc) – 7

It didn’t take long for the Matatu captain to impose herself on the Wellington encounter, through a steal at a Wallaroos linout maul. Bremner went straight through the maul, got her hands on the ball and stripped it free.

Bremner continued the Black Ferns’ domination at lineout time, getting up and stealing one just after half time.

Bremner’s second half was just as busy, finishing with 12 carries against the Wallaroos.

7 Jorja Miller – 8

The Black Ferns Sevens superstar didn’t look one bit out of place in the 15-player code, having a nice free ranging role across the field, to pop up and try and impact the game in more ways than one.

Miller was busy across the field, creating good line speed to put pressure on the Wallaroos attackers. Miller had trouble at the breakdown on a couple of occasions, leaving her feet and being penalised by the referee.

Just as you thought it might not be her night with ball in hand, the Black Ferns’ No.7 brushed off multiple tacklers, to score a world-class try in the 51st minute.

8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u – 7

The Blues No.8 was bruising on defence and got through a mountain of work, making a game high 12 tackles in the first 40 minutes, along with three carries.

Mikaele-Tu’u had a very underrated performance, doing all of the small things around the field that every good No.8 does.

She finished with five carries and twelve tackles, but the stats won’t show the impact the 23-year-old had on the Test match in Wellington.

9 Risaleaana Pouri-Lane – 5

Pouri-Lane struggled to get quick ball in the first half, with the Wallaroos making it slow and untidy at the breakdown.

Pouri-Lane tried to create stuff with her sniping runs close to the ruck, but ultimately, couldn’t create quick front foot ball for her team.

She’ll have better games, and will be better off for the Test match in Wellington.

Off at 52.

10 Ruahei Demant (cc) – 7

Demant did well to pin the Wallaroos back in their own half on a couple of occasions from her in-play kicks, as well as a nice touch finder with just over 10 minutes to go in the first half. Demant’s first phase defence was strong, stopping the Wallaroos players in their tracks.

Demant started the second half positively, showcasing her class, breaking through a couple of tackles to score in the 46th minute.

The Black Ferns’ first-five was a key figure on the night, helping her side dominate the second half in Wellington.

11 Katelyn Vahaakolo – 7

Vahaakolo was electric to start for the Black Ferns, breaking through multiple tackles on a run after the Wallaroos kicked the ball deep early on.

Vahaakolo was busy in and around the ruck, often coming off her wing to get involved with play. The winger was key for the Black Ferns in creating counter attacking opportunities, but struggled to find any space with ball in hand.

The Black Ferns winger had 15 carries in Wellington, but couldn’t manage to finish any opportunities she was given.

12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i Sylvia Brunt – 8

Brunt was mostly used as a crash and bash ball carrier off first phase, which she did effectively, powering her way through Wallaroos defenders.

It was a very solid performance from Brunt, who made use of her opportunities with ball in hand, creating numerous chances for the Black Ferns.

Brunt made a game-high 17 carries with one line break.

13 Stacey Waaka – 6

Waaka’s first half was relatively quiet, quieter than usual at least, as she was mostly limited to a decoy run on the outside of Brunt.

Waaka couldn’t find any opportunities with ball in hand, but did well to link up play with her outsides.

The 29-year-old would have liked to have more of an impact for Bunting’s side, but remains a solid option for the Black Ferns going forward.

Off at 52 minutes.

14 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe – 9

It took less than a minute for Woodman-Wickliffe to get on the scoresheet, getting her hands on the ball down the right hand touch line, before going in to score the opening try of the game.

“You can’t give Portia Woodman that much room,” the commentators said on the Sky Sports broadcast after Woodman-Wifkliffe managed to tip-toe her way down the right hand touchline to score her second of the evening.

Woodman-Wickliffe was everywhere on Saturday night, busting through a number of tackles every time she got the ball, while also offloading the ball to support runners.

A hat-trick completed a perfect night for the superstar winger on her birthday, who ultimately, was the difference for the Black Ferns.

15 Renee Holmes – 6.5

Holmes needed a big game to stake her claim for the Black Ferns squad heading to England for the World Cup next month, and started off relatively quiet in the contest.

Holmes often opted to shift the ball on to her other backs, rather than take on the Wallaroos line. Holmes had a nice try assist to Woodman-Wickliffe late in the first half, but was unable to convert on the opening two Black Ferns’ tries, although both were from the sideline.

Holmes only made one of her four conversion attempts, but was a key part in multiple tries for the Black Ferns.

Reserves:

16 Vici-Rose Green – 7

Great steal at a ruck just after coming on, which resulted in a try for the Black Ferns.

17 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu – N/A

18 Amy Rule (30^th Test) – 6

Rule’s 30th Test match for the Black Ferns started probably earlier than expected, coming on at halftime for Kalounivale. The scrum continued to be solid after Rule entered the game, but didn’t impact the game much, other than at scrum time.

19 Laura Bayfield – 7

Bayfield came on and made her debut for the Black Ferns in Wellington and was straight into the action, stealing a lineout from the Wallaroos.

Bayfield got through a decent amount of work in her short stint off the bench, and has done well in pushing for World Cup selection.

20 Layla Sae – N/A

21 Iritana Hohaia – 7

Hohaia was given 28 minutes in Wellington and provided solid front foot ball in her time on the field. Hohaia showed nice skill to put in a inch-perfect kick to Tui out on the right wing, resulting in a Black Ferns try.

22 Kelly Brazier – 7

The experienced campaigner came on in the 52nd minute, to try and close out the game for the Black Ferns. Her in-play kicking helped the Black Ferns take control of the game, proving to be a steady hand for her side.

23 Ruby Tui – 7

In Tui’s last chance to impress Bunting and the selectors ahead of the World Cup squad, she was only given 15 minutes to showcase her worth.

In true Tui fashion, it didn’t take long to impact the game, chasing and pouncing on a kick from Hohaia.

Tui’s try sent a clear message to Bunting and the selectors, that if needed, Tui can still perform at Test level.

FT: 37-12 to the Black Ferns.

The Black Ferns’ World Cup squad will be named on July 25.