Wallaroos coach: Black Ferns score isn’t ‘a reflection of where we’re at’

Interim coach Sam Needs doesn’t believe last weekend’s 40-5 defeat to the Black Ferns was a true reflection of the Wallaroos, who lacked “a little bit of execution” in some tough conditions at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Australia started their 2026 season with an 18-point win over Fiji in Canberra last month, before jetting off to the USA for a two-Test tour as part of the Pacific Four Series, taking on Canada in Sacramento and the USA in Kansas City.

The Wallaroos then returned home, taking on their fierce rivals in a historic Anzac Day Test, which was the first fixture of its kind between the two sides. The match was made even more significant as Michaela Leonard became the all-time Wallaroos appearance leader.

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu scored the home side’s sole try of the first term, crashing over for five points midway through the half. It was the Wallaroos’ first point-scoring opportunity of the match, with the Black Ferns otherwise controlling the contest.

Amy du Plessis crossed for the opening try inside the first five minutes, which set the tone for the Pac Four champions. The Black Ferns outscored the Wallaroos six tries to one, improving their unbeaten record between the sides to 30-0.

“Really proud of the performance. We showed really early in that half, particularly probably in the last couple of minutes going into half-time, the score was 14-5, we only had one entry into their A-zone and we scored off that which was really positive,” Needs said.

“The result, I don’t feel, is a reflection of where we’re at. There was a couple of easy tries that we let in and then for the rest of the time, we’re really in a grind. Really proud of the girls’ effort.”

Australia started their Pac Four campaign against 2025 Rugby World Cup runners-up Canada at Heart Health Stadium. Canada had claimed two big wins over the Australians last year, which included a convincing performance in the World Cup quarter-finals.

But the Wallaroos showed some promising signs after a lengthy weather delay, falling by 24 points to the side ranked second on the world rankings. The focus then turned to the second round of fixtures, heading to Kansas City to take on the USA Women’s Eagles.

The Wallaroos and Eagles played out an all-time epic at the World Cup about eight months earlier, held to a 31-all draw in York. New captain Erica Jarrell-Searcy and backrower Tafuna Freda starred as the USA avenged that defeat, claiming a clinical win in Kansas City earlier this month.

With the Pac Four in the books, the Wallaroos have finished their first block of Tests for the season with a 1-3 record. The Wallaroos won’t play again until August, with players set to line up in their club colours in Super Rugby Women’s.

“Each game has been something slightly different. Last week was our discipline [that] kind of let us down, this week was probably just a little bit of execution when we did get those moments,” Needs reflected.

“It’s probably game time is something that’s going to come with a bit more experience. Hopefully after the Super season, where the girls have been playing a little bit more footy, it’s gonna have them better prepared to be able to come together and not compound errors and things like that.

“Probably a bit more game time and they’ll be doing really well.”