Tuliau-Tua'a scores four as Black Ferns beat young France side 81-12
The Black Ferns beat France 81-12 in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon. It was their first Test since a 26-19 loss to England at Twickenham late last month.
Rookie winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a scored four tries, all in the second half. The Black Ferns scored 13 tries. Braxton Sorensen-McGee kicked eight conversions.
Halfback Maia Joseph scored twice in the first 10 minutes. Joseph, Amy du Plessis and Ayesha Leti-I'iga each finished with two tries, and Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Georgia Ponsonby and Ruahei Demant scored one each.
Ponsonby, the co-captain, told Sky Sport the result answered the main problem from the northern tour.
"Really proud of that performance," she said. "Coming off the back of our tour overseas, we talked about being able to finish all the moments we were creating... We created a lot of moments out there today but more importantly we went out there and actually finished them."
Du Plessis was one of the players who most needed a game like this. Her pass was intercepted at Twickenham. In Hamilton she scored two tries, set up others, made her tackles and kicked well. She and Hannah King turned defence into attack with their clearing kicks. Props Chryss Viliko and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu made some big hits, and the loose trio were busy on both sides of the ball, particularly at the breakdown, the Herald reported.
It wasn't clean. There were handling errors and loose passes. France had some success turning the ball over at the breakdown. They scored their two tries, through Lea Murie and Amalia Bazola Allieres, late on, after the game was already gone. Morgane Bourgeois added a conversion.
France are ranked fourth in the world and arrived on the back of a 21-5 win over Canada. But the side that ran out in Hamilton was a long way from full strength.
Halfback Alexandra Chambon captained France for the first time because regular leaders Manae Feleu and Pauline Bourdon Sansus were both unavailable, according to NZR's team-naming story. France named four uncapped players. Lock Ylona Avril started, and Toulon's Marion Latonnelle and Toulouse teenagers Lylou Pedussaud and Charlie Gauyat were on the bench. Experienced pair Gabrielle Vernier and Carla Arbez were left out.
France coach Francois Ratier said his squad averages just 24 years of age and that this was the right time to give new players a taste of Test rugby. He also said France could win in New Zealand and that not being favourites should free his players up. There was no upset on Saturday.
Earlier this year the Black Ferns beat France 28-14 in Lyon, 1News reported. That result is a better guide to the gap between these teams than Saturday's 69-point margin.
Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen spent the week before the Test saying her own selections were still open. "What we're looking at now is starting to question what our strongest lineup is," she told 1News. "I don't think every position is sewn up... We'll still look to keep continuity... but also make sure we're growing depth in those positions." On Saturday's evidence, Tuliau-Tua'a should keep the wing.
Saturday's match opened a three-Test series. Hamilton was only the Black Ferns' second home Test this year, after a 66-19 win over the Wallaroos in late August. The two sides meet again in Whangarei next weekend, and the Black Ferns finish their season against France in Christchurch the week after.