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New Zealand had to fight back from 12-0 down against Samoa.Credit: Getty Images
The Kiwis did well to stay in the contest after Samoa, inspired by an army of vocal fans, grabbed the initiative early on.
The Samoans appeared certain to open the scoring in the eighth minute, only for Jarome Luai to throw a wayward pass to an unmarked Brian To’o.
There was no such mistake three minutes later, when Luai linked with To’o and the Penrith dynamo dived over in the corner. Talagi earned a massive cheer from the 28,084-strong crowd when he converted from the sideline.
New Zealand were foiled on multiple occasions before Samoa increased their lead in the 29th minute.
Winger Jamayne Isaako dived over but was denied because the final pass was ruled forward, then Dylan Brown and Casey McLean were held up over the line.
Eventually, it was the Kiwis who cracked when Foran, to his horror, threw a cut-out pass that Simi Sasagi intercepted, racing 80 metres to score.
A Jazz Tevaga knock-on in the 30th minute was the break the Kiwis needed. Within seconds, New Zealand prop Naufahu Whyte had powered over to score, and Issako added the extras.
Brian To’o celebrates his try against the Kiwis.Credit: Getty Images
Two minutes into the second half, Samoa claimed a try for Chanel Harris-Tavita after a fumbled high kick, but again the video ref ruled against them.
The Kiwis kept their cool and hit back in the 49th minute when back-rower Isaiah Papali’i finished off a sweeping move.
Isaako converted to make it a two-point cliffhanger. A Luai high tackle three minutes later was penalised, allowing Isaako to equalise from 25m out.
The momentum swing continued in the 57th minute when Clark crashed over next to the posts.
A bloodied Jarome Laui.Credit: Getty Images
When McLean scored his eighth try in four Tests, after a one-armed pass from Brown in the 67th minute, Samoa were left pondering a 24-14 scoreline and 12 minutes of desperate, catch-up football.
They regained possession from the kick-off, but despite several set re-starts, were unable to breach New Zealand’s goal-line defence.
A second Papali’i try in the 76th minute turned what had been an enthralling contest into a blowout, then Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad added further salt to Samoan wounds.
Moses Leota powers into the Samoa ruck.Credit: Getty Images
Jillaroos in a league of their own
Jillaroos still in a league of their own
Australia’s Jillaroos remain in a league of their own after thrashing New Zealand 40-8 to retain the Pacific Championships title at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Jillaroos’ 23rd win in their past 24 Test matches.
Their most recent loss was against New Zealand in the corresponding game two years earlier, and the gap between the world’s best team and the rest would appear to be growing, judging by their dominant performance on Sunday.
Jillaroos skipper Ali Brigginshaw said the title triumph was built on rock-solid defence, but she was “in awe” of the attacking flair her teammates displayed.
“Sometimes it’s just pretty to watch,” she said. “I’m really proud of how the girls played.”
Australia coach Jess Skinner added: “We’ll take this win and celebrate it and build on it next year. We’ve got a World Cup to look forward to.”
For the Kiwi Ferns, it’s a case of back to the drawing board.
“It’s tough,” captain Raecene McGregor said. “We’ve had a really good month and that’s what we’ve been building towards.
“It hurts ... but I don’t think it takes away from what we’ve achieved over the month.”
The Kiwi Ferns entered the decider full of belief after a hard-fought 10-4 loss against the Jillaroos a week earlier, but they were unable to reproduce the same level of intensity.
The signs were ominous for New Zealand from the third minute, when Jillaroos lock Olivia Kenrick scored a soft try between the posts from 10 metres out.
Jillaroos skipper Ali Brigginshaw congratulates tryscorer Julia Robinson.Credit: Getty Images
Ten minutes later, Australian halfback Jesse Southwell produced a pinpoint cross-field kick and winger Julia Robinson caught cleanly to score.
Trailing 12-0, the Kiwi Ferns suffered a crushing setback in the 25th minute when substitute Ashleigh Quinlan was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Within seconds, Australia’s Keilee Joseph strolled through a yawning gap to score.
Seven minutes later, a runaway try from Jessica Sergis left New Zealand pondering a 24-0 deficit at the half-time interval.
The Kiwi Ferns gave themselves a brief glimmer of hope with a Shanice Parker try five minutes into the second half, but it didn’t last long.
New Zealand’s Apii Nicholls is tackled by Australia’s Isabelle Kelly.Credit: Getty Images
Nine minutes later, dynamic fullback Tamika Upton sliced through the defensive line in trademark fashion to post her seventh try in six Test appearances.
Kiwi Ferns winger Tysha Ikenasio earned a cheer from Kiwi supporters in the 51st minute when she produced a classy finish to score in the corner.
New Zealand lost another player to the sin bin in the 60th minute when forward Ivana Lauitiiti was marched for a hip-drop tackle on Jillaroos hooker Olivia Higgins.
Aussie prop Ellie Johnston crashed over to score soon after the opposition were reduced to 12.
Australia iced the win when Robinson dived over in the corner for her second try of the game.
Southwell’s conversion attempt bounced off the crossbar, denying her a perfect record of seven goals from seven attempts.
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