Sydney University women’s and men’s rugby clubs contributed nine players to the Wallaroos and Wallabies for Test matches against the Black Ferns and All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
In the first double header ever played at the venue, the New Zealand Black Ferns routed the Australian Wallaroos 67-3 in the women’s Test.
Sydney University five-eighth Ashley Hewson captained the Wallaroos and posted Australia’s only points with a penalty goal.
University teammates, flanker Mollie Gray and halfback Iliseva Batibasaga were in the starting side, while backrower Grace Hamilton came off the bench.
Star of the match was New Zealand fullback Selica Winiata, who crossed for four of the Black Ferns’ nine tries. The Second Test will be played at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sydney University flanker Dean Mumm, halfback Nick Phipps, five-eighth Bernard Foley and fullback Israel Folau were in the starting XV for the Third Bledisloe Cup Test, with prop Tom Robertson coming off the bench.
The All Blacks ran out 37-10 winners to establish a record 18-Test winning streak against top tier Test sides.
Sydney University hooker Tolu Latu didn’t make it into the Test squad and will have to wait for the Spring tour to the British Isles and France – if selected for the tour – to hopefully make his Test debut.
Latu was in the squad on the recent Rugby Championship trip to South Africa but didn’t get to take the field off the bench. In the same match against the Springboks, SUFC prop Tom Robertson came off the bench to become capped Wallaby No.898.
