Black Ferns pile on the points in Dunedin

The Black Ferns have bounced back from their French defeat last Saturday to trounce Wales 70-7 in their first Test in Dunedin since 1997.

It was the biggest victory by the Black Ferns in seven meetings against Wales passing the 63-7 trouncing at the 2014 Rugby World Cup.

In that match, Honey Hireme-Smiler scored four tries. Ruby Tui repeated that effort today with four in the first half to take her tally to 12 in 12 Tests.

The first dozen minutes were sloppy. There was no scoring, but the Black Ferns established ascendency in territory and scrums. Tui was the provider of the first try drawing in two defenders and delivering a perfect left-to-right pass to fellow wing Mererangi Paul.

Paul celebrates her 25th birthday tomorrow and has plenty to be cheerful about. She completed a hat trick in the second half and was the architect of Tui’s first try busting down the left wing only to be reined in by a hair pull. Welsh fullback Nel Metcalfe was yellow carded for that foul and was absent when Tui latched onto a Ruahei Demant cross-kick.

Centre Amy Du Plessis was a central figure in the Black Ferns attack. She looked threatening when she ran but her unselfishness had a hand in several tries. Twice she delivered passes to an unmarked Tui, and she was involved in a movement that traversed both sidelines, the length of the field, and seven handlers that Tui finished.

Tui was substituted early in the second half and her replacement Katelyn Vahaakolo was lively and crossed on the right side of the field.

The Black Ferns bench was hungry, polished, and emptied entirely by the 66th minute. Lucy Jenkins scored two tries, striding out 20 metres in one burst during a productive shift. Halfback Iritana Hohaia added considerable vibrance and prop Sophie Fisher was strong on her debut.

Wales missed 49 tackles but openside Alex Callender, who made 18 tackles without a miss against Canada, was defiant. Wing Jasmine Joyce was truly heroic. She made try-saving tackles on Demant, Tui, du Plessis, Paul, Hohaia and Sylvia Brunt. Joyce has been to the Olympics twice in Sevens.

Wales biggest defeat in any international is 0-81 against England in 2005.

The Black Ferns' final assignment in World XV1 is against England at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland next Saturday night. England have won all nine Test matches this year and on Friday demolished Canada 45-12 with Lark Atkin-Davies scoring four tries from lineout drives. The performance is a world record by a hooker.

Get your tickets to the WXV 1 finale in Auckland HERE.

Black Ferns: 70 (Ruby Tui 4, Mererangi Paul 3, Amy Du Plessis, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ruahei Demant, Lucy Jenkins 2 tries; Renee Holmes 5 con) Wales: 7 (Abbie Fleming, Robyn Wilkins) HT: 27-0