New Zealand has made a remarkable start to the SVNS World Series in Dubai, achieving a clean sweep against Australia in the trans-Tasman finals. This victory marks the end of Australia’s five-year winning streak in the desert, with the women’s team dominating with a score of 29-14, while the men’s squad was narrowly defeated 26-22 after a fierce comeback attempt.
In the women’s competition, New Zealand put on a display of force and skill, effectively ending Australia’s stronghold in the UAE. The Kiwi side applied relentless pressure right from the beginning, forcing multiple mistakes from their opponents. Stacey Wakka set the tone early with a try in the corner, followed by Kelsey Teneti, who demonstrated impressive agility to extend New Zealand’s lead. Jorja Miller, the reigning Player of the Year, showcased her talent by darting through the Australian defense just before halftime, leaving New Zealand ahead 17-0.
The Australian team’s attempts to regain their rhythm were thwarted by New Zealand’s formidable defense. The turning point for the Kiwis came early in the second half when Risi Pouri-Lane seized a loose ball and secured another try. Despite two tries from Australian substitute Heidi Dennis that injected some spark into her team, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Kiwis, as Miller sealed the match with her second score just before the final whistle.
The men’s final mirrored the women’s outcome, albeit with a more narrow margin. New Zealand reversed their earlier group stage performance with a strong showing. Maurice Longbottom opened the scoring with a dive into the end zone, but the Australian side suffered a blow when he had to leave the match due to injury. New Zealand quickly responded, with Dylan Collier and Tone Ng Shiu capitalizing on advantageous plays to take the lead.
Momentum shifted as Australia sought to make a comeback, highlighted by a scoring opportunity that was ultimately ruled out due to a high-contact penalty. In the second half, Sione Molia took advantage of an Australian error to extend New Zealand’s lead to 19-5. Despite Will Cartwright and Harry Wilson narrowing the deficit with well-executed tries, New Zealand’s young talent Jayden Keelan clinched the victory with a final try, solidifying their dominance in the UAE.
With two wins from two matches to kick off their season, New Zealand’s performances have set an encouraging tone for the rest of the SVNS World Series. The team demonstrated not only their skill and teamwork but also their ability to apply pressure when it counts, leaving fans optimistic for the journey ahead.
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