Ruby Tui runs out in her return test in Wellington. Photo: Photosport
With fears her test career may have been over after missing the first squad of the season, Black Fern Ruby Tui took a moment to reflect at fulltime of her return test.
After dispatching the Wallaroos 37-12 in front of a packed and parochial Wellington crowd, Tui thought back to the first time she played at the stadium in black.
"It was like three people and a dog watching us."
Tonight's test kicked off an international doubleheader with the Ferns followed by the All Blacks and France, and the fans answered the call.
"For New Zealand, not to just say they back us, but to turn up and show they back us... I couldn't even hear the calls out there, they were so loud.
"I think tonight was a statement of how far we've come in our rugby as a whole nation in our last game on our whenua, that's pretty special."
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u of New Zealand during the O’Reilly Cup - New Zealand Black Ferns v Australia at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 12 July 2025. Copyright photo: Masanori Udagawa / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
Though up by just three at halftime, the Ferns found their flair, as the crowd steadily built and bore witness to a second-half clinic at the 'Caketin'.
This included a spectacular solo try from sevens convert Jorja Miller in just her second test match.
Tui said the likes of Miller represent the future.
"She's always said she wanted to make a difference in this game and we're coming into that generation of women who have grown up playing rugby all through the high school," she said. "They didn't play with boys - there's full on girls competitions now.
"She's one of the first that have come through that lifecycle. We missed that.
"I think, for those girls that have played their whole school lives, this is just the beginning. Imagine the next gen of Black Ferns.
"Oh man, goosebumps!"
Coach Alan Bunting was pleased to see the side click into gear after the break.
"We got to see some of the Black Ferns DNA, which is cool to watch."
However, goalkicking was an ongoing concern, with the Ferns converting just one from seven off the tee.
"We are working really hard on that," Bunting said. "We have got girls doing quite a few kicks at training and I have faith."
Players now face a nervous two-week wait, before the World Cup squad is announced and the defence begins.
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