Big wins for Silver Ferns, All Blacks as Kiwis get one chance against Tonga

The Silver Ferns are one game away from creating more history following their superb performance against the world champions Australian Diamonds in their first three tests of the Constellation Cup.

The competition, played since 2010, has seen Australia dominate but this year's series has seen the Kiwis turn the tables on their arch-rivals.

New Zealand netballers celebrate their dominance over arch-rivals Australia in Perth on Sunday. Photo/NNZ

In the third test in Perth on Sunday, the Silver Ferns stunned world netball's top-ranked side, 61-43 in front of thousands of Australian fans.

The big win came after the Kiwis shocked the Australians in the first two tests in New Zealand - 64-50 in Wellington and 63-52 in game two in Auckland.

Heading across the ditch for game three, the Silver Ferns were expecting a tougher test on Australian soil.

New Zealand clinched the Constellation Cup for just the third time in 14 years, and it was the first time since 2006 that the Ferns won three consecutive tests against the Diamonds.

New Zealand had been on a five-game losing streak across the Tasman, but a brilliant second half saw the Ferns beat the Diamonds by 18 goals.

If New Zealand can clinch a clean sweep of the series in the final and fourth game in Melbourne on Wednesday,

A 4-nil New Zealand clean sweep of the series would be unthinkable for Australian netball.

And the Aussies have until tomorrow to redeem themselves and salvage some pride in the final and fourth match of the series in Melbourne. The game starts at 9pm NZ time.

The All Blacks perform the haka before taking on Japan's Brave Blossoms in Yokohama on Saturday. Photo/NZR

All Blacks v Japan

Just as the Silver Ferns put out a commanding performance in Perth, the New Zealand men's rugby team proved too strong for Japan in Yokohama on Saturday.

In their first outing since a dismal showing at the Rugby Championship, formerly known as the Tri-Nations (1996-2011) against winners South Africa and Argentina, but able to retain the Bledisloe Cup against Australia, the All Blacks had more to play for in Japan on the weekend.

The All Blacks, ranked third in the world, kickstarted their Autumn Tour with a dominant performance over 12th-ranked Japan 64-19.

Flanker Samipeni Finau and Number 8 Wallace Sititi were outstanding in both attack and defence, with Finau scoring a try 30 minutes into the game.

Captain and lock Patrick Tuipulotu and winger Mark Telea were also impressive.

However, the 10-try to-three drubbing against Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms did not go all the visitors’ way.

Seven of the 10 tries were scored in the first half. Flyhalf Damian McKenzie kicked seven conversions.

It was a scrappy game with a sluggish start by the Kiwis - at one point in the first half the scores were 19-12.

But the All Blacks overcame the Japanese challenge to put the game away late in the first half.

The All Blacks won’t have the luxury of a lacklustre start this weekend. They head to London to face 5th-ranked England at Twickenham on Sunday, 4am NZ time.

At the same time across in Dublin, the 10th-ranked Australian Wallabies play world number one Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Following that test match, the All Blacks XV will go up against Irish club Munster at Thomond Park at 6am.

In other international test matches this weekend, 9th-ranked Flying Fijians take on 7th-ranked Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday at 6.30am.

The All Blacks will face France and Italy next month.

The Fiji Bati beat the Cook Islands Aitu in Suva on Saturday. Photo/NRL

Pacific Championships

In round two of games on the weekend, the Bowl competition saw the Fijian men and women host their Cook Islands opponents in Suva on Saturday.

The Fiji Bati men proved too strong against the Aitu Kukis 56-6, while the Fiji Bulikula beat the Cook Islands Moana 18-16.

In the feature match of the weekend, an understrength New Zealand Kiwis side were no match for the world champion Australian Kangaroos losing 22-10 in Christchurch on Sunday.

The NZ Kiwi Ferns also lost to the Australian Jillaroos 14-nil.

Looking ahead, in the Men’s Cup competition, Australia has secured a place in the final on 10 November in Sydney.

Tonga XIII and the Kiwis will battle it out at Auckland's Go Media Stadium this Saturday for a spot to play the Kangaroos in the final. Tonga lost to Australia in round one 18-0.

Now, the loser of the Tonga-NZ match will face the Bowl winner in Sydney on 10 November in a promotion-relegation play-off for a place in next year's Cup competition.

In the men’s Bowl competition, the Papua New Guinea Kumuls can secure a shot at promotion to the 2025 Cup competition if they beat the Cook Islands Aitu Kukis in Port Moresby on Sunday.

PNG beat Fiji 22-10 in round one and are favourites going into this weekend's clash at home.

However, if the Cook Islands win, Fiji is almost certain to advance to the promotion-relegation play-off against either Tonga or NZ on 10 November.

Cook Islands can still win the Bowl competition and have a shot at promotion, but the Aitu, coached by former NRL star Karmichael Hunt, must defeat the PNG Kumuls by 77 points to overcome the Bati's for-and-against of more than 38 points.

In the women’s Bowl competition, Fetu Sāmoa and Fiji Bulikulas will play off for a 2026 World Cup berth in Auckland on Saturday at Media Go Stadium.

Fiji Bulikula defeated the Cook Islands Moana in their Bowl clash in Suva on Saturday. Photo/NRL

The winner will also travel to Sydney to meet the third-placed Cup team on 10 November for a place in next year's top tier.

The loser in Auckland will represent the Pacific in the 2025 World Series to determine the 8th and final women's RLWC in 2026 spots against Ireland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and the winner of next month's Americas qualifying tournament between Canada, Jamaica, and the United States.

The Cook Islands and Tonga women have been eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers and the Bowl competition of the Pacific Championships after losses to the Fiji Bulikulas and Fetu Sāmoa.

In the women’s Cup competition, Australia have secured a place in the final in Sydney on 10 November following their win over New Zealand last Saturday in Christchurch.

And the winner of this Sunday's match between the PNG Orchids and the Kiwi Ferns in Port Moresby will play Australia in the final.

The loser faces the winner of Saturday's World Cup qualifying final between Fiji and Sāmoa in a promotion-relegation play-off in Sydney on 10 November to retain their place in next year's Pacific Cup.

So lots of rugby league action to look forward to in the Pacific Championships with the final round of games this weekend.