(Photo World Rugby)
Defending champions New Zealand beat South Africa 46-17 at Sandy Park on Saturday to book their place in the semi-finals of Rugby World Cup 2025.
Canada beat Australia 46-5 at Ashton Gate in their quarter-final match, to set up a semi-final against New Zealand.
Against the Black Ferns, South Africa started the game much the better team, piling pressure on the six-time title winners with innovative and powerful forward play in Exeter that was rewarded with tries for Babalwa Latsha and Aphiwe Ngwevu. However, those were matched by efforts from New Zealand’s Theresa Setefano and Braxton Sorensen-McGee to leave the scoreboard locked at 10-10 at half-time.
The Black Ferns then came roaring back after the break, scoring three tries within the first seven minutes of the second half to gain a commanding position from which their opponents could not recover.
In the end the Black Ferns scored 29 unanswered second-half points – with Sorensen-McGee, Renee Holmes and Kaipo Olsen-Baker notching two tries each – before Lerato Makua gave the South Africans reason to smile with their final try of the game.
New Zealand’s Katelyn Vahaakolo was the woman to cross the line last at Sandy Park as the Black Ferns kept their title defence alive with a dominant win, while South Africa’s Rugby World Cup journey came to an end in the south west of England.
Kaipo Olsen-Baker was one of three players to score two tries in Exeter, with her second try rubber-stamping the victory at the end of that seven-minute blitz at the start of the second half.
Despite her impact on the game, the Player of the Match was typically humble when speaking about her performance.
“I wouldn’t have been able to score those two tries today without the girls,” she said. “We’re such a tight-knit group and knows how everyone plays.”
Black Ferns boss Allan Bunting paid tribute to South Africa and their coaching staff following his side’s victory.
“For me, just massive respect to Swys [De Bruin] and South Africa,” he said. “They’ve done an incredible job in such a short space of time and what they’re doing for rugby and for women in South Africa is massive.
“When you give away seven penalties [in the first half] that’s what happens. They threw in some awesome innovation and put us under some pressure but that’s a good thing for us at this point in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, the defeat was not enough to dampen the mood of De Bruin, who led his side to the quarter-finals of a Women’s World Cup for the first time in history.
“I’m so proud. Look at our girls, look at the passion,” he said. “They made a difference for millions of girls in South Africa. They have role models. There are so many trials and tribulations. I’m so thankful.
“For us to score three tries against the mighty Black Ferns, it’s a big honour and I’m so proud of each and every one of them.”
It was an even start in Bristol as Canada’s Asia Hogan-Rochester and Australia’s Desiree Miller traded tries in the first ten minutes, but from then on Canada put on a show for those in attendance as Alysha Corrigan (2), Sophie de Goede and McKinley Hunt all crossed to give their side a 31-5 lead at the break.
The Wallaroos were able to stem the tide somewhat in the second half, but Fabiola Forteza and Karen Paquin both added tries and Alex Tessier slotted a penalty to put the finishing touches on a statement performance in Bristol.
Sophie de Goede was awarded the Player of the Match after scoring a try and adding eight further points with her boot.
“You could have given this Player of the Match to so many players out there and to the impact subs that came on and finished the game incredibly,” she said. “I think that’s what makes us a great team and hopefully you can continue to see that throughout the tournament.
“We were excited to be in the semis last time and I feel like we are just rolling and we’ve checked off every job we have wanted to do so far. Real credit to Australia, it was a tough game. I’m just really happy we were able to come through that one and we look forward to the semis.”
Canada head coach Kevin Rouet was pleased with the way his side navigated the game once they were in control.
“I am very happy,” he said. “Our first half was a very good rugby game for us. We pushed the game away from Australia and after that we managed the second half, so I’m very happy with the performance.”
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp was gracious in defeat, saying her side were second best on the day.
“We were beaten by a better team,” she said. “Canada came out and we knew that if we allowed them to get quick ball, we know exactly what they’re capable of, and that’s exactly what we saw in that first half, so credit to them.
“We came out the second half and threw at it what we could. We had a put more ball and tried to stop that line speed but the game was already lost.”
Canada are now through to their sixth Rugby World Cup semi-final.
“You can’t be over-confident but for sure we are confident,” Rouet said when asked about playing the Black Ferns. “We are in the same place as New Zealand. We battle against them a lot so it is going to be a tight game.”
