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Defending champions New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 after a commanding 46-17 victory over South Africa at Sandy Park.
How the match unfolded
- South Africa got off to a strong start. They dominated possession in the first half—about 81% of it.
- Their forward play was effective, and they used close-quarters tactics, including set pieces and mauls, to put pressure on New Zealand.
- New Zealand managed to respond, and by halftime the score was tied 10-10. Tries from New Zealand (Theresa Setefano and Braxton Sorensen-McGee) balanced South Africa’s scores.
The second half turn
- As soon as the second half began, New Zealand came out firing. In the first seven minutes after the break, they scored three tries and began to take control.
- Key attacking players stepped up:
- Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored two tries.
- Renee Holmes also grabbed two tries.
- Kaipo Olsen-Baker matched them with two tries as well.
- Additional tries for New Zea came from Katelyn Vahaakolo and Setefano.
South Africa’s efforts
- South Africa did score three tries in total: through Babalwa Latsha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, and Lerato Makua.
- Their performance in the first half drew praise, especially their physicality and disciplined forward play. But over the course of the second half, New speed, handling and fitness began to overwhelm them.
What it means
- With this win New Zealand stay in the title race, moving on to face the winner of the Canada vs Australia quarter-final in the semi-finals.
- For South Africa, despite the loss, reaching their first ever Women’s World Cup quarter-final is historic. It shows the growth of the program and gives foundations to build on.
- The match also reinforced how important momentum and adaptability are in knockout rugby. New Zealand’s ability to shift gears after a tight first half made all the difference.
