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Black Ferns find ‘blessing in disguise’ in tough Bok Women quarter-final
By Finn Morton reporting from Bristol
New Zealand have taken plenty of positives out of last weekend’s hard-fought first-half against South Africa in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, with assistant coach Steve Jackson explaining how “it was a blessing in disguise.”
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For the first time ever, the Springbok Women qualified for a quarter-final after defeating Brazil and Italy in pool play. After a final-round loss to France, it wouldn’t get any easier for them though, with the Black Ferns claiming the top seed out of Pool C.
The Black Ferns recorded big wins over Spain and Japan before facing Ireland in the third week of the group stage. Ireland had beaten the New Zealanders in their last meeting, but the defending World Cup winners put on a clinic as they ran away with a 40-0 triumph.
New Zealand were widely considered strong favourites ahead of their clash with South Africa, but the Springbok Women had 80 per cent of possession during the first half, as they held the Black Ferns to a 10-all score going into the break.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Renee Holmes and Kaipo Olsen-Baker all crossed for second-half doubles as the Black Ferns ran away with a 46-17 win, but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story – that opening 40 and the response after the half was what the Black Ferns needed.
“That’s what we said after the game, we said that’s probably what we needed going into the semi-final. Take your hat off to South Africa,” Jackson told reporters in Bristol.
“They just held onto the ball for long periods of time and they have big forwards and they’re really physical. It’s just a good hit out that we needed.
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“We defended pretty well but it was good also for our leaders. Come into the sheds at half-time at 10-all, they were calm, they were very direct in terms of their messaging at half-time around what was expected when we went out there in the second half and the players delivered.
“We said during the week, South Africa are going to be emotional, they’re going to be up for it, first time in a World Cup quarter-final.
“We believe it was a blessing in disguise for us because we need to make sure that we start really well.”
New Zealand claimed the Pacific Four Series title in May, before defeating Jo Yapp’s Wallaroos in Wellington and then flying to England for the World Cup. In Pac Four, the Black Ferns claimed a thrilling 27-all draw with Canada, who are their opponents for this weekend’s semi-final.
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Canada are yet to lose a Test in 2025, and will take a wealth of confidence out of their draw with the Black Ferns, which followed a first-ever win away to New Zealand last year. The Black Ferns have since beaten the USA and Australia, before an unbeaten run at the World Cup to date.
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Stacey Waaka has warned Canada that they haven’t “played the best of the Black Ferns.” After big wins over Ireland and South Africa, there’s genuine belief within the Black Ferns group, but they aren’t done chasing improvement either.
“We’ve been searching for that. We’re pretty close in the Irish game but we’re still looking for that,” Jackson said.
“If we can get a really good 70-minute performance in this game then we’ll be extremely happy and then the rest will take care of itself.
“We’ve been building this whole tournament, changing a few things here and there but we’re pretty happy with where we’re at at the moment. Last weekend’s game was just what we needed.”
