Black Ferns on Bok Women: ‘There is no next week for us guaranteed’

There are no more second chances or guarantees for any quarter-finalist at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Ruahei Demant made that clear at a press conference on Thursday, as the Black Ferns prepare for an unfamiliar clash with the Springbok Women in Exeter.

New Zealand and South Africa share one of the more formidable and decorated rivalries in the history of the men’s international game, although this matchup is far more rare in women’s rugby, with the Black Ferns winning the only previous clash in 2010.

Kelly Brazier scored 15 points as the Black Ferns defeated the Springbok Women 55-3 at the 2010 Rugby World Cup. Brazer is still with the Black Ferns as part of their squad for the 2025 tournament, but the playmaker has not been selected in the 23.

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The Black Ferns claimed the top seed out of their pool with a dominant 40-0 win over Ireland last weekend in Brighton. As for South Africa, they were beaten by France in their third pool match, but a crucial win over Italy the week before secured their place in the quarter-finals.

This will be South Africa’s first Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final. The stage is now set for a showdown between two traditional rivalling rugby nations, with the Black Ferns expecting a highly physical contest at Sandy Park.

“There is no next week for us guaranteed, that’s the mentality that we are approaching this game with,” Demant told reporters in Exeter.

“South Africa are an exciting opposition for us because we haven’t had the chance to play them. In addition to that, they bring a physicality that we haven’t felt yet, so that will be the big challenge for us.

“We don’t get a lot of games each year, and when we do, we’re often playing the same teams with Pac[ific] Four, their WXV. So playing teams that a lot of us haven’t had the opportunity to come across and learning about their DNA, their strengths and the opportunity.

“That’s the exciting thing about a World Cup and other tournaments that bring all the best teams together.”

Maia Joseph comes into the starting side at halfback, partnering Demant in the halves. Director of Performance Allan Bunting has turned to the highly-experienced midfield pairing of Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka, who starred as the Black Ferns won the last World Cup.

There’s plenty of experience in the forward pack too, with four of the eight starters having played at least 32 Tests, and co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu has also reached that mark but has been selected on the bench.

Georgia Ponsonby, Alana Bremner and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u are the other forwards who have worn the black jersey at least 32 Tests. Then there’s the mix of youth, with Jorja Miller and Braxton Sorensen-McGee starring in the First XV in less than seven appearances to date.

“We’re really going to have to front up against South Africa, they’re very physical and we’ve seen the split on the bench so we know it’s going to be a tough fight for the full 80,” Miller said.

“If they’re physical they may not be as agile or as fast, so I’ll be focusing on using my abilities and my strengths to get around that.

“Physicality is one of our strengths as well. We’ve got one of the strongest, toughest packs in the World Cup, so we’ve analysed how physical they are but at our training it’s about us, and getting the reps in through the week so we front up on Saturday.

“We’re building from last weekend and just making sure we stand on our own DNA, because if we can execute that well we should be able to execute a really good performance.”