Black Ferns player ratings vs Springbok Women | Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

The Black Ferns overcame the Springbok Women’s pure power to register a 52-20 victory at Soweto’s FNB Stadium.

In the first half, South Africa brought back a little bit of their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 magic to trail by just two points at the 20-minute mark.

Early tries for New Zealand’s Elinor-Plum King and Braxton Sorensen-McGee handed the visitors a 12-point lead. Lindelwa Gwala and Aphiwe Ngwevu hit back with a pair of tries for South Africa, who were laying down a stern challenge in close quarters.

By half-time, the Black Ferns led 24-10 thanks to a Chryss Viliko try and another for Sorensen-McGee.

Vainah Ubisi bagged a try for the hosts in between yellow cards for Georgia Ponsonby and Ayesha Leti-I’iga to start the second half. But soon enough, it was one-way traffic. The Black Ferns scored four more tries before full-time.

It took until the clock had gone red for Ubisi to grab her second of the contest and a consolation score for the Springboks.

Here is how the Black Ferns rated at FNB Stadium…

15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee – 8.5
In the first half at FNB Stadium, Braxton Sorensen-McGee had three carries and two line breaks. The World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year also scored two tries. Her first was a true work of art. After a poor Libbie Janse van Rensburg exit kick, the ball was worked through the hands to Sorensen-McGee on halfway. The 19-year-old danced through Springbok defenders, threw a dummy and crossed the whitewash unopposed. Her second try, on the stroke of half-time, put 14 points between the two teams. It was a quieter second half from the teenager, although she looked no less accomplished.

14. Mererangi Paul – 6
It was a fairly quiet afternoon for Mererangi Paul. The wing failed to make a huge impact at FNB Stadium and received a yellow card in the first half for a deliberate knock-on. Two knock-ons at key moments meant that Paul did not get on the score sheet herself.

13. Amy Du Plessis – 5.5
It was a fairly quiet afternoon at the office for Amy du Plessis. Playing against the country of her birth, the midfielder was rarely seen in attack or defence. It was quite the contrast to her last outing against the Wallaroos, when the 27-year-old was highly influential in New Zealand’s retention of the Laurie O’Reilly Cup.

12. Sylvia Brunt – 7.5
It was a fairly comprehensive performance from Sylvia Brunt. Every decision that the 22-year-old made seemed to come off. Whether it was lining up Libbie Janse van Rensburg for a massive hit or her distribution, it is hard to imagine the Black Ferns attack being as effective without Brunt. Her only bad moment was getting run over by Aphiwe Ngwevu for the Springbok midfielder’s score.

11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga – 6
There were plenty of bright moments from Ayesha Leti-I’iga at FNB Stadium. The wing made a number of runs that stretched the South Africa defence, but struggled to find that Midas touch. A break ahead of half-time, along with the quick thinking of Maia Joseph, led to Chryss Viliko’s score. Leti-I’iga’s yellow card in the second half did not prove to be detrimental to her team but did reduce the visitors to 13 players.

10. Hannah King – 7
Installed as the starting first-five after a number of positive performances off the bench this year, Hannah King got a full 80 minutes on Saturday and managed the game superbly. King did everything she was asked to do. It was a hugely impressive showing and adds a little extra depth to Whitney Hansen’s playmaker stocks.

9. Maia Joseph – 8
Playing alongside the less-experienced Hannah King, Maia Joseph was a soothing presence at half-back and brought plenty of know-how to her team. The 24-year-old kept tempo extremely high, something that led to Chryss Viliko’s score and even her own try in the 50th minute. Joseph’s influence was perhaps best illustrated by her pass to send Elinor-Plum King across the whitewash for her second try.

1. Chryss Viliko – 6
It was a tough day at the office for the Black Ferns props. South Africa have made little secret that they aim to play a highly forward-oriented game in the future. By the 50-minute mark, the Black Ferns had only won 25 per cent of their five scrums. The Springboks had won each of their six scrums. In that same time Chryss Viliko had conceded three penalties. Her brightest moment was the close-range drive for her 36th-minute try.

2. Georgia Ponsonby – 6.5
Handed co-captaincy duties, Georgia Ponsonby certainly led by example in Soweto. By full-time the hooker had racked up a whopping 15 tackles. The attritional nature of the contest did eventually come back to haunt her. Almost immediately after Zoe Naude, Saturday’s referee, had spoken to the co-captain about consistent infringements, Ponsonby went in at the side of the maul and received a yellow card.

3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu – 6
Much like her fellow Black Ferns prop, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu was put under immense pressure at the scrum. Where the 21-year-old did shine was in defence, where she completed 10 tackles during her time on the turf. With that said, it was not quite her 21 tackles in 28 minutes completed against the same opposition at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos – 6.5
This was about as quintessential a performance you could expect from Maiakawanakaulani Roos. The lock is one of the best lineout operators in the world and scarcely gives up a space in defence. During her time on the pitch Roos claimed three lineouts and even made 13 tackles.

5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu – 6
As per usual Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu was in the middle of things. The second row made 11 tackles for her team as New Zealand consistently kept the Boks at bay. The biggest drawback in the forward’s afternoon was the four penalties that she conceded – the last of which came ahead of full-time and opened the door to Vainah Ubisi to score her second try with the clock in the red. The 23-year-old did end the fixture on a high with a try.

6. Mia Anderson – 6
It was a really solid day for Mia Anderson, even if there was no sparkle. By full-time the flanker had completed 14 tackles and 11 carries at FNB Stadium. She also showed a little bit of versatility in the second half when installed at No. 8 when Lina Mikaele-Tu’u was substituted.

7. Elinor-Plum King – 8.5
You really do feel like the Black Ferns have unearthed a gem in Elinor-Plum King. A top performer in Super Rugby Aupiki this year, King dotted down in the second minute as the Springboks failed to settle in front of their home supporters. As the game wore on she remained busy and even provided a key turnover that led to Sorensen-McGee’s second. King even showed how effective her carrying can be for her second try.

8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u – 7
A well-rounded afternoon at the office for Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. By the time the No. 8 came off the pitch she had completed 14 tackles and carried the ball seven times. One area in which the 24-year-old did struggle was her penalty count. Along with Viliko and Mo’onia Vaipuli, Mikaele-Tu’u handed the ball back to South Africa three times.

Replacements – 6.5
More than anything else, the Black Ferns replacements helped consolidate the result. As Springbok bodies tired, the Black Ferns were able to up their intensity and keep moving forward. The major highlight was Amarante Sititi’s try in the 71st minute. The back row should have had an assist too if Paul had not knocked on. Justine McGregor had a positive impact too, providing the assist for Mo’onia Vaipulu’s try.