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Black Ferns: ‘We’ve been waiting for things to start to come together’
By Finn Morton at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton & Hove
Risi Pouri-Lane has reflected on New Zealand’s “very rewarding” 40-nil win over Ireland, with the Black Ferns running in six tries during their last pool stage hit out ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals next weekend.
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Director of Performance Allan Bunting described the Black Ferns’ defence as “ferocious” after the statement result at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, as the women in black recorded what was only their second-ever win over the Irish.
Ireland had fired the first genuine point-scoring shot of the Test about five minutes in, following an error at the set-piece from New Zealand’s Alana Bremner. Eve Higgins was stopped by Sylvia Brunt about five metres short of the try line, and the Black Ferns took control soon after.
Stacey Waaka and Chryss Viliko scored the first two tries of the Test, before Braxton Sorensen-McGee stole the show with a hat-trick – the teenager’s second three-try haul in as many matches, after receiving Player of the Match honours against Japan.
Maia Joseph scored New Zealand’s sixth and final try in the 80th minute, with the spectacular try capping off a momentum-building performance from the Black Ferns. As halfback Pouri-Lane mentioned post-game, it was a real team effort from the Ferns.
“It feels amazing, we’ve been waiting for things to start to come together for us and we saw a little of that today,” Pouri-Lane said.
“We started from the get-go from the haka and I could feel the energy in the stadium. I’m really proud of the girls, it takes the whole 80 minutes and it takes the whole squad for us to get over the line.
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“To see things start to come together is very rewarding for us.
“Going into the game, we don’t think about the history of the rivalry between us. We know it’s strong, we know it’s there and we know that Ireland are going to show up. We focused on us and prepared this week.”
New Zealand will take on South Africa in the quarter-finals next weekend, after the Springbok Women booked their spot in the knockouts for the first time ever with a win over Italy last weekend at York Community Stadium.
South Africa defeated Brazil earlier in pool play, and while they were beaten by France 57-10 on Sunday, they still pose an intriguing challenge for the New Zealanders. On the same weekend as the All Blacks versus Springboks, a famous rugby rivalry will be renewed in the women’s space.
“It’s really exciting. We’d be really excited to meet the South Africans; obviously our men have a really strong rivalry with them,” Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu explained.
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We’ve spoken about the courage that they would have (if we play them). We’d have to match up physically and get mentally tough.”
In the other quarter-finals, Canada will host Australia. Those two nations went head-to-head in the Pacific Four Series earlier this year, with the Canadians running away with a comfortable win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
France will take on Ireland in a familiar clash between two Six Nations rivals, and it’s the same story for England who host Scotland at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday.
