Bunting backs Tukuafu and Sae after Jorja Miller ruled out of semi-final

Black Ferns Director of Performance Allan Bunting has complete confidence in Kennedy Tukuafu and Layla Sae’s ability to step up in place of injured flanker Jorja Miller, who will miss the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada.

Miller received the highly prestigious Kelvin R Treman Memorial Player of the Year Award at the 2024 ASB Rugby Awards, which is the most prestigious honour in New Zealand Rugby, after helping New Zealand win gold in sevens at the Paris Olympics.

After another phenomenal season with the Black Ferns Sevens, Miller was crowned the HSBC SVNS Series Women’s Player of the Year before switching to 15s ahead of the World Cup, debuting for the Black Ferns in their 79-14 win over the USA at North Harbour Stadium.

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Three months later, Miller scored two tries against Spain during her World Cup debut. Miller has since started Tests against Japan at Exeter’s Sandy Park, Ireland at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, and the quarter-final showdown with South Africa last weekend.

But Miller will miss the semi-final, with Black Ferns co-captain Tukuafu set to start at openside flanker while Sae provides impact off the pine. With Bunting describing this clash with Canada as “a final” at Bristol’s Ashton Gate, the coach has full belief in the strong side named.

“We don’t have Jorja but we’ve got this lady sitting right next to me referencing (Tukuafu) and then obviously Layla Sae comes on the bench, who was massively impressive in her first couple of games,” Bunting told reporters in Bristol.

“Not Jorja Miller but they bring their own presents and own special gifts so we’ve got a strong team this weekend. Our ladies, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a while and we’re excited about getting out there.

“It’s going to be challenge but we’re really looking forward to this game.”

New Zealand last played Canada during the Pacific Four Series, with the hosts earning a thrilling 27-all draw at Christchurch’s Apollo Projects Stadium. With the clock in the red, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt crashed over for the match-levelling score.

Canada were moments away from a second win over the Black Ferns on New Zealand soil, after claiming a historic triumph in 2024. While the Black Ferns did enough to win the Pacific Four Series title earlier this year, both sides are raring to go ahead of this semi-final.

The Maple Leafs are unbeaten in 2025, having also beaten the USA and Australia’s Wallaroos during that competition. At the World Cup, the Canadians soared through pool play by defeating Fiji, Wales and Scotland, before beating Australia in the quarter-finals.

But as two-time Rugby World Cup winner Stacey Waaka– who is also a dual Olympic gold medallist – warned, “I don’t feel like Canada have played the best of the Black Ferns.” Bunting also spoke about the progression of this side, without giving away any secrets.

“We’ve probably, since I’ve been here, played them three times. We beat them the first time, they beat us and then we drew,” Bunting said.

“It’s going to be a tight battle. They’re a quality team and this team, our team, is different today and our game’s at a different place.”