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New Zealand beat France in Bronze Final try fest
By Lucy Lomax at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup final, the Twickenham crowd of 50,000 was treated to a brilliant spectacle for the bronze medal match between France and New Zealand, which saw fourth in the world against third in the world, with New Zealand coming out on top by 42-26.
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The Black Ferns who had never technically played in the bronze medal fixture at a World Cup, weathered a French storm in the opening 30 minutes, but found their stride soon after to dominate the rest of the match scoring six tries, in an exhilarating game which saw ten tries altogether.
The first ten minutes were a back and forth between the sides with errors both ways. France carved out the majority of the possession and out of nowhere in the tenth minute, came a brilliant score, showing the crowd what they’ve been craving from France all tournament long- free flowing, offloading, chance your arm rugby which saw Pauline Bourdon Sansus racing over after offloads from wings Joanna Grisez and Marine Menager, finding the hands of the mercurial scrum half.
New Zealand began to build pressure down the other end of the pitch, and minutes later Ruahei Demant crashed over under the posts on a fantastic line and inside ball from Sylvia Brunt, bringing the score to 7-7 after conversions were added to both tries.
France were asking questions of the New Zealand defence, putting together promising phases of play and Madoussou Fall Raclot using her six foot one frame to devastating effect with carries over the gain line for France.
New Zealand looked destined to score on 25 minutes with a penalty and scrum taken on France’s five metre line but the French scrum answered back shoving the Black Ferns’ pack backwards. Under pressure the ball was knocked on by Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Despite France’s dominance, the Black Ferns were the next to score with Brunt stretching over to dot down on 32 minutes. With the conversion by Renee Holmes seeing the defending champions surge ahead 14-7.
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And they didn’t stop there, scoring arguably the try of the match started through World Player of the Year and Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Jorja Miller who exhibited expert handling and feet to find Brunt who made a sweet offload to full back Holmes who converted her own score four minutes before half-time.
France had swirtched off and Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Braxton Sorensen McGee took advantage starting a move down the right wing, passing outside to Miller, who found Laura Bayfield back inside to give the lock an easy run in and an uphill battle for France with a 26-7 deficit to overcome.
The second half started just as spectacularly as the first ended with Sorensen McGee showing her raw talent with space on the wing outrunning and outclassing her opponents with a well sold dummy to dot down on 45 minutes.
And ten minutes later Holmes kept the score board ticking over for New Zealand with three points off the boot bringing the score to 34-7.
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As the game entered the final quarter Sorensen McGhee was found unmarked in the right corner by a pass from Stacey Waaka to score her 11th Rugby World Cup try.
However, the rest of the match was all France. In the 62nd minute Les Bleues were finally able to reduce the deficit with a brilliant individual score by flanker Lea Champon, converted by Lina Tuy, making the score 39-14.
And they kept clicking with a neat carry over the line by Gabby Vernier under the posts and conversion once again by Tuy to decrease the difference to 18.
Then a race down the left wing saw Emilie Boulard touch down, making the score 39-26 with seven minutes left to play.
A final kick from the tee from player of the match Holmes saw the score board tick over to finish 42-26 in favour of the Black Ferns.
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