Player comparisons: Black Ferns eventually crack resilient Springboks

New Zealand’s Black Ferns punched their ticket to the 2025 Rugby World Cup semifinals with a ruthless second-half display that finally cracked a resilient South African side 46 – 17.

At halftime, the sides were locked at 10–10. The Springboks carried all of the momentum thanks to their now trademark lineout ingenuity. Lifting fullback Byrhandre Dolf before driving into a full 15-player maul, they shoved the Kiwis backwards to set the tone. That blend of creativity and raw power delivered the first try in the 19th minute as tighthead Babalwa Latsha muscled over.

The Black Ferns responded quickly. In the 24th minute, Theresa Stefano pounced with a charge-down try, followed four minutes later by Braxton Sorensen-McGee after slick interplay out wide. Yet South Africa refused to wilt. Returning to their lineout trickery on the stroke of halftime, Nadine Roos handled before the maul thundered 25 metres. Patient, tight carrying narrowed the defence, and inside centre Aphiwe Ngwevu struck to level the contest.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

The Springboks raced into the tunnel jubilant, while New Zealand’s players gathered calmly on the pitch, a telling image of what was to follow.

The Black Ferns returned early from the break, and within two minutes, Renee Holmes had sliced through for a sucker-punch try. That score lit the fuse on a devastating 13-minute spell in which New Zealand crossed four times, Kaipo Olsen-Baker claiming two in a seven-minute burst that broke South African resistance.

Still, the Boks never gave in. Their relentless physicality and inventive lineout kept them competitive, and replacement Lerato Makua barged over in the 75th minute to reward their effort. But New Zealand closed the show with a final flourish as Katelyn Vaha’akolo dotted down in the 79th minute.

Here is how the position groups fared in their head-to-heads.

Front Row – Advantage South Africa

Utterly dominant at scrum time, the Bok front row of Sanelisiwe Charlie, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha consistently drove their Kiwi counterparts off the mark. Setting lower and generating rapid ascents, they forced penalties and disrupted New Zealand’s platform.

This dominance cut off a key platform for the Black Ferns attack and forced the Kiwis into shifting their approach as the contest wore on.

In the loose they combined for 26 carries, Gwala leading the way with 15. Latsha’s 19th-minute try was the direct product of their superiority at set-piece time as she powered over following South Africa’s dominant carrying around the fringes.

Second Row – Advantage New Zealand

Getting through a mountain of work, the Kiwi pairing of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Alana Bremner were immense, particularly during South Africa’s strong opening half.

The pair racked up 37 tackles, stole lineout ball and were central to New Zealand’s breakdown dominance. Replacing Roos in the 55th minute, Laura Bayfield didn’t miss a beat with nine tackles, three carries and a huge work rate around the breakdown.

Though not headline carriers, the trio hit the gainline with force and repeatedly dented the Springbok defence.

Back Row – Advantage New Zealand

This was the decisive area in a contest that had the potential to be a major slip-up for the Black Ferns.

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u topped the tackle count with 26, Kaipo Olsen-Baker added 25 and two tries, while Jorja Miller contributed 10 tackles in 45 minutes before injury curtailed her involvement.

Between them, they carried for over 150 metres. Their willingness to truck ball directly into the Bok pack narrowed the defence, opening space for New Zealand’s wide passing game. Off the bench, Kennedy Tukuafu maintained the standard with 10 tackles, a line break and a defender beaten.

Halfbacks – Draw

Depending on one’s perspective, either set of halfbacks could be viewed as edging their battle.

In the first half, Nadine Roos and Libbie Janse van Rensburg were outstanding. Roos’ quick delivery and sharp snipes kept her pack advancing, while Janse van Rensburg’s willingness to attack the line fractured Kiwi spacing.

Yet Maia Joseph and captain Ruahei Demant responded with tactical intelligence, kicking long rather than to touch and forcing the Boks’ forwards and back three into repeated retreats. That territorial approach sapped South Africa’s energy and flipped the contest.

Centres – Advantage New Zealand

Stepping up to the plate in the face of a physical South African showing, the Black Ferns centres were rock solid in every facet of play.

Defensively, the starting pairing continually cut off South Africa’s ability to get to the wide channels. Whilst in attack, they were regular carriers, key distributors and continually tested the South African defensive line.

Theresa Stefano’s opportunistic charge-down try underscored her awareness and skills, which caught South Africa napping and ultimately put her side in front before injury forced her off. Replacement Ayesha Leti-I’iga carried strongly, particularly off set-piece ball.

Back Three – Advantage New Zealand

Despite enjoying less than 20% possession in the first half, the Black Ferns’ back three remained lethal. Sorensen-McGee finished one of New Zealand’s two first-half tries, Holmes struck immediately after the break, and Vaha’akolo closed the game late.

Their pace and efficiency highlighted why the Black Ferns entered this match as heavy favourites, and their three second-half tries underlined the gulf in cutting edge between a coming force in South Africa and the most successful side in Women’s Rugby World Cup history.