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‘We’re ready to play for our country’: Black Ferns set for Bronze Final
By Finn Morton reporting from London
Director of Performance Allan Bunting and scrum-half Risi Pouri-Lane insist the Black Ferns are ready to repay the support shown by New Zealanders when they face France in the Bronze Final of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
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New Zealand have won the top prize in women’s rugby on a record six occasions, including the last two World Cups in Ireland and on home soil, but their reign as champions came to an end last week with a 34-19 defeat to Canada.
Alex Tessier scored a try three minutes into the second term as the Canadians continued to pile on the points at Bristol’s Ashton Gate. While the New Zealanders refused to throw in the towel, Canada did enough to hang on for a famous semi-final triumph.
Bunting and Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu were visibly gutted after the 15-point loss, just eight days out from the World Cup Final. That result left New Zealand in a battle for third place, taking on France at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“We know that we will be coming up against a strong French team who will be pretty hard on themselves, especially after all the opportunities they created,” Bunting told reporters.
“Some of the stuff they do is pretty similar to Canada, a lot of their game is centred around their half-back. But we’ve been focused on our game, we’re really keen to get the game going. That’s our main focus.
“This game is massive for us, we had a pretty tough finish last week and we have an opportunity now. We’re ready to play for our country and we’ve had amazing [support] over here,” he added.
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“We’ve got everything to play for. We’ve got a real opportunity to get up there and show them what these ladies can do.”
There are more than 360 Test caps of experience in New Zealand’s starting side, including co-captain Ruahei Demant at first five-eighth, who became just the third Black Fern to reach 50 appearances in the loss to Canada.
Demant will partner Risi Pouri-Lane in the halves for the second Test in a row, with the halfback starting ahead of Maia Joseph. This will be Pouri-Lane’s seventh Test in the famed black jersey, after the Black Ferns Sevens skipper made the switch to 15s to play in this World Cup.
Pouri-Lane isn’t the only HSBC SVNS Series star who made the move to rugby union’s other code, with Jorja Miller starring in six Tests. Miller didn’t feature in the semi-final but returns for New Zealand’s last hurrah at the World Cup.
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World Rugby unveiled its nominees for Women’s 15s Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC and 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, with Miller nominated for most prestigious awards. Braxton Sorensen-McGee has also been put forward as a nominee for the breakthrough award.
“We wanted to come home with the gold, but we have the opportunity to show up this weekend not just for ourselves but for the nation and the jersey. It’s a big game for us and we know it,” Pouri-Lane explained.
“I’m one of those people who hasn’t played there so I’m excited to have that opportunity. It’s such a historical stadium, so that’s a part of changing the narrative of what this week is. It’s something I don’t take lightly and it helps reframe the week.”
