Quarter-final: New Zealand 46-17 South Africa
Black Ferns score six tries in second-half romp
In New Zealand rugby the female of the species is currently deadlier then the male. South Africa’s women were always going to struggle to replicate the Springboks’ record-breaking result in Wellington a few hours earlier but, after a stuttering first half, the Black Ferns raised their game significantly in the second to secure their place in next weekend’s World Cup semi-finals.
The scoreboard tells only half the story of a contest often as notable for collective South African power as belated Kiwi finesse. South Africa, smartly coached and packed with forward muscle, took their opponents on physically in virtually every area and, at 10-10 at half-time, had the Black Ferns genuinely rattled.
South Africa even opted for a couple of whole-team lineout mauls for extra effect but were eventually outflanked by New Zealand’s flying wingers and mobile back row. On another great day for hyphen aficionados there was another brace of tries for the prolific 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee plus a couple more for the industrious No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker and full-back Renee Holmes.
