Online Reporter
Teenage wing Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored two tries as defending champions New Zealand survived a first-half scare to defeat South Africa 46-17 in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Sandy Park yesterday.
South Africa starved New Zealand of the ball in the opening period and used their forward power to go to the break level at 10-10 but once the Black Ferns gained more possession they ran their opponents ragged and scored eight tries in all.
Fullback Renee Holmes and No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker also scored two tries each to go with scores for centre Theresa Setefano and wing Katelyn Vahaakolo as their ability to move the ball at pace opened gaps in the South African defence.
“We know South Africa are such a hard team and they gave it to us, so we came out (in the second-half) and went hard,” Olsen-Baker told World Rugby.
Prop Babalwa Latsha, centre Aphiwe Ngwevu and forward Lerato Makua went over for the South Africans, who were appearing in their first World Cup quarter-final and, having shown rapid improvement in recent years, will hope this campaign is the springboard women’s rugby needs in the country.
“I am so proud of my team, they have made a difference for millions of girls back in South Africa,” Springboks coach Swys de Bruin said.
“A lot of our plans worked first-half, they did not expect a 15-player maul. But second-half, my coaches were still on the way up (to the coaches’ box) and they scored two tries. But we kept on fighting.
“We have punched above our weight (at the World Cup) and every time we set the bar, the players go higher.”
It was the proverbial game of two halves as South Africa had 81 percent of the possession in the opening period and kept the ball at close quarters, neutralising New Zealand’s dangerous backs.
But three tries in the opening seven minutes of the second period killed the contest as New Zealand spread the ball through the hands and moved the South African defence across the park, executing with precision.
New Zealand will face the winners of Saturday’s second quarter-final between Canada and Australia in Bristol in Friday’s semi-finals.
Meanwhile, England captain Zoe Aldcroft will return from injury to lead the tournament hosts in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Scotland in Bristol today.
Aldcroft missed the thumping pool wins over Samoa and Australia after suffering a blow to the side of her knee during England’s resounding defeat of the United States in the tournament opener.
But with the World Cup entering the knockout phase, the 28-year-old was restored to the back row in the starting team announced by England coach John Mitchell on Friday, with Abbie Ward dropping down to the bench.
In the backs, fly-half Holly Aitchison makes her first start of the tournament following a successful comeback from an ankle injury as a replacement against Australia last Saturday.
World player of the year Ellie Kildunne is unavailable as she completes a 12-day stand down period because of concussion symptoms arising from England’s final pool A game against Australia.
Helena Rowland is at full-back after she edged out Emma Sing for the No 15 shirt.
England have made four changes to the side that hammered Australia 47-7, with Kelsey Clifford in at loosehead prop for Hannah Botterman, who is struggling with a back spasm.–BBC
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