By Adam Julian of 
Alana Bremner in action at the previous World Cup.
Photo: Photosport
Canterbury lock Alana Bremner has been a mainstay for the Black Ferns with 32 Tests since 2021. She believes last weekend’s 40-0 drubbing of Ireland was the best performance under coach Alan Bunting, whose tenure began in 2023 and has resulted in a modest return of 15 wins, six defeats, and one draw.
“It felt like that performance had been coming for a while. We’ve been building throughout the World Cup. The girls are a tight-knit group, and in contrast to last year, we’ve developed new ways of playing and finding solutions to problems more quickly,” Bremner stated.
“One focus has been on our carry height, avoiding being held up in collisions and being more clinical at the breakdown so we can unleash our backs with their superpowers.”
Bremner was relentless against Ireland, making two crucial turnovers in the opening quarter to thwart threatening attacks. The Black Ferns’ lineout improved dramatically after a shaky performance against Japan, and consistency will be key against South Africa.
It’s unlikely that Bremner and Maia Roos, who has 35 tests to her name, will face serious competition for their starting positions if the Black Ferns advance to the semifinals – and it would be a huge surprise if they didn’t. The question remains: who has the most to prove?
Kaipo Olsen-Baker, the Black Fern of the Year for 2024, returns after suffering an injury against Spain. In a competitive loose forward department, she needs a strong performance to fend off the challenge from Layla Sae. Young powerhouse Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu will have her chance to shine in just her third test at tighthead prop.
Halfback Risi Pouri-Lane was left out of the selection, which could be considered surprising following her energetic display against Ireland. Her passing seemed quicker than that of Maia Joseph, who now has the opportunity to demonstrate that isn’t the case.
Unfortunately, Player of the Match against Ireland, Sylvia Brunt, will miss the quarterfinal due to a head injury. This opens the door for Theresa Setefano to extend her international record to 23-0. Additionally, Stacey Waaka celebrates her 30th test match.
The Black Ferns celebrate a try to Braxton Sorensen-McGee (C).
Photo: Photosport
South Africa on the rise
When South Africa toppled established Six Nations opposition and 2022 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists Italy 29-24 in York on 31 August, they created history by beating a country ranked in the top 10 in the world for the first time. Furthermore, after slaying Brazil 66-6 a week earlier, they qualified for the last eight of the competition for the first time.
“This is unreal, it is so emotional,” said head coach Swys de Bruin after the Italian job.
“The nation is so much behind these girls. It is in our blood. We just love it. We try to copy our men’s teams, the sevens, the under-20s. We thought we must catch up now. Our girls were absolutely fantastic.”
Player of the match Libbie Van Rensburg added, “This is massive. We spoke about changing history in South Africa for women’s rugby and we did that.”
South Africa failed to win a match at the 2022 Rugby World Cup, having not featured at all in 2017. They only debuted in the tournament that started in 1991 in 2006.
Since 2022, South Africa has achieved 23 of their 41 all-time international victories. They now boast a centrally contracted national squad and a first domestic professional team – the Bulls Daisies based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, who compete in a reformed Women’s Premier Competition in South Africa.
On 2 August in Cape Town South Africa overpowered the Black Ferns XV, featuring six capped internationals, Mererangi Paul, Kelsey Teneti, Hannah King, Maama Vaipulu, Luka Connor and Grace Gago, 41-24.
Seven different players scored tries for South Africa, with most of the tries created by rolling mauls or trademark South African brutality. It was a compelling insight into the potential of an increasingly resourced side.
There is no secret as to how South Africa is going to play with a seven-one forward split on the bench selected. South Africa has made 10 changes from the side that was thrashed 57-10 by France in their last Pool D fixture in Northampton. France has won 24 of their last 26 Rugby World Cup pool stage fixtures.
Captain and first-five van Rensburg is a national touch representative who played for the Mount Maunganui Marlins in 2019 before being appointed as the rugby development manager at the University of Pretoria. She is the first South African woman to score 200 test points.
No. 8 Aseza Hele is genuinely outstanding. She scored a hattrick in South Africa’s opening win over Brazil and continued her try-scoring form against Italy. In fact, during the 2022 Rugby World Cup, she beat more defenders than any other ball carrier. She currently plays for Harlequins in England.
Centre Zintle Mpupha returns to familiar territory as she plays for the Exeter Chiefs. A former age-group cricket representative, she is the leading scorer in South African women’s sevens history.
Halfback Nadine Ross was raised by her grandmother after being abandoned by her mother. A scholarship to university allowed her to take up Sevens, and she qualified for the Olympic Games in 2024.
Few international props can claim a Rugby World Cup Sevens cap, but Babalwa Latsha can. She possesses plenty of scrumming, mauling, and lifting power to support her dash.
“The lack of pressure actually makes the job easier for the players – they can focus fully on the task at hand,” said assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt.
“We don’t have to worry about outside noise; we can just go out and play our game, stick to our processes. We’ve prepared well – we’re certainly not just going to roll over because we’re playing against a team with six world titles.”
Black Ferns’ limited contact with South Africa
The only previous occasion the Black Ferns played against South Africa was during the 2010 Rugby World Cup. On 20 August, in Guildford – about 40km southwest of central London – the Black Ferns opened their campaign with a decisive 55-3 victory. Highlights of the match included three tries from winger Carla Hohepa and 15 points from Kelly Brazier, with the remarkable return of 45-year-old Anna Richards.
Richards, a World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee, played 49 of a possible 51 Black Ferns Tests between 1991 and 2010, winning 47 of those matches. She had been dropped by coach Brian Evans in 2009 but was recalled just two weeks before the tournament after utility back Amiria Rule (née Marsh) failed to return from an ACL reconstruction.
“I toiled away all year and wondered whether to give up or keep going,” Richards explained. “Then I realised, you know what? I’ve never been in the position of not being the first choice before, so it was a great opportunity to put in the hard work and try to get back in. I was never a quitter.
“I had little contact with Brian until two days before our game. He asked me at training, ‘What do you expect to get out of this tournament?’ I responded, ‘I’m going to enjoy every minute and support the team.’ He said, ‘You’re starting against South Africa,’ who were the lowest-ranked team. Generally, you give your less-experienced players a run in the first game, and they may not play again; but he continued to pick me, which was a bonus.”
The Black Ferns would go on to defeat England 13-10 in the final at the Stoop in Twickenham with Richards starting at first five-eighths.
Meanwhile, Canterbury centre Amy du Plessis hasn’t seen much action in this World Cup. Born in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa -the hometown of legendary Springboks hardman Bakkies Botha – Amy moved to New Zealand with her family at the age of seven, seeking a safer lifestyle. They settled on a dairy farm owned by Amy’s grandfather in Southland.
– Newsroom