New Zealand Advances to Women's Rugby World Cup Semifinals Beating South Africa 46-17

New Zealand's women's rugby team, the Black Ferns, defeated South Africa 46-17 in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. Despite South Africa's strong physical play and dominance in possession during the first half, which resulted in a 10-10 tie at halftime, New Zealand surged in the second half, scoring eight tries and overpowering their opponents with fast ball movement and superior handling. Key players for New Zealand included Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who led the tournament in tries and points, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who was named player of the match after scoring two tries and making 25 tackles, and Renee Holmes, who also scored twice. South Africa, appearing in their first World Cup quarterfinal, showed significant improvement and pride in their performance, with tries scored by Babalwa Latsha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, and Lerato Makua. The Black Ferns will next face the winner of the Canada versus Australia quarterfinal, continuing their bid to defend their title. Overall, the match highlighted a clash of styles with South Africa's forward power tested against New Zealand’s speed and skill, showcasing the evolving competitiveness of women's rugby.