In September last year Ireland left the rugby world in shock as they defeated the world champions New Zealand in a closely fought 29-27 victory. The win was one of Ireland’s most famous victories and it teed up perfectly the two nations’ clash in the Rugby World Cup. They have history on this world stage, with Ireland beating New Zealand in 2014. There was another twist in Brighton as the Black Ferns enacted revenge, leaving their rivals scoreless to top the pool.
One New Zealand player who was not in the team for the Ireland upset was Braxton Sorensen-McGee. The versatile back, who has started at both wing and full-back so far this tournament, made her debut in May and had been a bright light. The 18-year-old was electric on Sunday with a hat-trick to back up the three she scored against Japan. Her first was the best of the three as she beat three defenders to run in.
When told she is now joint‑top try scorer, Sorensen-McGee said with a smile: “I didn’t know that. It’s been pretty cool to embrace all of the games and to embrace all of the supporters who have come. It’s a pretty cool feeling. We are learning how each other play so we can play off each other and hopefully create space and tries. Definitely trust [allows me to try things], they back me 100% so I have confidence in myself to do what needs to be done.”
Another star of the Black Ferns show was their defence. They were unflinching and powerful, winning eight turnovers, making 150 tackles and holding up one try in a foreboding statement to the rest of the tournament.
Moving through Brighton to get to the railway station, there were thousands of Irish fans wearing green jerseys. On the train a little girl in full Irish kit took a tally of supporters walking by her window: “Green, green, oh a New Zealand jersey, green, green.”
The match was a sell-out, just as the Red Roses game had been the day before, and the excitement, engagement and banter flying between supporters were all evidence that women’s rugby in England and beyond has changed. What never changes is the spine-tingling atmosphere the haka generates. As it concluded, Ireland took a step forward with both teams staring each other down before dispersing for kick-off.
Territory was gained and lost by both sides through penalties and it took a sublime team try from the Black Ferns to break the deadlock. It was a sumptuous play with Layla Sae making the initial break before it quickly passed through hands to see Stacey Waaka over.
Quarter-finals
Saturday
1 New Zealand v South Africa, 1pm
2 Canada v Australia, 4pm
Sunday
3 France v Ireland, 1pm
4 England v Scotland, 4pm
Semi-finals
19 Sep 1 Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
20 Sep 2 Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Bronze final
27 Sep Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
Final
27 Sep Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
New Zealand had a foothold and they did not take it off the gas with Chryss Viliko scoring but Béibhinn Parsons charged down Renee Holmes’s conversion after the referee, Hollie Davidson, said the full‑back had already started her kick.
The back and forth of this bruising encounter continued. At one ruck the Ireland full-back, Stacey Flood, was forced back and that was her afternoon over as she departed. The Ireland head coach, Scott Bemand, confirmed Flood had a cut to her foot but will be OK for the quarter-final.
Sorensen-McGee had her brilliant solo try next and she then added another two to take her World Cup tally to six before Maia Joseph sealed the dominant win.
Bemand added on if it will be easy to pick his team up after such a huge defeat. “I’m pretty confident because I think our girls understand that we haven’t just received the New Zealand attack all day … We just have to be a bit smarter about how we finish off points.”
The other game in this pool was a thriller with Japan pulling off a comeback win against Spain. Iroha Nagata, Wako Kitano, Komachi Imakugi and Jennifer Nduka scored in the second 40 minutes to secure their only win of the competition. Both nations will now head home – unlike New Zealand and Ireland who march on to the quarter-finals.
Their tournament runs are not the only thing that will be rumbling on as this rivalry is one for the ages which will keep crowds flocking for years to come.
