Thank you so much for joining me for this quarter-final! Wales put up a great fight but the might of New Zealand is too much and the hosts and defending champions march on. Portia Woodman shone but the entire Black Ferns squad displayed they are more than up for the challenge of retaining their title. New Zealand will face France in the semi-final next weekend but to catch up with all the action from this one, read the report below! I will catch you early morning tomorrow, the coverage here starting at 12.30am BST, for England’s quarter-final against Australia! Until then, have a great Saturday.
New Zealand’s Ruby Tui told ITV: “It is more fun than it looks. The team has been through so much and we want to show New Zealand and the world that women’s rugby is [a great product].
“There was hype but we had too many TikToks I swear. We had breakfast this morning and I said if I could pick any wingers to play with I would pick them. It was pretty bloody special tonight.
On the semi: “Not hard? Did you not see those tackle I was taking? What we are learning from the coaches, I have never looked at the game like this before. England and France have been leading the way and I wouldn’t want to be facing anyone else. An absolute honour.”
New Zealand are competing at their seventh World Cup and have just secured their sixth semi-final, it’s their stage.
The scheduling clash has stolen the headlines in the build-up to this quarter-final and it was the Black Ferns who had the more thrilling match. They crushed Wales and the All Blacks only just beat Japan.
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham told ITV: “It is still fairly big, the scoreboard doesn’t lie. The intensity they can play at for 80 minutes is [impressive].
“I am really proud of the effort though. We came here to try and get out of the pool and we achieved that. We probably let the Australia game go but so chuffed to get the quarter-final.
“It’s extremely special… we are changing the lives of some of these people.”
Portia Woodman made 122 metres in the quarter-final as well as two tries which took her to the most tries scored in Rugby World Cup history, what a player New Zealand have in their locker!
New Zealand player Kennedy Simon said: “It’s an extreme privilege [to reach the semi-finals]. We have a legacy to uphold and advance.
And on the motivation for the performances she added: “First and foremost it’s the black jersey. To come out here to see our supporters and families in the crowd it is [what matters].”
Wales captain Hannah Jones told ITV: “The side they brought out tonight is outstanding. I couldn’t have asked more from the girls, we showed our best.
“We haven’t been professional for long, we are building for the future.”
The score would and could have been a lot higher for New Zealand but Wales did do well in defence despite the scoreboard. They can hold their heads high, their performance has improved so much since becoming professional earlier this year.
Full-time: New Zealand 55-3 Wales
The favourites have crushed Wales with not only fantastic and versatile attack but clinical defence. Wales unable to throw an attacking punch and they are out of the World Cup. It will be a New Zealand v France semi-final, what a match that will be!
80 min: New Zealand do well to win it back and they want more here as they attack. Wales turn it over though! What can they do here, they aren’t wanting this one to end as they attempt to attack. Woodman picks it up though and they steam to the line.
78 min: The referee has a word with both captains as both teams are having afters off the ball and this time it is H Jones and Connor who push and shove. Wales have a scrum and despite a huge New Zealand shove the visitors come away with it.
77 min: Wales go short at the line-out and Joyce hesitates as New Zealand’s defence fronts up. Tui gives away a penalty and Wales kicks to the stands once again. They win the line-out and go forwards. Woodman knocks on after Wales kick away.
75 min: Wales have the scrum and they come away with it. ITV had said Wales were targeting four tries in this match, cannot confirm if that is true, but they are yet to score. Wales do win the breakdown pen and they kick into the stands.
74 min: Wales’ defence is still fighting tooth and nail and it comes off for them as Tubic’s pass is forward. There’s a break in play as Jones receives treatment.
73 min: There’s a rare mistake from this New Zealand back three with a forward pass and Wales have the scrum. A huge shove from New Zealand sees them win the scrum penalty and the Black Ferns are off once more.
71 min: Williams-Morris is back on for Wales after her sinbinning. Neumann collects a cross field kick and wins the penalty at the breakdown. Lewis punts the ball into the stands, they will want a try from this one. But they aren’t straight at the line-out and they knock on.
TRY! New Zealand 55-3 Wales (Demant, 68')
That is clinical but with Wales down by so many it isn’t surprising. Demant makes a great line to slice through. Holmes misses the conversion.
Updated
68 min: Tuipulotu is on for Rose as Wales make another change. Here come New Zealand again.
YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 50-3 Wales (George 67')
George' deliberately knocks on and Wales are down another player
TRY! New Zealand 50 -3 Wales (Connor, 65')
Connor pounces again after the back three propels the Black Ferns once more. Holmes is now the kicker but she misses.
Updated
64 min: Webb is coming off for Wales and with no more players on the bench Wales are a player down. Fluhler is off for Tubic – a tactical change – and Mikaele-Tu’u remains on. Tui has a great break and they are just metres away.
63 min: George kicks away and New Zealand decide to run it rather than clear their lines with a kick. The Black Ferns knock on through Roos and it is her last action as she is replaced with Rule also coming off. New Zealand turn it over after the scrum and they aren’t done scoring in this one. A break in play as Webb is down again and Mikaele-Tu’u also receives treatment. The attendance has also been confirmed as 16,834.
61 min: Demant kicks to clear their lines after that yellow card. Webb has stayed on after receiving treatment by the way. Wales win the ball though and they have a shot to attack. They are running through the phases here, this is the best attacking spell they have had.
YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 45-3 Wales (Williams-Morris,59')
Williams-Morris has tackled Tui off the ball but the referee is happy with the timing. But it’s the lift and where Tui lands, the full-back seems to land on her shoulder/head. It is the landing which sees her in the bin for 10.
Updated
59 min: Cocksedge is off with Bayler on. And Wales have made changes with Snowsill and Norkett off. There’s a break in play as a Wales player is down injured, it’s Megan Webb who just came on. We are also heading to the TMO for a tackle on Tui.
TRY! New Zealand 45-3 Wales (Bremner, 56')
New Zealand employ the whole team to run the ball through the hands with Bremner catching a long range pass. Demant misses the conversion.
Updated
55 min: Wales are in attack and they will be desperate to get a try on the board, they do deserve more on the scoreboard for their performance. A loose Wales pass though is stolen by Fluhler on the floor. Here we go again …
53 min: Stacey Fluhler makes a great break and puts in a cracking long range pass but Woodman can’t pick it up, so close to another score there. New Zealand make another change as Leti-I’iga is off, I didn’t catch who replaced her but as soon as I know I shall let you know.
52 min: The scoreline may not tell the story but Wales have had a good performance in this match and as I type that they turn over the ball! New Zealand manage to wrestle it back and kick with Leti-I’iga chasing but Joyce comes away with it. Wales kick away, Tui collects and her pass is out of play. New Zealand make another change as Hirini is off for Kennedy Simon.
TRY! New Zealand 40-3 Wales (Connor, 49')
New Zealand take it quickly and the replacement has the try! Demant kicks the extras, the fly-half has only missed one kick this match.
Updated
48 min: New Zealand make their first changes as Georgia Ponsonby is off for Luka Connor. The hosts come away with the ball at the line-out but Wales do really well to turn it over to prevent another score. Wales scrum but it is torn to shreds by New Zealand, what a shove from the hosts!
46 min: Here they come again, it is relentless for Wales defence right now. New Zealand win the penalty and they kick to the corner.
TRY! New Zealand 33-3 Wales (Woodman, 43')
New Zealand manage to turn it over at the break down and the hosts come forward once more. And who else converts but Woodman? She is now the all-time leading try scorer in women’s Rugby World Cup history.
Updated
42 min: Joyce does well to pick up a tricky pass as they start this second 40 in attack. Wales spill the ball but Tui’s kick sees the visitors pick it up again. It would be great to see Wales score a try in this one.
Back underway! New Zealand 26-3 Wales
The second half has begun! Will New Zealand running away with this? Or can Wales get back into this.
Let’s revisit the haka which was emotional ahead of kick-off:
Nothing sets up a great challenge quite like the Haka 🇳🇿 #RWC2021 | #NZLvWAL | @BlackFerns pic.twitter.com/RLw3I354yD
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 29, 2022
Just look at this skill from Woodman. She has been everywhere for New Zealand so far, including scoring a try. The score saw her equal this tournament’s top scorer table but also hit the same amount of tries in women’s Rugby World Cup history! Woodman has only played eight RWC matches yet has 19 tries, a crazy stat.
Woodman goes scything through 🏃♀️
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) October 29, 2022
Amy Rule adds a 4th try for @BlackFerns #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/WhOEUxMxVl
Half-time: New Zealand 26-3 Wales
Well it was impressive early defence from Wales but New Zealand have four tries. Portia Woodman, Ruby Tui, Sarah Hirini and Amy Rule crashing over to put the hosts in firm control.
40 min: I think it is fair to call New Zealand ruthless, particularly through Woodman and Tui right now. It is hard to see Wales coming back from this scoreline.
TRY! New Zealand 26-3 Wales (Rule, 39')
New Zealand win the line-out but only just and Woodman makes a phenomenal break. That is sensational from the winger, they run through the phases and Amy Rule is over. Demant has the extras.
Updated
37 min: Demant should have offloaded there with so many teammates out on the wing but she takes it into contact and Wales turn it over. Snowsill clears their lines and there is a break in play as Cara Hope receives some treatment.
36 min: Snowsill doesn’t find touch with her kick from that penalty but Wales mop up the mistake with a turn over. But no! Wales knock it on after their great work to win it back. New Zealand have the scrum and come away with it.
34 min: After a reset New Zealand come away with it. Woodman comes away with it and she offloads to Ayesha Leti-I’iga but the winger spills a metre from the line! Wales have the scrum right by their try line but they win the penalty and clear their lines.
31 min: Tui runs, runs and just keeps running in a magnificent break but Joyce eventually gets her down. The hosts run through the phases but they have the advantage as Jones is offside. We come back for it and the Black Ferns opt for a scrum.
29 min: And for all the Welsh work and good early defence they now have a mountain to climb in this quarter. New Zealand with the ball again here.
TRY! New Zealand 19-3 Wales (Hirini, 27')
Wow what a break form Fitzpatrick! New Zealand just keep going, Tui offloads to Hirini close to the line and she outstretches to dot down. Demant gets the extras
Updated
26 min: Wales win the line-out and they have their first real attacking opportunity. They knock on though and New Zealand have the scrum. A reset later and the hosts win the scrum penalty and will run it from their own 22.
23 min: Sarah Hirini takes a clean catch from the restart and though New Zealand look as though they’ve knocked on the referee says it went backwards. Cocksedge makes some great metres but it is Wales who get the penalty! Snowsill kicks to the corner.
TRY! New Zealand 12-3 Wales (Tui, 20')
A cross field kick comes in and Woodman collects, she offloads to Tui and she motors to the line! Sensational score. Demant misses the conversion.
Updated
18 min: Jones does well to keep the ball in play with an offload to Jasmine Joyce and Wales then opt to get the kicking game in play. Joyce decides to run it but Wales are building from their own 22. Bevan pops in a box kick but it doesn’t go far at all and New Zealand have a great position.
PENALTY! New Zealand 7-3 Wales (Bevan, 16')
Wales swap their kicker and the points are secured!
15 min: Wales win a breakdown penalty and Jones opts to point for the sticks.
TRY! New Zealand 7-0 Wales (Woodman, 13')
That is slick rugby from New Zealand and Portia Woodman equals the record for most tries in women’s Rugby World Cup history, Woodman’s 19th which equals ex-England player Sue Day. The ball was ran through the hands and Wales found themselves outnumbered on the wing. Ruahei Demant adds the extras.
Updated
11 min: New Zealand win the line-out and they are on the attacking march once more. But Wales turn it over! There is great defence from the visitors so far. We are looking at the TMO now for an exchange between Hannah Jones and Ruby Tui. Jones tackled Tui off the ball and New Zealand kick to the corner.
10 min: Chelsea Bremner knocks on at the line-out and Wales have a scrum just five metres out from the Black Ferns try line, a lot of pressure for a clean set piece here. And Wales win the scrum penalty and Snowsill can clear her lines.
8 min: New Zealand have the scrum this time after a Welsh knock on. The hosts come away with it and they run through the phases. Portia Woodman’s offload doesn’t come off and the winger is shoved into touch anyway, good defence from Wales there.
6 min: That is disappointing from Wales, Elinor Snowsill misses a close range kick – a big opportunity missed. New Zealand knock on once more though and Wales have a line-out, they come away with it but the hosts manage to turn it over at the break down. Possession exchanges hands and it is quite frantic right now!
4 min: Good news for Wales as Phillips remains on the pitch and is involved in the scrum as the teams go again. The set piece is wobbly from both sides as we reset once more, it is a star part of Wales’ game so they will be hoping to win this and set the tone early doors. Wales come away with it and unleash their attack. Donna Rose makes a good few metres and Wales win the penalty at the breakdown – they point to the sticks.
2 min: It is the hosts who had early possession but they knock on, Wales celebrating as they win the first scrum of the match. Ahead of a reset Carys Phillips needs some medical attention so there is a slight break in play.
Kick-off! New Zealand 0-0 Wales
Here we go! Can New Zealand fulfil the favourites tag or will Wales supply an upset?
Spine-tingling anthems and an equally emotional haka sets the tone ahead of this one! Wales walked towards the haka as it was happening and it only spurred the Black Ferns to be louder. Kick-off to come shortly.
The players are out on the pitch and the anthems will be in full flow shortly! We’re just minutes from kick-off, any predictions? Let me know via Twitter or email.
Wales captain Hannah Jones says her side will dig deep to get the result this morning. “We know Saturday is going to be a really intense, physical game but we also know we can take our minds and our bodies to a dark place,” she said. “A massive amount will come down to mindset: work rate and how much we really want this.” Read the full piece:
New Zealand coach Wayne Smith has warned his side about under-estimating their opposition today. He said: “Complacency is your enemy. Attitude is your friend.”
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham says the quarter will be an opportunity for his team to grow, saying: “We have a tough task on Saturday facing the Black Ferns on their home patch. They are in good form, scoring a lot of points and playing well. However, we have nothing to lose, we intend to go out and leave everything on the field. We will be playing in front of a huge home crowd and we will need to feed off the atmosphere. To play New Zealand twice in a World Cup is 100% the experience you want to grow as a team – it’s only going to raise our standards short term but also longer term too.”
New Zealand Rugby have had a lot of criticism aimed at them this week after an All Blacks Test against Japan was scheduled around the same time as the Black Ferns quarter-final. The organisation said they “did not take into account” the quarter-final, that is being hosted in New Zealand by the defending champions. It’s fair to say they have had further criticism after they responded, read the full story:
It is early but what a treat we have in store! Where are we all watching from? Are any pubs showing it early doors? Or are you watching with a bowl of cereal? I am huddled under a blanket with a nice latte. Let me know via Twitter, @rendellx, or email.
There has already been a quarter-final played this morning between France and Italy. It was a game a lot of people were finding hard to predict, France being the favourites on paper but Italy coming alive in this tournament. France lived up to expectations though and were 39-3 winners and they will play the winner of New Zealand v Wales in the semis.
The first of four teams confirmed ✅
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 29, 2022
Welcome to the semi-finals, @FranceRugby 🇫🇷#FRAvITA | #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/TDTlBcGNDM
As I say the team news is in and New Zealand have called upon their big guns for the quarter-final. Stacey Fluhler, Ruby Tui and Portia Woodman are three of six changes to the starting squad with Ruahei Demant, Kendra Cocksedge and Chelsea Bremner all coming into the side.
New Zealand starting XV: Ruby Tui; Portia Woodman, Stacey Fluhler, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Ayesha Leti-I’iga; Ruahei Demant (captain), Kendra Cocksedge; Phillipa Love, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner, Sarah Hirini, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.
Replacements: Luka Connor, Krystal Murray, Santo Taumata, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kennedy Simon, Ariana Bayler, Hazel Tubic, Renee Holmes.
Wales, meanwhile, make four changes for the match. Keira Bevan and Lowri Norkett will make their first starts of the tournament with Carys Phillips and Donna Rose also coming into the side. A positional change also comes with Jasmine Joyce shifting to full-back.
Wales starting XV: Jasmine Joyce; Lowri Norkett, Carys Williams-Morris, Hannah Jones (captain), Lisa Neumann; Elinor Snowsill, Keira Bevan; Cara Hope, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Gwen Crabb, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender, Sioned Harries.
Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Gwenllian Pyrs, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Georgia Evans, Siwan Lillicrap, Ffion Lewis, Lleucu George, Megan Webb.
Preamble
Welcome back to our Rugby World Cup coverage with hosts New Zealand’s quarter-final against Wales.
The Black Ferns are the heavy favourites in this one, especially as these teams have already faced one another in the tournament. In the pool stage New Zealand claimed a 56-12 win over Ioan Cunningham’s side and it would be huge upset if Wales manage to knock out the hosts this morning.
It is set to be a cracking match though with Portia Woodman targeting a record. If the back can score against Wales she will equal former England player Sue Day’s record of the most tries scored in women’s Rugby World Cup history. Day has 19 to her name with Woodman on 18 so she has the potential to even eclipse the record in the game.
Woodman is starting for New Zealand in a star studded back line and the team news dropped a few days ago. Stay tuned for the team news in full ahead of kick-off at 7.30am.
