In a thrilling Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash, reigning champions New Zealand showcased their resilience and skill to defeat a determined South African side 46-17. The match, held at Sandy Park in Exeter, saw the Black Ferns recover from a slow start to dominate the second half and secure their place in the semi-finals against Canada. South Africa, making their first-ever quarter-final appearance, opened the scoring through prop Babalwa Latsha, but New Zealand responded with tries from Theresa Setefano and Braxton Sorensen-McGee. Aphiwe Ngwevu’s try leveled the scores at halftime, but the Black Ferns unleashed a second-half onslaught with five tries, including doubles from Renee Holmes, Sorensen-McGee, and Kaipo Olsen-Baker. South Africa’s Lerato Makua scored a late consolation try, capping off a historic campaign for the Springbok Women. New Zealand’s clinical performance highlighted their title credentials, though their slow start and scrum penalties could be areas of concern ahead of the semi-finals. South Africa’s head coach, Swys de Bruin, praised his team’s legacy-building efforts, emphasizing the growth of women’s rugby in the country. The Black Ferns, unbeaten in World Cup matches since 2014, now turn their focus to Friday’s semi-final in Bristol.