South Africa had more possession, made 37 more carries and ran for nearly 200 more metres. New Zealand still scored eight tries and won 52–20.
That contrast defined a historic first Black Ferns Test on South African soil at FNB Stadium in Soweto.
The Springbok Women repeatedly put New Zealand under pressure through their forward game, scrum and ability to retain possession. But when the Black Ferns found space, they were devastating.
New Zealand produced 11 clean breaks to South Africa’s three and beat 37 defenders to 22, turning those opportunities into eight tries.
The Black Ferns led 24–10 at halftime before pulling away after the break.
Black Ferns Strike Early
New Zealand needed less than two minutes to score.
Elinor-Plum King crossed at 1:53 before Braxton Sorensen-McGee added another try eight minutes later.
South Africa responded through its forwards.
Hooker Lindelwa Gwala crossed for the hosts’ first try before Aphiwe Ngwevu added another at 30:36.
But New Zealand kept finding answers.
Chryss Viliko scored in the 36th minute and Sorensen-McGee crossed for her second shortly after halftime, extending the Black Ferns’ advantage.
The pattern was already becoming clear: South Africa could build pressure, but New Zealand needed far fewer opportunities to score.
South Africa’s Forward Pack Creates Problems
The underlying numbers show how much work South Africa made New Zealand do.
South Africa also held the advantage at scrum time, winning seven scrums and recording 100% scrum success in the returned match data. New Zealand won two and finished at 40%.
The Springbok Women conceded only seven penalties, compared with 18 by New Zealand.
New Zealand didn’t need to control the ball to control the scoreboard.
Four Yellow Cards — And New Zealand Keeps Scoring
The Black Ferns’ victory came despite an extraordinary disciplinary count.
New Zealand received four yellow cards.
Mererangi Paul was sent to the sin bin in the first half. Georgia Ponsonby and Ayesha Leti-I’iga were both shown yellow early in the second half, and Maama Vaipulu received another after 80 minutes.
South Africa capitalized when Vainah Ubisi crossed at 48:35.
Less than two minutes later, however, Maia Joseph scored for New Zealand.
Plum King followed with her second try before Amarante Sititi and Vaipulu crossed as the Black Ferns stretched the margin.
Ubisi scored her second try at 81:36, giving South Africa the final points of the match.
Leti-I’iga Leads a Dangerous Black Ferns Attack
Ayesha Leti-I’iga produced one of the standout attacking performances.
The New Zealand wing carried 12 times for a match-high 126 metres, beat nine defenders and crossed the gain line 11 times.
Sorensen-McGee scored twice and kicked five conversions, while Plum King also finished with two tries.
South Africa had its own impressive individual numbers.
Byrhandre Dolf led the match with 17 carries.
Lindelwa Gwala made 102 metres, while Anushka Groenewald reached 100.
Ubisi scored twice and accounted for half of South Africa’s four tries.
The hosts were unable to add any conversions, while New Zealand converted six of its eight tries.
A Historic Test in Soweto
The result added another New Zealand victory to the series, but the setting gave this meeting its own place in the rivalry.
It was the first Test between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women played in South Africa, staged at FNB Stadium as part of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry double-header.
The teams had met in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where New Zealand eventually won 46–17 after the teams went into halftime level at 10–10.
Once again, South Africa showed it could make the Black Ferns uncomfortable through physicality and possession.
Once again, New Zealand found another gear.
Final: South Africa 20–52 New Zealand
South Africa tries: Lindelwa Gwala, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Vainah Ubisi (2)
New Zealand tries: Elinor-Plum King (2), Braxton Sorensen-McGee (2), Chryss Viliko, Maia Joseph, Amarante Sititi, Maama Vaipulu
South Africa had 54% possession, 135 carries and 747 metres.
New Zealand had 46% possession, 98 carries and 552 metres.
But the Black Ferns turned 11 clean breaks into an eight-try, 52-point performance.
South Africa had more of the ball. New Zealand did far more with it.
Go Deeper Into South Africa vs New Zealand
The final score only tells part of the story. Explore the full match data from South Africa’s 20–52 defeat to New Zealand in the Rugby Fan Central Match Centre.
