Black Ferns collect Bronze after thriller
MATCH REPORT: World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored twice as New Zealand beat France 42-26 in the Bronze Final of World Cup 2025 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The scores took the teenage superstar to 11 in total for the tournament, which could well see her finish as top scorer in what has been her debut World Cup.
The Black Ferns, who had never technically played in the bronze medal fixture at a World Cup, weathered a French storm in the opening 30 minutes, but found their stride soon after to dominate the rest of the match, scoring six tries, in an exhilarating game which saw ten tries altogether.
Despite the scoreline, it was France who scored the opening try through scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who got on the end of a move down the right to receive an offload from Marine Menager for a 7-0 lead.
At the time, it looked as though Les Bleues could be on course to win a fourth bronze final in as many tournaments, but the Black Ferns hit back courtesy of a neat inside ball from Sylvia Brunt to put fly-half Ruahei Demant through under the posts and square things up.
The score remained that way up to the half-hour mark, shortly after which Brunt turned from provider to scorer with a leg-drive to power over from close range near the touchline.
Then came a double hit from Renee Holmes and Laura Bayfield, who each scored in the final three minutes of the first half to give the six-time champions a 26-7 lead at the break.
Sorensen-McGee got the scoring underway in the second half with her two tries, the first of which saw her throw a dummy before ghosting around the defence to run in a solo score, and the second an impressive dive into the corner that put her side firmly in control.
Lea Champon, Gabrielle Vernier, and Emilie Boulard hit back for the French with three tries in 10 minutes, but the Black Ferns held out to secure what is their first-ever bronze medal at a Women’s World Cup.
The youngster leads the way 🇳🇿
Braxton Sorensen-McGee is a name to remember for generations#RWC2025 | #NZLvFRA pic.twitter.com/aKiMGaIRGp
ADVERTISEMENT— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 27, 2025
Teenager Sorensen-McGee’s second-half brace took her RWC 2025 try tally to 11 – the second most scored at any women’s Rugby World Cup ever. The only woman in front of her? Teammate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (13 at RWC 2017), who went off just minutes before Sorensen-McGee’s second.
Player of the Match: Not only did Renee Holmes cross for a crucial try at the end of the first half, she also added 12 points with the boot to help guide her side to victory.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Demant, Brunt, Holmes, Bayfield, Sorensen-McGee 2
Cons: Holmes 3
Pens: Holmes 2
For France:
Tries: Bourdon, Champon, Vernier, Boulard
Cons: Arbez, Tuy
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Renee Holmes, 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 10 Ruahei Demant (co-captain), 9 Risi Pouri-Lane, 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 7 Jorja Miller, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 5 Laura Bayfield, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Tanya Kalounivale, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Chryss Viliko.
Replacements: 16 Vici-Rose Green, 17 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18 Amy Rule, 19 Alana Bremmer, 20 Layla Sae, 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Theresa Setefano, 23 Katelyn Vahaakolo.
France: 15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Marine Menager (captain), 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 8 Teani Feleu, 7 Lea Champon, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 4 Taina Maka, 3 Rose Bernadou, 2 Agathe Gerin, 1 Yllana Brosseau
Replacements: 16 Manon Bigot, 17 Annaëlle Deshaye, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Hina Ikahehegi, 20 Marie Morland, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Kelly Arbey.
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Kat Roche (Argentina) & Sara Cox (England)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
