Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Jorja Miller have exploded onto the international scene. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Black Ferns vs South Africa
12am Sunday September 14
Sandy Park, Exeter
Live blog updates on RNZ
The Black Ferns can feel the eyes of the world upon them.
The 2025 Rugby World Cup is the biggest in history, and as the business end of the tournament approaches, ferns fever is spreading rapidly across the globe.
Captain Ruahei Demant said she is not used to such levels of fandom abroad, and has at times struggled to hear her team-mates on the field.
"We walked out into a stadium full of 30,000 people and we don't get crowds like that often, just to hear the roar, supporting and celebrating all the women who took the field, to experience that energy, it's so thrilling."
A veteran from the 2021 campaign, Demant said the shift has been noticeable across the board.
"It feels completely different, the change in the professional landscape of women's rugby has definitely changed. There's a noticeable lift of the standards, and that's all got to do with the level of resourcing now that has gone into so many of the unions across the world."
She said this has translated into some thrilling rugby.
"The style that we are able to play, the attention to detail and the focus that the girls bring, not just on field, but the work that they do behind the scenes to make sure that they're ready, and that's not just for our team, it's for all the teams that we're playing."
With the New Zealand tournament in 2021 based solely in Auckland and Northland, Demant said being able to tour the country has significantly increased interest.
"This is the first Women's World Cup where the games are being played throughout the country and it's not just based at one or two venues, and I think that's so noticeable when there's just so much excitement from not just the local people, but a lot of the fans that are coming and travelling to support their home countries as well."
After cruising through pool play with wins over Spain, Japan, and Ireland, the Ferns are into knockout stages as they meet South Africa in the quarter final on Sunday morning.
"There's a real excitement around the way that we're playing and the way that our game's coming together."
The Ferns have been in scintillating form, outscoring their opponents 156-26.
However, Demant concedes things have been far from perfect.
"Probably the overarching theme for us has been our discipline, while it's been trending down, it's still an area where allow teams to get back into the game, and so there's been a real focus on that, especially heading into this weekend's quarter final."
Braxton Sorensen-McGee has lit up the 2025 tournament. Photo: www.photosport.nz
The Ferns are bracing for things to get a lot tighter.
"They (playoff games) are going to be a lot more physical. The opportunities that we get are going to be less and less."
Fortunately, the Ferns have two of the tournaments brightest stars in their arsenal in Jorja Miller and Braxton Serensen-McGee to break down those defences.
"When you've got so many weapons at your disposal and you've got so many options across the park, it's hard not to give them opportunities to ignite and unleash their talents. We have been spoiled with Braxton and Jorja and the space on edges that teams have given us and their ability to beat multiple defenders and finish off a lot of hard work through the middle of the park."
Demant said as well as the quality of rugby reaching new heights, so too has the influence of the women's game.
"For many of us, one of the reasons why we love what we do is that we get to inspire young girls and young boys, and the majority of the people that we see are all from home, so to see the impact that my team-mates have throughout the world, it's pretty surreal."
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