All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 13 September
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has wished his female counterparts luck and also had some kind words for their opposition. The Springbok Women go into their first ever World Cup quarter final against the defending champion Black Ferns at Sandy Park in Exeter on Sunday morning NZT, and Kolisi singled out one new star for special praise.
"This is a big game ... they've done so well, our girls, to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. They're playing against a strong team, a team that's been dominating ... who won the last World Cup here (in New Zealand)."
Kolisi went on to talk about teenage Black Fern sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
"Braxton, the 18-year-old, she's doing amazing things and I'm excited for her," said Kolisi about the Black Ferns' breakout star of this season. Sorensen-McGee is the World Cup tournament's top scorer heading into the quarterfinals, with 38 points including six tries.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee scores for the Black Ferns against Ireland, RWC, 2025. Photo: www.photosport.nz
But Kolisi didn't stop there, sounding out other key players in the Black Ferns and Springbok Women's lineups.
"Portia Woodman (Wickliffe) is so experienced and Renee Holmes is at 15, we have Ayanda (Malinga) who is doing her thing…then (Byrhandré) Dolf, the young fullback."
Kolisi was up with the play on the Black Ferns' good injury front news.
"You have Kaipo Olsen-Baker who's been injured, but I've seen the power that she has…Aseza Hele, she's amazing and been one of the top players in the tournament as well. I think it's a big lineup for the girls, Nadine (Roos) is playing against (Maia) Joseph. It's going to be a great game and a great challenge for our ladies who have worked really hard."
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe embraces Stacey Waaka after the centre scored. Photo: Tony O'Brien/ActionPress
It's not the first time the two-time men's World Cup winning captain and South African national icon Kolisi has lent some of his considerable worldwide profile to women's rugby. In a viral moment last year he presented the Wallaroos jerseys before their test match in Cape Town, prompting gratitude from Australian captain Michaela Leonard.
"The more we can have people in positions like that advocating for our game, it gives a little bit more awareness that we might catch and hopefully will get someone to advocate on their own and be excited to be part of the journey as well," said Leonard.
Sunday morning's quarterfinal is only the second time the Black Ferns and Springbok Women have met in a test match, with the first being at the 2010 World Cup. Things were very different back then, with the game played at the University of Surrey's outer playing field in a match attended by a few dozen spectators. The Black Ferns won 55-3, on their way to a fourth consecutive tournament win.
Sunday morning's match sees the team playing in front of an expected 15,000 sold out crowd at Sandy Park, the usual home ground of English Premiership side the Exeter Chiefs, while the World Cup final will be played at a sold-out Twickenham.
The weekend's other quarterfinals see Canada taking on Australia, France meet Ireland and England play Scotland.
Meanwhile, Kolisi and his Springboks face the All Blacks tonight at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
