The Black Ferns have powered past the Springbok Women 52-20 in Johannesburg, overcoming four yellow cards and periods with just 13 players to claim an historic first Test victory on South African soil.
Playing at the enormous FNB Stadium, New Zealand scored eight tries to four in a performance that showcased the attacking threat of the Black Ferns but also exposed disciplinary and set-piece problems they will need to address before facing France.
History made in Johannesburg
The match was the first Test between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women staged in South Africa and formed part of a huge rugby occasion alongside the All Blacks-Springboks series.
New Zealand wasted little time announcing its intentions.
Elinor-Plum King crossed almost immediately before rising star Braxton Sorensen-McGee broke through the South African defence for New Zealand’s second.
The Springbok Women responded through their powerful forward game, but tries to Chryss Viliko and Sorensen-McGee helped send the Black Ferns into halftime leading 24-10.
Four yellow cards — and down to 13
The scoreboard does not tell the full story.
New Zealand received four yellow cards during the match, while South Africa dominated significant parts of the scrum battle and used its lineout drive effectively.
Mererangi Paul was the first Black Fern sent to the sin bin.
Things became considerably more difficult after halftime when co-captain Georgia Ponsonby was yellow-carded before Ayesha Leti-I’iga followed shortly afterwards.
For a period, the Black Ferns were reduced to just 13 players.
Yet instead of collapsing under the numerical disadvantage, New Zealand responded.
Remarkably, the Black Ferns scored two tries without reply during the period they were down to 13, demonstrating just how dangerous their attacking game can be even under intense pressure.
Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu later became the fourth Black Fern to receive a yellow card following head contact late in the match.
King delivers a huge performance
Elinor-Plum King produced one of the standout performances, finishing with two tries and earning player-of-the-match honours.
Sorensen-McGee also crossed twice, while Viliko, Maia Joseph, Amarante Sititi and Vaipulu completed New Zealand’s eight-try haul.
South Africa answered through Lindelwa Gwala, Aphiwe Ngwevu and two tries from Vainah Ubisi.
For New Zealand, it was another demonstration of the attacking depth developing within the squad.
Give the Black Ferns space and they remain one of the most dangerous sides in international women’s rugby.
Set piece sends a warning
But a 32-point winning margin should not disguise the areas requiring improvement.
South Africa caused New Zealand serious problems at scrum time, while the Black Ferns conceded a heavy penalty count.
Those problems will be closely examined as New Zealand prepares for tougher assignments in Europe.
The Springbok Women demonstrated that powerful forward play can disrupt the Black Ferns, even when the final scoreboard heavily favours New Zealand.
Against the leading European nations, giving away four yellow cards could be far more costly.
Discipline will therefore be one of the clearest lessons to come from Johannesburg.
Another Sititi makes history
There was also a special whānau moment.
Amarante Sititi came from the bench and scored in the second half, on the same day her older brother Wallace Sititi was involved with the All Blacks against South Africa.
They became the first New Zealand brother-and-sister combination to play Test rugby on the same day since Annaleah and Xavier Rush in 1998.
It was another remarkable chapter for a whānau now represented at the highest level of both the men’s and women’s game.
Wāhine toa continue to inspire
The Black Ferns’ success carries significance beyond the scoreboard.
Women’s rugby continues to grow across Aotearoa, and the visibility of Māori and Pacific wāhine performing on the international stage creates powerful pathways for rangatahi.
The Black Ferns have become more than a successful national team.
They represent what is possible for the next generation of girls coming through kura, clubs and provincial rugby across the motu.
Performances on the other side of the world can have an impact all the way back to the grassroots game at home.
France awaits
There will not be much time to celebrate.
The Black Ferns now turn their attention towards France in Lyon on September 13, the opening Test of their WXV series, before further matches against England and Scotland.
The Johannesburg performance gives them momentum.
It also gives the coaching staff plenty to work on.
Eight tries demonstrate the firepower.
Four yellow cards demonstrate the danger.
But when the pressure arrived and New Zealand found itself down to 13 players, the Black Ferns refused to buckle.
History made in South Africa, 52 points on the board and another victory for our wāhine toa — but the Black Ferns know the toughest tests are still to come.
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