New Zealand overcame South Africa’s spirits with a 46-17 victory at Exeter to advance to the women’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
South Africa, competing in the first-ever women’s quarter-finals, scored first for Babarwa Ratosha.
Theresa Setefano responded to the black fern after a few minutes, but the kiwi couldn’t pull away. It was a fight back and forth for the other half.
Apiwhe ngwevu added the second time in South Africa. Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored his seventh attempt in 3 games for New Zealand, with the score locked 10-10 on the break.
Black Fern fullback Lenny Holmes went right after the restart and proceeded to her side as the defending champions finally found space for the offensive.
Sorensen-Mcgee won her second place before Kaipo Olsen Baker bagged her herself in two tries in less than 10 minutes, undoubtedly holding the contest.
Holmes made it a doubles trio, and South Africa scored the only attempt in the second half through Lerat Makua.
New Zealand winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo scored on a full-time stroke to close out her successful second half on her side facing either Canada or Australia in the semi-finals.