Key events
Here’s what Black Ferns head coach Allan Bunting said in the build up:
We were proud of our performance last week. There’s areas across the field that we want to improve and build on and certainly want to get better, we know what’s coming this weekend with South Africa. We are here on a mission and this weekend is really important for us. Some of it was looking after our players, obviously, but we’re all 32. We picked them here for a reason and we’ve got all the faith in the world of them to go all the way in this tournament and we know they’re going to put the best forward and we know the challenge at is coming.
This is the second New Zealand v South Africa game of the day.
The first was pretty one-side:
I love it when athletes declare their desire for greatness.
New Zealand’s Jorja Miller has done just that. Fair play.
South Africa team
It’s a Bomb Squad!
Swys de Bruin has picked seven forwards on the bench as he signals his intent to keep things tight and punchy in the close quarters.
Perhaps this is an admission that his underdogs won’t be able to land blows in the wide channels. But then he’s simply playing to his team’s strengths.
Libbie Janse van Rensburg returns to fly-half after missing out on the final group game against France last week. She’ll have the pocket rocket Nadine Roos on her inside at scrum-half. With only a centre among the replacements, they’ll both have to play every minute of this match.
Nolusindiso Booi also returns to skipper from the second row and partners Quins enforcer Danelle Lochner.
South Africa: Byrandre Dolf; Maceala Samboya, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Ayanda Malinga; Libbie Janse van Rensberg, Nadine Roos; Saniliswe Charlie, Lindelwa Gwala, Babalwa Latsha, Nolusindiso Booi, Danelle Lochner, Sizophila Solontsi, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Aseza Hele.
Replacements: Luchell Hannekom, Yonela Ngxingolo, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Vainah Ubisi, Anatha Qolo, Lerato Makua, Catha Jacobs, Eloise Webb.
New Zealand team
Centre Amy du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
It’s a blow to the Black Ferns, but one they should be able to absorb.
Outside back Katelyn Vahaakolo joins the group and will make an appearance off the bench.
There are 16 players who won the World Cup last time out though it’s hardly a grizzled team. 18-year-old sensation, Braxton Sorensen-McGee make her tournament debut on the wing.
New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe; Stacey Waaka, Theresa Stefano; Ruahei Demant, Maia Joseph; Chryss Vilko, Georgia Ponsonby, Vesinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Maiakawanaulani Roos, Alansa Bremner, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Replacements: Atlanta Lolohea, Awina Tangen-Wainohu, Kate Henwood, Laura Bayfield, Kenedy Tukuafu, Iritana Hohai, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I’iga
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
At last, the business end. The place where every ruck, every tackle, every pass has meaning. A place where there’s no second chance and only victory will suffice.
Welcome to the knockouts of the World Cup. Four teams are clearly head and shoulders above the rest. But that doesn’t mean we have no chance of an upset.
Will we get one today? Unlikely. We kick things off with the reigning champions New Zealand playing the lowest ranked team left in the competition. This is South Africa’s first foray into the latter stages of the tournament. Simply getting here constitutes a victory. Anything other than a romp for the Black Ferns would come as a seismic shock.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to look out for. Can the Kiwis spark and show that they’re the real deal? Can they cause a few scares for their competitors? And can the Springboks underline their progress with a commendable show?
We’ll find out when things kick off at 1pm BST.
Team news, some Saturday reading and other bits to come.
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