Rugby: Black Ferns 'Still Haven't Shown Everything' - Kennedy Tukuafu

Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 6:02 pm
Article: RNZ

RNZ Sport

The Black Ferns say they're not the finished product yet after coasting into a Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa with a 40-0 drubbing of Ireland.

The defending champions ran in six unanswered tries, with teenage winger Braxton Sorensen-McGee bagging second hat-trick of the tournament, to top pool C and set up showdown with the pool D runners-up early on Sunday morning (NZT).

Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu said it was their best performance so far after earlier outclassing minnows Spain and Japan.

"We put a stake in the ground and we just plan on moving forward from here," Tukuafu told RNZ's Morning Report.

"It was an outstanding performance from the girls, I'm proud of the things we were able to achieve, even on the defensive side, keeping it to that nil.

"The pleasing thing is that we still haven't shown everything, we've still got a few things up our sleeve, which is really cool.

"We've obviously got the talent in the team and it's just about winning more moments. We had a great game and there are still things we can improve on."

Tukuafu expressed the same sentiment as Sorensen-McGee, who is the tournament's leading point-scorer with 38 - comprising six tries and four conversions.

The bruising flanker said she marvelled at the Blues teenager's talent.

"Oh man, she's an exceptional player. It's crazy - she's only 18 and she can do all of this," Tukuafu said.

"What I love about Brax is that she's so mature, she's beyond her years. And when we're out on the field, she's directing, she's exactly where she's meant to be.

"She has the confidence of a 50-Test Black Fern. So that's really nice - we don't have to worry about her.

"Another hat-trick in a World Cup, I'm glad she's on my team. But I don't think she's scratched the surface of what she's capable of."

The quarter-final will be played three hours after the second Rugby Championship Test finishes between the All Blacks and Springboks.

It wasn't lost on Tukuafu.

"It's awesome we'll get an opportunity to play against the South Africans. With the rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks, it's pretty exciting for our nation," she said.

"What we know about them is that they're physical, they're strong, they're big. It's just going to be a battle."

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