Summary

  • Defending champions New Zealand beat South Africa 46-17 to reach Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals

  • Black Ferns took control in second half with dominant spell of 29 unanswered points

  • South Africa impressed in first 40 minutes and were level at 10-10 half-time

  • New Zealand will face Canada or Australia in semi-finals - those two nations play quarter-final in Bristol at 16:00 BST

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl

  1. New Zealand 10-5 South Africa

    Interestingly, Renee Holmes' conversion is way off.

    It's really windy in Exeter today. Nobody's kicking game has been perfect.

  2. New Zealand 10-5 South Africa

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC Two

    To be fair to South Africa, it is almost impossible to defend that space.

  3. try

    Try - New Zealand 10-5 South Africa

    Braxton Sorensen-McGee (29 mins)

    Sorensen-McGee capitalises on space out wide to give New Zealand the lead

    It had to be her! New Zealand's top points scorer at this tournament, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, is completely free on the right-hand side and crosses unopposed after New Zealand dominate the scrum.

    The Black Ferns take the lead for the first time today.

  4. New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    Claire Thomas
    Women's Rugby World Cup commentator

    Sensational rugby, caps out-stands and records being smashed.

  5. New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    Scrum five metres out for NZ.

  6. New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    New Zealand have the momentum. South Africa's Byrhandre Dolf is tackled behind her own posts after dithering.

  7. New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    Alastair Telfer
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    We've plenty of New Zealand supporters in the house. Loads of black flags have just been raised around me.

    The hardest the Black Ferns have worked for a try at this World Cup.

  8. New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    Siwan Lillicrap
    Former Wales captain on BBC Two

    Her pressure was phenomenal!

  9. try

    Try - New Zealand 5-5 South Africa

    Theresa Setefano (27 mins)

    South Africa clearance blocked before Setefano pounces on loose ball to score for New Zealand

    This'll count!

    New Zealand scrum-half Maia Joseph charges down a South Africa clearing kick and the ball goes straight to Theresa Setefano a few metres out. who steps and then crosses.

    After all of South Africa's hard work, an individual error puts New Zealand level.

  10. No try

    New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    No try given! Liana Mikaele-Tu'u was an inch or two too short!

    Liana Mikaele-Tu'uGetty Images

  11. Try review

    New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    New Zealand go over! Or do they? TMO is having a check. The referee says no try.

    Liana Mikaele-Tu'u breaks through the South Africa defence and stretches for the try line. Did she drop the ball?

  12. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    Oh dear. South Africa are panicking. They throw the line-out straight to New Zealand.

    New Zealand running into defendersGetty Images

  13. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    Only 20-odd minutes gone and Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu has already made 20 tackles, the most by a New Zealand player in a single fixture at Rugby World Cup 2025.

  14. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    The comeback starts here. New Zealand are about 20 metres out. stretching the pitch.

    But a poor pass out left to Jorja Miller goes straight out of play. This doesn't usually happen to New Zealand.

  15. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    Siwan Lillicrap
    Former Wales captain on BBC Two

    This Black Ferns side haven't had much ball and they wont be happy about that.

  16. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    The Black Ferns have made just 29 metres to South Africa's 288.

  17. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    South Africa fumble the kick-off. New Zealand are let back into the game straight away.

  18. New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC Two

    They were patient enough and had the power and were persistent enough. Congratulations to them.

  19. try

    Try - New Zealand 0-5 South Africa

    Babalwa Latsha (20 mins)

    South Africa's patience rewarded as Latsha bundles over to score opening try

    The shock is on!

    South Africa get the try their play has more than deserved. Babalwa Latsha stretches from a few feet out and manages to get her long arm over the line and down right in the corner.

    The World Champions are rocking.

  20. New Zealand 0-0 South Africa

    Within one.