Pool D had their second round of their group matches this weekend, as the pressures ramps up and the quarter-finals loom.
Italy faced South Africa and Brazil played France, with France and South Africa successfully booking their places at the knockout rounds. The Sporting News runs through the matches, scores, key moments and what this means for next week.
Italy vs South Africa
Score: 24 - 29
Location: York Community Stadium, York
Try scorers:
Italy: Minuzzi, Vecchini, Sgorbii, Seye; Conv: Sillari, Rigoni
South Africa: Hele, Roos, Malinga, Solontsi, Mcatshulwa; Conv: Dolf (2)
Player of the Match: Libbie Janse van Rensburg (South Africa)
Match report:
South Africa pulled off a historic win against Italy for the first time ever in York this weekend as part of the second weekend of Pool B matches. The Springboks, who are ranked 12th in the world, beat Italy, who are eighth in the world, 29 - 24 after a continually high energy and high pressure match.
The Springboks came out with all guns blazing, as Aseza Hele scored in just two minutes, followed by Nadine Roos crossing the line in the 20th minute to extend South Africa’s lead to 10 - 0.
However, Italy weren’t going to sit placidly, especially after their 24 - 0 loss to France last week. Minuzziscored just three minutes after South Africa, starting a flurry of tries from both side until half time, with the score jumping from 5 - 12 to 12 - 17 in just 11 minutes.
Italy continued to pile the pressure on in the second half with Francesca Sgorbini scoring in the 47th minute to even the score to 17 apiece.
It was truly either side’s game in the second half, as every try that South Africa earnt was faced with a retaliatory Italian try, meaning that the game was tied 24 - 24 with just ten minutes left.
However, with just six minutes left, Black Fern Sinazo Mcatshulwa stormed across the line to earn South Africa their crucial last five points, booking their place to the quarterfinals - their first World Cup knockout round in history.
France vs Brazil
Score: 84 - 5
Location: Sandy Park, Exeter
Try scorers:
France: Boulard (2), Morland, Bourdon Sansus, Arbey (2), Deshaye, Menager (2), Queyroi, Okemba (2), Konde, Tuy; Conv: Queyroi (7)
Brazil: Silva
Player of the Match: Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France)
Match report:
France dominated once again in Pool D, as they demolished Brazil 84 - 5 in Exeter in order to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Brazil were unable to respond to the dominant French side from the get-go, as Emilie Boulard crossed the line in just five minutes to establish France’s first points, which grew to a huge 53 - 0 by half time.
The French side, which was significantly changed from the winning team against Italy with 11 changes in their starting lineup, scored a staggering nine tries in the first half, including kicker Queyroi crossing the line to score some points of her own.
Queyroi impressed throughout the match, earning France 19 points through her try and seven conversions as France continued to pull away throughout the second half, increasing their try count to a huge 14.
Scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who was nominated for World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2024, fit right back into her team after not being able to play the opening match as a punitory measure for her comments about referring standards in domestic women’s rugby. She scored a try of her own, as well as setting up Marine Menager’s try with a skillful inside ball.
Her performance was recognised by her being awarded MasterCard Player of the Match.
Despite their loss, it was Brazil that took home the moment of the game as they scored their first World Cup try in history. As the first South American contigent to ever take part in a Women’s Rugby World Cup, Bianca Silva’s try was a truly momentous occasion.
She stormed to the line in true World Cup fashion, after executing a fantastic dummy to outwit the French defence and race more than 40 metres to the line.
What does this mean for next week?
France and South Africa have officially booked their way to the quarterfinals, with their match next weekend establishing who will finish top of Pool D.
Brazil’s historic World Cup campaign will come to an end next weekend, as well as Italy's journey, as they face each other as their final World Cup match.
Rugby news and related content
- What happened this week at the Women’s Rugby World Cup? Pool C results, key moments, standout players and more from second round of group matches
- What happened at the Women’s Rugby World Cup? Pool B results, key moments, standout players and more from second round of group matches
- What happened this week at the Women’s Rugby World Cup? Pool A results, key moments, standout players and more from second round of group stages