The road to the Rugby World Cup 2025 final was paved with blistering attacks and formidable forward displays, as Canada and England emerged victorious from a spectacular weekend of semifinal rugby. Both matches delivered a compelling narrative of speed, power, and individual brilliance, with Canada’s high-tempo game overwhelming New Zealand and England’s methodical dominance proving too much for a spirited French side. The stage is now set for a titanic clash between two rugby powerhouses.
From the opening whistle of the first semifinal, Canada established a breathless pace that New Zealand struggled to contain. Scrum-half Justine Pelletier was magnificent in her 50th test match, orchestrating the Canadian attack with precision and flair. She initiated the first try with a clever kick on a penalty advantage, leading to Justine Fournier crossing the line. Moments later, a swift set-piece play unleashed Canada's backs, who left New Zealand defenders "in their wake" to score a second try. The Canadian pack then asserted its authority with a grueling 14-phase assault, with 13 of those phases driven by the forwards, showcasing their incredible work rate and efficiency at the breakdown. This relentless pressure eventually created an overlap for Florence Symonds to score Canada's third try inside the first 25 minutes. Canada’s ruthless efficiency continued right before halftime when Pelletier’s sharp dart from the ruck set up Sophie de Goede, who charged under the posts for a commanding lead.
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New Zealand, though on the back foot, showed moments of champion quality. A stunning aerial takes from Stacy on a restart kick provided the Black Ferns with crucial field position and momentum, leading to their first try. After quick ball recycling and powerful work from the front row, Tanya Kalounivale—the self-proclaimed "protector" of the team—crashed over the line. The Black Ferns proved they could be clinical when opportunities arose, scoring again through Liana Mikaele-Tu'u during a moment of desperation. Their comeback hopes were further ignited by a brilliant cross-field kick from Ruahei Demant that found 18-year-old "wonder kid" Braxton Sorenson-McGee, who produced a fantastic finish in the corner to keep the contest tight.
In the second semifinal, England and France engaged in a tense tactical battle before England's class shone through. Ellie Kildunne, returning to the starting lineup, delivered a "special" performance, scoring the opening try of the second half with exceptional "micro skills," using a swerve and an impressive reach to finish in the corner. France answered with a patiently constructed try, building pressure through multiple phases before sucking in the English defense and allowing Agathe to score. However, England’s most potent weapon—the rolling maul—proved to be a decisive factor. Launching an unstoppable drive from inside the French 22, the English pack marched over the line for Amy Cokayne to touch down.
France refused to surrender, creating a three-on-one overlap that allowed late replacement Kelly Arbey to score and keep her team in the fight. England's response was ruthless; after a series of brutal forward carries, Tatiana Herd made a crucial break before Lark Davies powered over from close range. The match was ultimately sealed by a moment of individual magic from Kildunne. Fielding a kick, she used her incredible footwork to evade two defenders and accelerated through the gears for a spectacular solo try, effectively putting the game beyond France's reach. Though France managed a second try for Arbey, and England added a final score through Meg Jones after a fortunate bounce from a kick, the Red Roses secured their place in the final against Canada.
