Ten tries - including a record-setter for the incomparable Portia Woodman-Wickliffe - and more than 60 points suggest this was a straight-forward affair for New Zealand, but at times Japan had the Black Ferns truly rattled.
Story of the match
Much to the sellout crowd’s delight, it was Japan who struck first, stunning the six-time champions with a faultless opening. First the forwards won a penalty, then a great box kick was followed by a solid lineout, a swift maul and a superb finish from winger Sakurako Hatada.
The Sakura Fifteen started the second half in a similar style, their rolling maul – which caused New Zealand trouble all day – propelling them to another score. That set the tone for a second half, which will cause the Black Ferns coaching staff some concern. Japan grabbing 53 per cent territory during 40 minutes in which they endlessly varied their point of attack and sloppy errors crept in to New Zealand's play.
There were, of course, bright spots for the two-time reigning champions, and when you need a spark, it is useful to have your nation’s greatest ever try scorer on hand. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe had plenty left to do when she got the ball just inside Japan’s 10m line, with her side trailing 5-0 after 12 minutes. But a feint, a hand-off, two defenders beaten and the 34-year-old had it – a 50th test try, more than any other New Zealand rugby player ever.
That seemed to spur the youngsters on, 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee and 21-year-old Jorja Miller taking over. The pair showed their famed teammate that they too know how to finish, with full-back Sorensen-McGee scoring three and the sevens Women's Player of the Year Miller bagging a double.
Plenty to work on for the Black Ferns however, ahead of a final pool match v Ireland.
Mastercard Player of the Match
A hat-trick of tries barely told the full story for New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee. The teenage full-back was everywhere, as her 171m made attests to. The fact she added four conversions too, seems just a bonus.
"It's pretty unreral. I am crying because I saw my auntie," the Mastercard Player of the Match said at full-time.
"I've got to give it to my girls. They set me up for most of my tries. It's just confidence in myself. The girls do really well to back me and make sure I have confidence."
Coach insight
Nw Zealand head coach Allan Bunting is pleased enough with his side's progress to date.
"Our ladies got some good game time out there. Everyone has had some game time now. We have a lot to build off. Our discipline really cost us. We got to test ourselves. I was happy looking at young Brax [Braxton Sorensen-McGee] out there, shining like a little star that she is," he said.
"The mindset of our ladies has been outstanding but we have plenty more to build off that."
For Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie, there's plenty of pride and even more optimism about next week.
"I’m so pleased for them, honestly. This was a great challenge for us. We spoke about it this week, we spoke about it through the summer, prepping for this. To play a world champion in your pool is a really good test. We talked about being worthy of that test," McKenzie said.
"A few moments of chaos, a few chunks of chaos there where we probably let them get some points that we will regret a little bit. But overall, some massively positive passages of play, some smart use of territory and I guess at the back end of it, great character, great intent, when we brought our shoulders to the collision.
"Next week we want to show the best of Japan."
Stat of the day
Sorensen-McGee's hat-trick was the eighth in just 14 Rugby World Cup 2025 matches.
Next steps
New Zealand's win means that both they and their final Pool C opponents Ireland already through to the quarter-finals, with their clash (KO 14:45 Sunday, 7 September in Brighton) set to decide which team goes through as No.1 seeds.
For Japan it is a mouth-watering tie against fellow rising stars Spain - KO 12:00 Sunday, 7 September in York- with the prize of a RWC 2025 win up for grabs.
