TWICKENHAM - World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored twice as New Zealand beat France 42-26 in the Bronze Final of Rugby World Cup 2025 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The scores took the teenage superstar to 11 in total for the tournament, which could well see her finish as top scorer in what has been her debut Rugby World Cup.
Story of the match
Despite the scoreline, it was France who scored the opening try through scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who got on the end of a move down the right to receive an offload from Marine Menager for a 7-0 lead. At the time it looked as though Les Bleues could be on course to win a fourth bronze final in as many tournaments, but the Black Ferns hit back courtesy of a neat inside ball from Sylvia Brunt to put fly-half Ruahei Demant through under the posts and square things up.
The score remained that way up to the half-hour mark, shortly after which Brunt turned from provider to scorer with a leg-drive to power over from close range near the touchline.
Then came a double hit from Renee Holmes and Laura Bayfield, who each scored in the final three minutes of the first half to give the six-time champions a 26-7 lead at the break.
Sorensen-McGee got the scoring under way in the second half with her two tries, the first of which saw her throw a dummy before ghosting around the defence to run in a solo score, and the second an impressive dive into the corner that put her side firmly in control.
Lea Champon, Gabrielle Vernier and Emilie Boulard hit back for the French with three tries in 10 minutes, but the Black Ferns held out to secure what is their first ever bronze medal at a Women's Rugby World Cup.
Mastercard Player of the Match
Not only did Renee Holmes cross for a crucial try at the end of the first half, she also added 12 points with the boot to help guide her side to victory.
"You can see a wave of black over there, and a wave of black back home," Holmes said. "That one was for them, that one was for each other. I'm so proud of this team, I'm so proud of our country, we did it girls.
"It means everything. To come back out here after a tough game last week. It shows a lot of character; that's exactly what this team is and has. To get that win today... I'm just so happy."
Coach insight
New Zealand head coach Allan Bunting said his side's performance was the culmination of three years of hard work, and the result a nod to the depth of talent in the country.
"We're really proud of our ladies," he said. "Last week hurt, so to be able to go out there and show how the Black Ferns play, I'm really proud. Proud of our efforts over the last three years.
"There's been massive growth - I could talk for a while about that. There are young ladies out there who have really unearthed themselves onto the world stage, it's been really special.
"France were also good out there. With them, you can never think things are done. They've got some amazing players out there, so really proud of how our team finished."
France co-head coach Gaëlle Mignot, meanwhile, highlighted her side's second-half fightback as cause to be optimistic for the future of Les Bleues.
"I am very proud of my players today," she said.
"When we went into the dressing room at half-time the score was quite heavy. We tried to give them the right words.
"I was really impressed with the reaction in the second half so I think there's a lot to believe in for the future."
Stat of the Day
Teenager Sorensen-McGee's second-half brace took her RWC 2025 try tally to 11 – the second most scored at any women’s Rugby World Cup ever. The only woman in front of her? Teammate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (13 at RWC 2017), who went off just minutes before Sorensen-McGee’s second. A changing of the guard perhaps?
