Canada produced one of the greatest upsets in Women’s Rugby World Cup history, defeating defending champions New Zealand 34-19 in front of a sold-out crowd of 24,392 at Ashton Gate to reach their first final since 2014 and end the Black Ferns’ unprecedented reign as world champions.

Key moments:

8′ – Justine Pelletier scores opener after neat chip and offload, Sophie de Goede converts (0-7)
11′ – Asia Hogan-Rochester powers over with brutal fend on Renee Holmes, Sophie de Goede misses conversion (0-12)
24′ – Florence Symonds finishes slick Canada move wide right, Sophie de Goede misses conversion (0-17)
26′ – Tanya Kalounivale muscles over from close range for New Zealand, Renee Holmes converts (7-17)
35′ – Sophie de Goede races clear from brilliant Justine Pelletier offload, Sophie de Goede converts (7-24)
43′ – Alex Tessier steps through defence early in second half, Sophie de Goede converts (7-31)
56′ – Liana Mikaele-Tu’u barrels over to spark New Zealand fightback, Braxton Sorensen-McGee converts (14-31)
65′ – Braxton Sorensen-McGee claims Ruahei Demant cross-kick, Braxton Sorensen-McGee misses conversion (19-31)
74′ – Sophie de Goede penalty seals historic victory (19-34)

The magnitude of this result cannot be overstated. New Zealand had not lost a knockout match at a World Cup since 1991, and their 18-match winning streak in the tournament represented one of sport’s most dominant runs. Yet from the opening exchanges at a raucous Ashton Gate, Canada played with the freedom and precision of a side that genuinely believed their moment had arrived.

FULL-TIME🇨🇦

Canada wins 34–19 over New Zealand in their semi-final match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup!

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FIN DU MATCH🇨🇦

Le Canada bat la Nouvelle-Zélande 34–19 en demi-finale de la Coupe du monde de rugby féminin!#RugbyCA | #OneSquad | #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/bJyNyIkFDz

— Rugby Canada (@RugbyCanada) September 19, 2025

The Maple Leafs’ confidence was not misplaced. Ranked second in the world, they had defeated New Zealand for the first time in their history just 16 months ago before following up with a dramatic draw in Christchurch during the Pacific Four Series. This was no fluke – this was the culmination of years of meticulous planning by French coach Kevin Rouet and the emergence of a generation of Canadian players who refuse to be overawed by rugby’s traditional powerhouses.

The opening exchanges were frantic, with both sides attempting to stretch play across the entire width of the field. Perfect conditions – clear skies, no wind, and a firm surface – seemed tailor-made for the expansive rugby that would follow. Canada laid no challenge to the haka, simply watching in a tight-knit line as the Black Ferns electrified the atmosphere with their traditional war dance.

Canada’s opening salvo was breathtaking in its execution and owed much to New Zealand’s early errors. The breakthrough came after Renee Holmes had kicked the ball out on the full, presenting Canada with field position they would ruthlessly exploit. Taylor Perry’s delicate chip kick over the advancing defensive line was gathered expertly by Alex Tessier on the burst, and following a swift recycle that caught New Zealand’s defence scattered, Alysha Corrigan’s perfectly timed inside pass found Justine Pelletier unmarked 15 metres from the line.

The 42-cap scrum-half’s finish was a masterclass in deception. Facing the last line of defence, Pelletier sold a gorgeous dummy that completely wrong-footed the covering defender before accelerating through the gap to dive over beside the posts. Sophie de Goede’s conversion sailed between the uprights with room to spare, and the stadium erupted in a cacophony of disbelief and delight.

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Three minutes later, Canada struck again with even more devastating effect. This time it was Perry’s distribution skills that unlocked the Black Ferns’ defence. The fly-half’s looping spiral pass perfectly weighted to find Asia Hogan-Rochester on the left wing seemed to present little danger with Renee Holmes closing rapidly on the Canadian speedster. The full-back’s tackle technique, however, was comprehensively answered by Hogan-Rochester’s thunderous hand-off – a brutal fend that planted squarely on Holmes’ chest and sent the New Zealand custodian tumbling backwards as the winger strolled over in the corner untouched.

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De Goede’s conversion attempt from the left touchline drifted wide of the near post, but at 12-0 down inside eleven minutes, the world champions looked shellshocked. The crowd sensed something extraordinary was unfolding, and Canada were only getting started.

The third try showcased Canada’s tactical maturity and forward power in equal measure. After winning a penalty and kicking to the corner, their lineout drive was textbook precision. When the initial maul was halted by resolute New Zealand defence, Canada refused to panic. Instead, they embarked on a patient 14-phase assault that gradually stretched the Black Ferns’ defensive line to breaking point.

Pick-and-go after pick-and-go saw Canada’s forwards battering away at the heart of New Zealand’s defence, each carry meticulously planned to suck in more defenders and create space out wide. When the moment finally arrived, Tessier’s vision and execution were sublime. The captain’s perfectly weighted pass cut through the fractured defensive line to send Florence Symonds crashing over wide on the right, her dive for the corner leaving the covering defenders grasping at thin air.

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De Goede’s conversion attempt from out wide struck the near post and bounced away, but at 17-0, New Zealand faced their worst World Cup start in living memory. The defending champions were staring into the abyss.

The Black Ferns’ response came through their time-honoured weapon – forward power allied to clinical execution. The catalyst was Stacey Waaka’s athletic intervention at the restart, the centre leaping with all the timing and skill honed in countless sevens tournaments to pluck the ball from the sky and immediately put her side on the front foot.

What followed was vintage Black Ferns rugby. Georgia Ponsonby steamrolled through the first phase of defence with a rampaging charge that carried her deep into Canadian territory. The momentum was infectious, and after several phases of controlled aggression from the forwards, Tanya Kalounivale spotted her opportunity. The experienced prop picked from the base of a ruck five metres out and powered through a cluster of Canadian defenders, her low body position and leg drive proving too much for the covering tacklers as she crashed over beside the posts.

Renee Holmes made no mistake with the conversion, and for a brief moment, it seemed the sleeping giants might be stirring. The crowd sensed the potential for one of those trademark Black Ferns comebacks that have become the stuff of legend, but Canada had other plans.

Just as New Zealand appeared to be building dangerous momentum, Canada delivered the psychological killer blow. The score that effectively ended the contest as a genuine competition was a thing of beauty, crafted by two players whose understanding bordered on the telepathic.

Justine Pelletier, who had been orchestrating proceedings with the poise of a seasoned general, took possession near halfway as Canada’s forwards recycled possession with lightning speed. Under intense pressure from Kennedy Tukuafu and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Pelletier somehow managed to stand up in the tackle long enough to execute a piece of skill that will be replayed for years to come. Her one-handed offload, delivered blind around the corner while being driven backwards, found Sophie de Goede perfectly positioned on the inside shoulder.

The towering lock needed no second invitation. With 20 metres of open field ahead of her and the covering defence desperately scrambling to reposition, de Goede showed pace that would not have looked out of place from a back-three player. Her acceleration took her clear of the desperate lunges of Ruahei Demant and Stacey Waaka, and she dived under the posts with the nonchalance of a player who knew she had just delivered a hammer blow to the world champions’ dreams.

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De Goede’s conversion of her own try was nerveless, the ball sailing through the uprights as the Canadian supporters in the crowd erupted in scenes of jubilation. At 24-7 ahead at the interval, Canada were not just leading – they were in complete control of a match that many had predicted would be decided by the finest of margins.

The statistics of the first half told the story of Canadian dominance as starkly as the scoreboard. Their extraordinary discipline was perhaps the most remarkable aspect of their performance – incredibly, the Black Ferns were not awarded a single penalty until the 61st minute, a statistic that bordered on the impossible against any international side, let alone the world’s most successful team.

New Zealand’s 93 per cent tackle success rate – the tournament’s best entering the match – had crumbled to expose 18 missed tackles in the opening 40 minutes alone. Their kicking game, normally a source of territorial control and pressure, had instead gifted Canada field position and momentum at crucial moments.

The second half began ominously for New Zealand as Canada demonstrated they had no intention of sitting on their lead. Within three minutes of the restart, they had extended their advantage in devastating fashion. The score came from Canada’s ability to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye.

DaLeaka Menin’s strip of the ball at the kick-off was the catalyst, her powerful physique and quick hands catching New Zealand in possession but not in control. The ball spilled loose, and suddenly Canada were on the charge deep in enemy territory. What followed was a masterpiece of individual brilliance from Alex Tessier that epitomised her side’s confidence and composure under pressure.

Receiving the ball 15 metres from the line with three Black Ferns defenders converging, Tessier’s response was devastating in its simplicity. A subtle step off her right foot completely wrong-footed the first defender, while her change of pace left the second grasping at shadows. By the time the third defender arrived, Tessier was already diving over the line, her footballing background evident in the balance and footwork that had dissected New Zealand’s defence with surgical precision.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Alex Tessier of Canada scores her team’s fifth try during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Semi Final match between New Zealand and Canada at Ashton Gate on September 19, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Morgan Harlow – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

De Goede’s conversion from in front of the posts was a formality, and at 31-7, even the most optimistic Black Ferns supporter would have been fearing the worst. The match seemed over as a contest, Canada having produced 43 minutes of rugby that bordered on perfection.

New Zealand’s response, when it finally came, showcased the fighting spirit and class that has made them the most successful side in the sport’s history. The revival began with Liana Mikaele-Tu’u’s thunderous charge that epitomised everything the Black Ferns represent at their very best. After Layla Sae had been introduced from the bench to add fresh legs to the back row, New Zealand finally began to win the collisions that had eluded them for the majority of the contest.

The try came from sustained pressure in the Canadian 22, with New Zealand’s forwards finally imposing their considerable physical presence on proceedings. Wave after wave of black jerseys crashed into the Canadian defensive line, each carry more determined than the last. When the space finally appeared, Mikaele-Tu’u spotted the gap and exploited it with devastating effect, her powerful frame proving too much for the covering tacklers as she bulldozed through multiple defenders to crash over the line.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Liana Mikaele-Tu’u of New Zealand celebrates scoring her team’s second try with teammates during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Semi Final match between New Zealand and Canada at Ashton Gate on September 19, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Braxton Sorensen-McGee, stepping up to take over the kicking duties, made no mistake with the conversion from close range. At 31-14, New Zealand had finally given their supporters something to cheer about, and the comeback that had seemed impossible suddenly appeared within the realm of possibility.

That possibility became a genuine prospect nine minutes later when Sorensen-McGee added her own name to the scoresheet with a try that showcased both her individual brilliance and Ruahei Demant’s tactical acumen. The move began with sustained New Zealand pressure deep in Canadian territory, their forwards finally beginning to match the intensity and aggression that Canada had displayed throughout.

When the ball was recycled to Demant, the experienced fly-half demonstrated why she remains one of the game’s premier tactical kickers. Her cross-field punt was weighted to perfection, hanging in the Bristol air just long enough for Sorensen-McGee to position herself under the dropping ball while maintaining perfect body position to collect and score.

The 18-year-old wing’s finish was exemplary, gathering the ball cleanly before stepping inside the covering defender to dot down in the corner. Her conversion attempt from the touchline drifted wide of the far post, but at 31-19 with 15 minutes remaining, the most unlikely of comebacks looked genuinely possible.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Braxton Sorensen-McGee of New Zealand scores her team’s third try during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Semi Final match between New Zealand and Canada at Ashton Gate on September 19, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The crowd could sense the drama building, and for a brief period, it seemed Canada might buckle under the pressure of holding onto their dream. New Zealand’s possession statistics in the final quarter told the story of their desperate pursuit of victory – 94 per cent in the last ten minutes as they threw everything at their opponents’ line.

But Canada’s response to this pressure demonstrated exactly why they deserved to be in a World Cup final. Rather than panic, they showed composure and game management that belied their relative inexperience on this stage. Their defensive line speed never dropped, their discipline remained exemplary, and when the crucial moment arrived, they delivered the knockout blow with clinical precision.

The decisive penalty came with six minutes remaining after New Zealand had been penalised for a dangerous croc roll at the breakdown. Sophie de Goede’s kick from directly in front of the posts was never in doubt, the ball sailing through the uprights to stretch the lead to 15 points and effectively seal one of the sport’s greatest upsets.

The contrast between the two sides was stark throughout the 80 minutes. Canada played with a fluidity and precision that suggested they had been preparing for this moment for years. Their attack was multi-dimensional, switching seamlessly between forward power and backline flair, whilst their defensive line speed suffocated New Zealand’s traditional rhythm. Crucially, their set-piece was statistically the best in the tournament, providing the platform for their dominance in every key moment.

Player of the match Justine Pelletier was exceptional at scrum-half, constantly threatening around the fringes whilst her distribution was inch-perfect. Her quick thinking and probing runs caught the Black Ferns defenders off guard repeatedly, while her partnership with de Goede proved to be the decisive factor in the contest.

“That was crazy. It was fun to play rugby and we’ve shown what rugby can be,” the 42-cap veteran said. “A lot of grit, a lot of resilience, a lot of hard work. It’s not just one game, it’s a lot of hustle in the dark. Now we’re in the light.”

De Goede was immense in the tight and clinical in key moments, finishing with a try, three conversions and a penalty while also showing her prowess at the breakdown and in the lineout. “Huge relief and excitement and pride after that,” she reflected. “We knew it was going to take an incredible performance to beat them and I am just really proud we were able to put that out on the field and keep control in that game.”

This was a complete team performance from a side that epitomises modern rugby’s changing landscape. Unlike New Zealand’s professional programme, Canada’s squad is semi-professional and had to crowdfund $1 million to properly prepare for this tournament through their “Mission: Win Rugby World Cup” campaign. The victory represented vindication for a group of players who have consistently been underestimated despite their world ranking.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Canada players celebrate their victory following the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Semi Final match between New Zealand and Canada at Ashton Gate on September 19, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

For New Zealand, the absence of Jorja Miller proved more costly than initially anticipated. The dynamic flanker’s pace and footwork – honed to perfection in the sevens arena – might have provided the X-factor needed to unlock Canada’s disciplined defence in those crucial moments when space was at a premium.

Ruahei Demant’s 50th cap milestone – making her only the third Black Fern to reach that landmark alongside Kendra Cocksedge and Fiao’o Fa’amausili – was overshadowed by defeat, though the co-captain’s leadership and tactical acumen kept her side in contention when the match threatened to become a rout. Her crossfield kick for Sorensen-McGee’s try was a reminder of the class that has made her one of the world’s premier fly-halves.

“Obviously, we’re gutted for our ladies,” head coach Allan Bunting admitted, his emotion evident as he struggled to process the end of an era. “Canada were accurate today. We weren’t, and that’s the difference. Sport can be tough sometimes; it can break your heart.”

Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu, who had stepped up admirably to replace the injured Miller in the back row, was visibly emotional during the post-match press conference. “This isn’t the way I envisioned our journey ending,” she said. “Our discipline didn’t help us out. We just didn’t hold onto the ball enough to put points on them.”

Hooker Georgia Ponsonby, on the verge of tears, provided perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening as she thanked supporters back home. “Massive thank you to everyone back home. Your support means the world to us. Whether you got up at 12am, 2am or 4am, we get it,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion before she was unable to continue her interview.

This result represents a seismic shift in women’s rugby that extends far beyond the result itself. Canada will face either England or France in next Saturday’s final at Twickenham, and on this evidence, they will fear no opponent. Their performance levels, tactical sophistication and mental fortitude suggest they are ready to challenge for the sport’s ultimate prize.

For New Zealand, the pain of defeat will be acute as they prepare for the bronze medal match, but their legacy as the sport’s most successful nation remains intact. They have set the standard for everyone else to follow, and tonight Canada not only met that standard but exceeded it emphatically.

The tectonic plates of world rugby have shifted at Ashton Gate. After years in the shadows, Canada’s time has finally arrived on the sport’s biggest stage, and they have announced their arrival in the most emphatic fashion imaginable.