Black Ferns face midfield crisis for Rugby World Cup semifinal against Canada

Sunday, 14 September 2025

Allan Bunting’s Black Ferns might have a midfield crisis to manage for their semifinal reckoning against Canada at the women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Three of their four midfielders have gone down in six days — Sylvia Brunt and Theresa Setefano (head knocks) are doubts and Amy du Plessis has been ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury.

Centre Stacey Waaka was their only midfield specialist known to be available for next weekend’s semifinal after their 46-17 quarterfinal win against South Africa in Exeter on Sunday (NZ time).

Brunt missed the clash against the Springbok women after sustaining her second head knock in two games in their final pool match against Ireland, their 40-0 victory in Brighton last Monday (NZ time).

Setefano was forced off in the 35th minute against South Africa and didn’t return after failing her head injury assessment. She started with Waaka, the midfield duo for the Black Ferns’ last World Cup win in New Zealand in 2022.

At this stage, neither Setefano nor Brunt are certain to be available, while undergoing concussion protocols, to face world No 2 Canada in their semifinal in Bristol next Saturday at 6am (NZ time).

Brunt was ruled out of the Black Ferns’ quarterfinal because of her head knock against Ireland.

The midfield wrecking ball was player of the match after scattering the Irish defence with some huge carries, but she was taken off in the 69th minute.

Before their quarterfinal, coach Bunting said Brunt was still being assessed.

“We had a few knocks last week, we are obviously working through that,” he said of the Irish encounter.

“Sylvia Brunt was known after the game and is in safe hands with our medical team.”

The second five-eighth was declared to fit to face Ireland after playing 40 minutes in their second pool match with Japan, a 62-19 success in Exeter a fortnight ago, in which she was on the receiving end of a nasty head clash that led to Haruka Hirotsu’s yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

What would be the alternatives?

Waaka is unlikely to shift from her best position at centre, where she is most effective, leaving the potential vacancy at second-five.

Katelyn Vaha’akolo and Ayesha Leti-I’iga are primarily wingers. Braxton Sorensen-McGee, the tournament’s leading try-scorer with eight, has played fullback and wing. None have genuine experience of playing midfield in tests.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is one of the game’s most revered wingers, although she has played in midfield for the Blues in this year’s Super Rugby Aupiki.

Ruahei Demant often drops into second-five, but she is the team’s leader and their only specialist No 10.

The other option is the versatile veteran Kelly Brazier. However, she has played only two tests this season after a four-year hiatus and might not be tossed into the cauldron of a World Cup semifinal with such limited playing time.

A wildcard could be openside flanker Jorja Miller because she appears in the wide channels almost like a centre, but that is extremely unlikely.

Bunting will be hoping one or both of Brunt and Setefano can play. Otherwise he will be forced to make a bold selection call.

The midfield pickle

The uncertainty on Brunt and Setefano leaves the Black Ferns in an awkward predicament for their most important test since the 2022 World Cup final win against England.

Their semifinal is the biggest match of Bunting’s tenure, the world champions battling to make the Twickenham final before a sellout crowd of more than 82,000 on September 28 (NZ time).

The Black Ferns haven’t beaten Canada in their last two meetings in Christchurch, drawing 27-27 in May and losing 22-19 last year. The powerful Canadians stormed into the last four with a 46-5 rout of Australia in their quarterfinal and won’t fear the Black Ferns.

Bunting could be short of two key midfielders. He will be eager for them to play — and so will they — without wanting to compromise their wellbeing.

The luckless du Plessis was named to face South Africa, the country of her birth, but a shoulder injury she sustained in their opening 54-8 win against Spain has sidelined her.

Setefano is an experienced, classy operator to complement their exciting talent out wide. She would be missed.

Once Setefano was replaced by Vaha'akolo after scoring the opening try against South Africa, the Black Ferns chopped and changed their midfield in a second half where they seized control.

If Setefano and Brunt are not passed fit, Waaka would be their only specialist midfielder and a massive reshuffle might be required.