Despite the mystery, Jorja Miller injury is a cruel setback for Black Ferns at Rugby World Cup

Thursday, 18 September 2025

ANALYSIS: Jorja Miller’s enforced absence from the Black Ferns’ women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal with Canada is another reminder of sport’s cruel tendencies.

While the nature of Miller’s injury bizarrely remains undisclosed, her left knee was heavily strapped in their 46-17 quarterfinal win over South Africa in Exeter last weekend.

The Black Ferns were coy when asked why the 21-year-old openside flanker, one of the game’s rising stars, wasn’t playing in their biggest test since the last World Cup final in 2022, claiming she had “requested privacy”.

That lack of clarity might frustrate fans wanting to know if Miller’s tournament is over.

Whatever the case, Miller is hindered enough to not be considered by Allan Bunting for the most significant match of his coaching career, against the world No 2 Canadians in Bristol on Saturday (NZ time) in an occasion that might define his Black Ferns tenure.

Had Miller been fit, she would have played. Her World Cup dream might have been shattered.

The winner of New Zealand Rugby’s top individual award last year, the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year, her promising career had been unblemished until this week.

Nothing had stopped her since cracking the quality Black Ferns Sevens’ team as an 18-year-old, leading to their golden victory at last year’s Paris Olympics, and the World Cup stage in England was looking like a prosperous playground for the Timaru talent.

The grandest edition of the women’s showpiece event to date, with heaving crowds filling stadiums, she was at the heart of a Black Ferns’ team whose belief was growing for the knockout stages after some shaky seasons since winning their sixth world title on home soil almost three years ago.

In her first World Cup, Miller had dazzled with her speed out wide, turnovers and some outstanding tries, with the complementing physical drive needed to take on contenders such as massive favourites England and Canada.

However, Miller has been struck down for the very test the Black Ferns have been targeting since the World Cup draw was made, knowing the tricky Canadians were their likely semifinal opponent, a side they haven’t beaten in their last two encounters.

It would have been Miller’s first clash against a genuine World Cup challenger (there is an enormous quality gulf below the top four of England, Canada, the Black Ferns and France) and fascinating to see how, after six tests, she competed against one of the game’s elite forward packs.

The rugby gods have robbed Miller (and everyone) of that contest, leaving the Black Ferns without an attacking weapon Canada would have feared given their close ties to sevens. They know better than anyone how good she can be.

It’s a blow for promoting the tournament, too. Miller is the ideal player to market in the modern age. With impressive Highland dancing skills and extensive food recipes, she is establishing a large following on social media.

Even if Miller does play — and that remains a mystery — in front of an expected crowd of more than 80,000 at Twickenham in next weekend’s final or third-place playoff, missing the Canada semifinal is the first major setback of her blossoming career.

As she is finding out in agonising fashion, the game can be cruel.

The Black Ferns do have ample loose forward cover. Experienced co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu has replaced Miller at No 7.

Miller’s last act?

If Miller’s World Cup is finished, her last involvement might have been telling.

As the Black Ferns struggled to withstand South Africa’s physical approach in the first half of their quarterfinal, Miller had no bandaging.

Returning after half-time, there was strapping around her left knee.

She ran the support line and assisted Braxton Sorensen-McGee’s second try in the 44th minute, but she was immediately walking to the bench instead of joining the celebrations.

Miller has not been shy in exemplifying the joy the Black Ferns want to exhibit in games.

Sat on the bench, she looked frustrated, perhaps realising she had a problem.

What they said

Black Ferns coach Bunting: “It’s a semifinal, we are pretty excited. Obviously we don’t have Jorja, but we’ve got this lady sitting next to me [Kennedy Tukuafu] and Layla Sa’e comes on the bench who was massively impressive in her first couple of games. They bring their own presence and special gifts. We have a strong team this weekend.”

Black Ferns co-captain Tukuafu: “I go to her if I need her help in the position because she has been starting. She’s an incredible person who’s done a lot for our team off the field, she’s done a lot for me. She is an incredible player, but we haven’t felt her presence leave at all. She continues to serve the team in a different way.”

Black Ferns loose forward Liana Mikaele-Tu’u: “Jorja is a one-of-a-kind player. It’s obviously a blow, but the fact that Kennedy Tukuafu is the replacement at No 7, I have full faith that Kennedy will bring everything to this game. She's a quality player, a world-class player.”