Japan Sakura Fifteen vs New Zealand Preview – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

The Japan Sakura Fifteen face their biggest challenge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 on Sunday, 31st August at Sandy Park in Exeter, as they attempt to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive by defeating the current World Champions, the Black Ferns.

Photo Credit – 2025 Women’s World Cup Pool C  – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, England – Ireland vs Japan – JRFU / Ashley Western

This is only the second time the two sides will meet, and the first at a Rugby World Cup, with the Black Ferns inflicting a heavy 96-12 Sakura Fifteen in September 2022. In fact, the New Zealanders, who beat Spain in their opening match, have only ever lost two RWC matches and have a 95% win rate, and Japan have won just one of their 13 RWC pool stage games – so the task is herculean.

The Black Ferns always looked likely to be without some injured players for the pool game against Japan in Exeter. Loose forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker, wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga (ankle) and midfielder Amy du Plessis (shoulder) all left the Spain victory carrying injuries in York.

But the squad selected by Black Ferns Director of Performance Allan Bunting (who addressed his players in Japanese this week in one session) is a very strong one.  He said, “It’s awesome to be here in Exeter and we have had a focused week of preparations. Japan played well last week, they are well-coached, and we expect them to come out and throw everything at us. We’ve selected a team who we believe will rise to the occasion.”

Loose forward Kennedy Tukuafu starts her first Test since the Black Ferns played USA in the 2025 Pacific Four Series, and there is a return off the bench for a RWC debut for prop Kate Henwood after being injured in July. Other World Cup debutants this weekend will be Katelyn Vahaakolo, Atlanta Lolohea, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and Maia Joseph.

Risaleaana Pouri-Lane and Demant start at scrumhalf and flyhalf, and there is a first RWC 2025 appearance for Stacey Waaka, with 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee in fullback.

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 / World Rugby – NZ vs Spain

Black Ferns Defence Coach Steve Jackson said, “We are feeling pretty confident, but we aren’t taking Japan lightly….We will be going out there to put our best foot forward and put on a performance that we can be proud of, but Japan will be a difficult side to play. There are things in our game that we need to tidy up, which we will work on this week. If we do that really well, we should hopefully get the desired outcome. We are under no illusions; Japan will be tough.”

Tanya Kalounivale said of the competitiveness in the Rugby World Cup, “Every country, every year, grows. Three years ago, the competitiveness was at a level, and now every team is fitter, every team is faster, you know it’s the World Cup! Everyone looks forward to the pinnacle event, and this is the pinnacle event for women’s rugby.”

On how scrums could be key in the game againts the Sakura 15s Kalounivale said, “All parts of the game are key, including scrums and I love scrums! We are just focusing on what we can bring to the table and what our scrums can do.”

How do the Sakura 15 stop the New Zealanders, who made the most offloads of any team in the opening round of the Rugby World Cup 2025 (24)? They have the power and speed to cause real damage, and the Japanese slipped off too many tackles in the loss to Ireland. The stats dont stop here. The Black Ferns had the most carries (199), carry metres (1771), line breaks (24) and defenders beaten (61) and averaged the most metres per carry (8.9) when they beat Spain 54-8.

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 / World Rugby – Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

With records on the line, the GOAT Portia Woodman-Wickliffe extended her Rugby World Cup try-scoring record to 21; and one more try will see her sit on top of the NZ Men’s and Women’s international try scoring charts – she currently is tied on 49 tries with Doug Howlett, and she starts on the right-wing against Japan.

Odds are good Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will become the first New Zealand rugby player, man or woman, to reach 50 international Test tries and will do so in her 30th Test.

Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie has replaced Kyoko Hosokawa with Jennifer Nduka in the reserves. Nduka will make her Rugby World Cup debut if she plays. Sakurako Hatada starts and replaces Misaki Matsumura on the right wing.

Japan’s front-rower Nijiho Nagata (who is among the reserves) and a player who switched from hooker to tighthead prop after the World Cup 2021, said before the game this weekend, “Personally, when I went to New Zealand two or three years ago, I did so with the mindset that if I ever had the chance to play against them, I wanted to win. So, when this matchup was fixed, I was really happy and saw it as a great opportunity. That said, I just want to calmly go about my performance as usual.”

She played with the Blues Women in Super Rugby Aupiki in 2024 and helped them win the championship. Nagata added, “Our strength is our high work rate, so we want to generate tempo and momentum that leads to tries. New Zealand players are very fast, even the props, when it comes to short sprints. At the Blues, I was probably the slowest in that position. To deal with that, I want to be quick to react.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 / JRFU

Jennifer Nduka, who plays in the back row and could make her RWC debut off the bench, said that the team was frustrated with their performance in the opening game, hinting that the occasion may have gotten to them. She said of the Black Ferns, “They’re effective in the offloads, as seen in the match against Spain, so we need to be thorough in cutting them off. Also, since they are powerful ball carriers, I want to make sure to go low in my tackles.”

The Sakura backrow were immense in their RWC opening and made the most tackles, carries and meters, but that load will need to be split for the team to stop the Kiwis.

Mark Bakewell, a Kiwi himself but Assistant Coach with the Sakura Fifteen as a Forwards coach since 2024, has held previous roles with CA Brive, AS Beziers, Bath, Melbourne Rebels, Tonga, Suntory Sungoliath, Bristol, and Leicester.

He explained, “We identified that the errors were around our basic fundamentals. It wasn’t about the opposition; it was about us. Our relevant people have said that there was a high degree of nervousness in the first round of the World Cup, which we’ve accepted.”

He has helped the pack immensely and they now have an attacking lineout maul and lineout. He said, “I don’t see our size as a disadvantage. I’ve turned it into an advantage. I’ve said that if we’re technically perfect, which obviously no one ever is, we can maul underneath our opposition and do a lot of damage.”

There’s massive respect for the Black Ferns forward pack, but the thing I’m very mindful of is going onto the field with the right mindset. I was lucky enough to coach many years in the Premiership, and the forward game is so important up here, and I still have that mindset. You don’t bow to anyone. You set your standards.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 / JRFU

Aurélie Groizeleau (France) takes charge as the referee of New Zealand v Japan.

Match Permutations Japan Sakura Fifteen vs New Zealand WRWC 2025

• If Canada does suffer a shock loss and NZ win, the Black Ferns would move into 2nd on the World Rugby rankings.
• The Black Ferns would themselves lose third place to a victorious France if they were to lose against Japan.
• If Sakura 15 wins, they could reach a new high of ninth place, depending on the outcomes of the USA-Australia and Canada-Wales matches.

Japan Sakura 15 Squad vs NZ Black Ferns WRWC 2025

New Zealand vs Japan Sakura 15 Squad WRWC 2025

Black Ferns team v Japan (Test caps):

1. Chryss Viliko (14)
2. Georgia Ponsonby (32)
3. Tanya Kalounivale (23)
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (33)
5. Alana Bremner (30) – Co-captain
6. Jorja Miller (3)
7. Kennedy Tukuafu (30)
8. Layla Sae (15)
9. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (3)
10. Ruahei Demant (46) – Co-captain
11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (17)
12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (25)
13. Stacey Waaka (27)
14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (29)
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee (4
16. Atlanta Lolohea (7)
17. Kate Henwood (10)
18. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (1)
19. Laura Bayfield (2)
20. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (30)
21. Maia Joseph (11)
22. Renee Holmes (24)
23. Theresa Setefano (20)

Where to Watch The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

You can view the different broadcast options for the RWC 2025 globally here.

Japan Sakura 15 Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 News

• Japan Sakura 15 Put Up a Brave Fight But Lost to Ireland in RWC 2025 Opener.
• Defending World Champions Black Ferns Up Next for Sakura Fifteen at RWC 2025.
• “We Want To Make It To The Knockouts at RWC 2025” – Sakura 15s Head Coach Lesley McKenzie.
• Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup 2025 Squad Announced.