Sakura Fifteen Fail to Reach RWC 2025 Quarterfinals But Put Up Valiant Effort Against the Black Ferns

It was a match that started with pure chaos, but maybe ended with the outcome most expected and ended the Sakura Fifteen’s ambitions of reaching a first Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. The Japanese fell 19-62 to the defending world champions at Sandy Park in Exeter, with Black Ferns young fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee collecting 23 points and a hat-trick in her player of the match performance. 

Feature Photo Credit – JRFU – Japan Sakura Fifteen at Sandy Park after the loss to New Zealand RWC 2025

The JRFU said, “The Sakura Fifteen put in a gutsy performance against the Black Ferns in their Pool C fixture on Sunday, August 31, proving worthy opponents in the first-ever World Cup meeting between the two sides. Despite their energy, spirit and never-say-die attitude, Japan were ultimately undone by the reigning World Champions, going down 62-19.”

The pre-game was tense and exciting as the Sakura Fifteen lined up in a flying V before straightening the line as they accepted and laid down their own challenge to the New Zealand haka.

However, they didn’t have a great start. A collision of players after a minute saw Sora Nishimura replaced by Minori Yamamoto. They pounced into attack and despite the odds scored first in the corner, which brought the crowd to their feet as Sakurako Hatada dotted down. It was her sixth international try in 23 Tests and maybe the one she will cherish most.

Japan also held their own in the set piece and successfully disrupted their lineout and foiled a number of Black Ferns attacks, causing the team in black to spill the ball. The Kiwis then started to show their class after the opening quarter as Portia Woodman-Wickliffe became the first NZ player to 50 tries in Tests as they drew level 5-5.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who competed in the Japanese domestic XVs season at the start of the year, became just the sixth woman and the first outside of England to score 50 Test tries.

Jorja Miller soon after added a second, dancing through vacant defences as Braxton Sorensen-McGee slotted the first of her match-haul with the conversion. Tries for Katelyn Vahaakolo, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Kennedy Tukuafu and Risi Pouri-Lane, as well as a late yellow card for Haruka Hirotsu, meant it was 5-38 at the break.

Photo Credit – NZR – Braxton Sorensen-McGee was the player of the match against Japan – RWC 2025

In that opening half,  Japan had slightly more than half of the territory and caused NZ a lot of problems. Japan’s leadership group had a small huddle on the field to have a word as the game had gotten away from them.

The team showed patches of what they were capable of and never gave up during the match.  A yellow card for the Black Ferns’ Laura Bayfield saw Japan have waves of phased attacks, and they eventually crossed over for a try to Moe Tsukui converted by Ayasa Otsuka. 

New Zealand were too strong and scored two more tries through Sorensen-McGee, a second for Miller, and a try to Renee Holmes, which was countered by a penalty try for the Japanese. That try saw Bayfield earn her second yellow card and the ensuing red card. Sorensen-McGee’s hat-trick was the eighth at the Rugby World Cup 2025 – she also made the most meters and had the most carries in the win.

Photo Credit – JRFU / RWC 2025

Three of the World Champions’ ten tries came in the final seven minutes, which took some gloss off the scoreline, but as World Rugby said, Japan had the Black Ferns truly rattled at times.

However, the stats dont lie, and Japan missed 41 tackles and conceded 331 more post-contact metres than the winners in the contest. The Kiwis also had four times as many line breaks (12 vs 3).

Yuna Sato led the tackle count for Japan with 18, and the Japanese actually won more rucks and mauls than their opponents. Ayasa Otsuka made the most carries and meters for the Sakura Fifteen.

The only previous time the two sides had ever played was in Eden Park in 2022, and the hosts won that day 95-12.

18-year-old Player of the Match Braxton told Rugby Asia 247 after the game, “It was pretty special, and it was a good performance by our whole team. We started slowly, but we came back well into it. We knew we had to respect the Japanese, but we knew we were also going out there to play a Rugby World Cup game and give our best. We didn’t want to undermine them as they are a really brave team, probably the bravest I have played against.”

The fullback said she was enjoying her first RWC and was managing to soak it up. “Im buzzing to be here at the moment. Probably the only thing I miss is my mom not being here, but I know she is coming over.”

Team Reactions – Japan Sakura Fifteen vs New Zealand – RWC 2025

Japan’s Head Coach Lesley McKenzie said post-game, “I’m so pleased for them, honestly. This was a great challenge for us. To play the World Champions in your pool is a really good test, and we talked about being worthy of that test. There were some massively positive passages of play, smart use of territory and at the back end of it, great character, intent and aggression when we brought our shoulders to the collision. That was what we were really targeting today.

A few moments of chaos, a few chunks of chaos there where we probably let them get some points that we will regret a little bit. But overall, some massively positive passages of play, some smart use of territory, and I guess at the back end of it, great character, great intent, when we brought our shoulders to the collision.

That was what we were really targeting today. I am stoked for them,” added the Japan Women’s Head Coach.

The Canadian told the media at Sandy Park that there are only 400 registered female rugby players in Japan.

McKenzie told Rugby Asia 247, “Mixed feelings is probably accurate, but I am super proud of our performance today. There were areas where we allowed New Zealand to play their game, and we also exerted areas of our game. We couldn’t do that two years ago when we played them, and we could do that today to the extent that we showed our qualities in our rugby. I am so pleased with that as it shows progression on our programme and the growth of this team.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 – Japan’s Head Coach Lesley McKenzie -RWC 2025

Japan’s captain, Iroha Nagata, added, “It was really tough physically, but having the players next to me, putting their bodies on the line, really made me go forward. I am really proud of my girls.

Really disappointed with the result. However, I thought we started the game really well, so that’s definitely improving. I am really looking forward to taking on the last game (v Spain).”

Allan Bunting, New Zealand’s Head Coach, said, “Our ladies got some good game time out there. Everyone has had some game time now. We have a lot to build off. Our discipline really cost us. We got to test ourselves. I was happy looking at young Brax [Braxton Sorensen-McGee] out there, shining like a little star that she is. The mindset of our ladies has been outstanding, but we have plenty more to build off that.”

Of Japan, he was very complimentary and said, “All credit to Japan, as I thought they were solid on both sides of the ball and they defended really well.”

Of the balance of youthful talent and experienced players in his group, he added, “It will be important for us and for everyone to tap into the energy during the week, those playing and not. Portia is an amazing human being, and she is the exact same person that I first met in 2012 when I was involved in the NZ Sevens. She cares about everyone.”

Ruahei Demant, co-captain said of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe: “I think a lot of people call P the female Jonah Lomu. She is the most influential women’s rugby player in the world. I’m so proud and fortunate that I am able to play alongside her as a teammate and not in opposition.

Regardless of the accolades and the milestones, for those of us who know her she is one of the most humble, down-to-earth people that you’ll ever meet. I know that she’ll say the tries are just her doing her job but it’s so nice to have someone like her outside you to finish off the opportunities that the girls create.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 – Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored her 50th Test try against Japan at RWC 2025

RWC Sakura Fifteen 2025 News

• Japan Sakura Fifteen vs New Zealand Preview – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
• 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.
• England Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – What We Learned from Week 1