Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns a different team ahead of Canada semi-final

Black Ferns v Canada - Rugby World Cup semi-final

Kick-off: 6am Saturday 20 September NZT

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Live blog updates on RNZ Sport

The Black Ferns have put Canada on notice ahead of their Rugby World Cup semi-final in Bristol.

The recent head-to-head record between the two nations couldn't be tighter: one victory apiece and a 27-all stalemate in the Pacific Four Series back in May.

But Black Ferns director of rugby Allan Bunting isn't dwelling on past results.

"Our team is different today, our game is at a different place, and they haven't felt that yet," Bunting said.

The Black Ferns are coming off a bruising quarterfinal against South Africa, where they were forced into making a tournament-high 283 tackles.

Final favourites Canada, on the other hand, have eased into the last four, scoring 193 points and conceding just 31 across their four matches.

Bunting acknowledged Canada's rapid growth since finishing fourth at the 2022 tournament in New Zealand.

"They've got a good programme back there, they have consistency, and they play a lot of rugby," Bunting said.

"They're a strong set-piece team, and one of the areas of the game that's really grown since the first year that I was here is their kicking game. They're pretty good around the ruck, they're pretty good at slowing the ball down and getting quick ball - but so are we. It's going to be a special test match."

Canada have named an unchanged side for the semifinal, opting for consistency to propel them to a first final since 2014.

The Black Ferns, meanwhile, can lean on their unrivalled tournament pedigree. They've won the Rugby World Cup a record six times, experience that lock Alana Bremner believes will be crucial.

"I guess it's in the Black Ferns' DNA - we love big-pressure, big-moment games, and that's something the team has always risen to," Bremner said.

"We love the big occasions, so I'm really excited to see what this group can do this weekend."

The first of the two semi-finals kicks off at 6am Saturday morning (NZT).

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