Blues star Braxton Sorensen-McGee shines to book final spot against Matatū at One NZ Stadium

Saturday, 18 July 2026

At Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch: Blues 38 (Ruahei Demant try 10min, Jaymie Kolose try 23min; Taufa Bason try 39min, Braxton Sorensen-McGee (2) tries 44min, 75min, Katelyn Vahaakolo try 66min; Sorensen-McGee 3 con, Demant con). Matatū 29 (Kaipo Olsen-Baker (2) tries 6min, 35min, Maia Davis try 20min, Charntay Poko try 52min, Binky Muamua try 71min; Davis 2 con HT: 21-19

Brilliant Blues fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee showed her class as the Blues booked a place in the Super Rugby Aupiki final with a clinical win against Matatū on Saturday.

Black Fern Sorensen-McGee scored two tries and landed three important conversions for the defending champions as the Blues’ eight-point win eliminated the Hurricanes Poua from the competition.

Matatū and the Blues will meet again at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch next Saturday, a repeat of the 2025 final.

There will be high hopes that the decider can attract more than the record-breaking crowd of 11,793 that attended the Matatū-Chiefs Manawa fixture in round one.

The key play came with about 15 minutes to go. Matatū captain Grace Brooker knocked on in contact with the tryline begging - and her side paid a heavy price.

From the scrum, replacement winger Katelyn Vahaakolo scorched away for a 95-metre Blues try to give them a 33-24 lead after Sorensen-McGee converted superbly from a wide angle.

Sorensen-McGee’s second try with five minutes to go secured the win in a see-sawing clash.

Matatū looked like they were going to take a hard-earned five-point advantage into the break, but Blues replacement Taufa Bason burst through a missed tackle in the midfield to score under the posts.

The home side spent plenty of time in Blues territory during the first half, but they were made to work hard for every point.

Black Ferns No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker showed her power to grab tries tries, while a great break by right winger Winnie Palamo set up a five-pointer for fullback Maia Davis.

But the Blues were clinical every time they gained some possession.

Black Ferns No 10 Ruahei Demant showed good speed to open their account and Bason was dynamite off the bench.

Matatū injected hooker Georgia Ponsonby off the pine at halftime but Sorensen-McGee immediately showed her quality by finishing in the corner.

Earlier, the Hurricanes Poua secured their fourth win in a row by beating Chiefs Manawa in a high-scoring clash.

The Poua raced into a 42-19 lead at halftime against the injury-hit visitors, with returning Black Ferns winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga grabbing a couple of scores.

But the Poua took their foot off the pedal after the break as Chiefs Manawa scored two more tries to deny them the bonus point.

At Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt: Hurricanes Poua 47 (Neve Anglesey, Hinemaringi Scott, Ayesha Leti-I’iga (2), Wikitoria Viljoen (2), Iritana Hohaia tries; Renee Holmes 6 con) Chiefs Manawa 33 (Olivia Holten, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Leomie Kloppers, Jade Coates, Holli O’Sullivan tries; Ariana Bayler 4 con). HT: 42-19