In the opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup, the New Zealand national team narrowly avoided an upset against tournament newcomers Fiji. Despite being favored to win comfortably, New Zealand found themselves trailing during the first half, requiring a significant tactical adjustment to regain control of the game.

Fiji, making their first-ever appearance on the World Cup stage, demonstrated unexpected resilience and offensive capability, putting the hosts under immediate pressure. The match highlighted the closing gap between established rugby nations and emerging programs, as Fiji’s performance forced New Zealand to work harder than anticipated to secure the win. Analysts noted that the match served as a "wake-up call" for the New Zealand squad, emphasizing that they cannot rely on reputation alone in the tournament. While New Zealand eventually asserted their dominance to close out the game, the competitive nature of the contest underscored the unpredictable potential of the tournament's debutants.