Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns semi-final victory outrates All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup, as Kiwis get behind New Zealand's charge

The Black Ferns are going to the Rugby World Cup final, beating France by one point at Eden Park.

More Kiwis tuned in to watch the semi-final game than watched the final Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Australia - with just under one million people tuning in on Three's free-to-air coverage.

And the second the whistle blew, 4000 people overloaded the website for tickets for next weekend's decider against England.

The game that went down to the wire, with just one point between them and the Black Ferns left it all on the field - saved by a French mistake.

Co-captain Ruahei Demant was given a chance to catch her breath by crowds who couldn't contain their excitement. 

"People are coming to support women and women's rugby like never before, time and time again," Demant said. "That's us again next week."

The final against England has immediately become the hottest ticket in town. 

"Four thousand people tried to buy tickets right in that moment," tournament director Michelle Hooper told Newshub.

The Black Ferns celebrate against Wales.
The Black Ferns celebrate against Wales. Photo credit: Image - Photosport

"We sold over 8000 tickets last night. There's only about a couple of hundred tickets left - and they'll be snapped up.

"It's going to be a sellout next weekend."

While there were only 20,000 in the stands at Eden Park, a whopping 910,000 New Zealanders watched Three's live coverage last night, according to Three and Newshub owner Warner Bros Discovery.

That's almost 300,000 more people than tuned in to watch the All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup test in September.

Former NZ Rugby chairman and broadcasting boss Brent Impey says that should surprise no-one.

"You've got the free-to-air aspect, which TV3 brings, you've also got the fact it's a World Cup," he told Newshub. 

"It overachieves what we set out to do, which is to have the ratings on TV higher for women than for the men."

Impey says Australia outbid New Zealand financially to host the World Cup, but New Zealand won by promising to supercharge the women's game. 

"Women always achieve," said commentator Alice Soper. "We've got to stop being surprised about it.

"Every time we're given a platform, we smash it. The most obvious investment you can make is into the women's game."

The Black Ferns celebrate Alana Bremner's try.
The Black Ferns celebrate Alana Bremner's try. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images

Countless moments of rugby magic encouraged Kiwis to tune in.

"I hope New Zealand comes down and packs out [Eden Park] for the final," said Black Ferns winger Ruby Tui. "We've worked our butts off to get there."

Don't you worry, Ruby, we'll be there. 

Catch the Rugby World Cup live on Spark Sport or free-to-air on Three, or join Newshub from on Saturday for live updates of the Black Ferns v England final