Canada beat France, clinch Super Series title

Canada are champions of the 2016 Women’s Rugby Super Series after a third consecutive victory, defeating France by a score of 29-10 on Saturday. In defeating the Six Nations champions, Canada now have a legitimate claim to being the best team in the Northern Hemisphere, and their incredible 114-32 points differential has seen their stock rise dramatically to become one of the early contenders for World Cup glory next year in Ireland.

It was France who got off on the front foot. An attacking lineout on the five metre line gave Gaëlle Mignot the perfect platform to hit Céline Ferer with the throw and steer her pack over the line in a perfectly executed driving maul, with the captain falling over for the early score.

Both sides attacked but neither moved the scoreboard for more than 20 minutes. Andrea Burk pulled a penalty attempt to the left, and the French defense held as red waves crashed against the blue wall. At long last Safi N’Diaye was shown yellow for a breakdown infringement in a scoring position, and with the key loose forward off the pitch Barb Mervin seized the moment and smashed her way over under the posts. Burk’s extras gave Canada a lead they would not relinquish.

It was the hard-working midfielder who was next to find the line. Latoya Blackwood stormed through a gap on her own 22 metre line and tore away into French territory before getting caught by the cover defense. The support was there from Kayla Mack and Chelsea Guthrie, and the ball moved wide where Frédérique Rajotte was stopped just a metre short. Burk was on hand to pick from the ruck and drive under the French tackler to score a great team try. The sideline conversion went over and it was 14 points scored with N’Diaye in the bin.

With less than a minute to play in the half, Mervin got up in front and intercepted Mignot’s throw. Quick hands moved the ball to Burk, who made inroads on a hard line to the inside. A deft offload and two more short passes put Rajotte in space, and the winger spun out of a tackle to reach out and score Canada’s third try to take a nine point lead into the break.

France came out firing after the intermission. N’Diaye showed her strength and casually set a target and the driving maul was on. Bread and butter once more as the French pack marched over the line, with Mignot again taking the celebrations for the try.

Again the two foes fought to a standstill, and again the gaps finally came for Canada as France struggled with their discipline. A quick tap from Guthrie put France on their heels, and eventually they were back defending their line. More phases piled the pressure on and Olivia DeMerchant powered through two would-be tacklers for a decisive score.

Blackwood sealed the deal with a score in the 78th minute, and the day was Canada’s once again. With that Canada are Super Series champions and look ahead to a European tour in November.

CANADA 29
Tries – B. Mervin, A. Burk, F. Rajotte, O. DeMerchant, L. Blackwood
Cons – A. Burk 2

FRANCE 10
Tries – G. Mignot 2
Yellow cards – S. N’Diaye

CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen 2 Mary-Jane Kirby 3 DaLeaka Menin 4 Laura Russell (capt.) 5 Kayla Mack 6 Barbara Mervin 7 Latoya Blackwood 8 Jacey Murphy 9 Chelsea Guthrie 10 Emily Belchos 11 Frédérique Rajotte 12 Andrea Burk 13 Alex Tessier 14 Brittany Waters 15 Julianne Zussman

16 Julia Folk 17 Demi Stamatakis 18 Olivia DeMerchant 18 Tyson Beukeboom 19 Fabiola Forteza 20 Brianna Miller 22 Anaïs Holly 23 Katie McNally

FRANCE
1 Lise Arricastre 2 Gaëlle Mignot (capt.) 3 Julie Duval 4 Céline Ferer 5 Audrey Forlani 6 Gaëlle Hermet 7 Romane Ménager 8 Safi N’Diaye 9 Laure Sansus 10 Camille Imart 11 Julie Billes 12 Lucille Godiveau 13 Elodie Poublan 14 Laura Delas 15 Audrey Abadie

16 Agathe Sochat 17 Maïlys Traoré 18 Patricia Carricaburu 19 Manon André 20 Victoria Grière 21 Yanna Rivoalen 22 Pauline Bourdon 23 Carla Neissen

Referee: Leah Berard (USAR)