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Canada came out on the wrong end of a 20-10 score against New Zealand at Donnybrook in Dublin on Wednesday. The end result will be seen as a letdown given several scoring chances that slipped through Canadian fingers – both literally and figuratively. Despite the loss Canada will take away the knowledge that the Black Ferns are indeed mortal and victory against the world’s best team in 2017 is now a clearly achievable target.
The match itself was played at a high tempo but littered with errors and penalties with both sides earning the wrath of the referee’s whistle throughout. New Zealand attacked with width and found success through their exceptionally quick back three of Renee Wickcliffe, Portia Woodman, and Selica Winiata. It was Winiata who opened the scoring at the 15 minute mark, using her pace to take the outside on a stretched Canadian defense. A penalty goal from Kendra Cocksedge would be the only further points on the board before the break, with Magali Harvey’s long-range attempt ringing off the upright just ahead of the halftime whistle.
New Zealand managed to hold out with Charlene Gubb serving time for team infringements but an intercept by Latoya Blackwood against the run of play gave Canada hope. A quick offload to Harvey on her shoulder put the flying winger in a foot race to the line and there was only going to be one winner. Andrea Burk couldn’t quite convert but the Canadians were back in the game.
The forward battle had been on edge the whole game, with Canada ahead in the scrum and maul but New Zealand dominating the lineout and the breakdown. Sensing a shift in momentum the Black Ferns rolled up their sleeves and 19-year-old replacement prop Aotearoa Mata’u muscled her way over to take the win out of Canadian sails.
More work in the trenches and at last Canada found themselves back on the doorstep. A well-worked maul put Laura Russell over and closed the gap to only five points, but New Zealand countered swiftly. Wickcliffe tore through a gap in the kick-chase defense and though it looked like she would make it herself, she took no chances and passed for Winiata to do the honours and wrap things up with a double.
A near-miss when Burk broke through only for Karen Paquin to bobble the pass with the line at her mercy told the story of the day for Canada. The ability is there, but there is much fine-tuning yet to be done.
Twickenham will host the final match of the tour on Saturday with Canada to play England following the England men’s test against Argentina at the same location.
SCORING
CANADA 10
Tries – M. Harvey (52’), L. Russell (65’)
Yellow cards – B. Waters (60’)
NEW ZEALAND 20
Tries – S. Winiata 2 (15’, 68’), A. Mata’u (56’)
Cons – K. Cocksedge (57’)
Pens – K. Cocksedge (30’)
Yellow cards – C. Gubb (40’), E. Blackwell (64’)
TEAMS
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen (17 Demi Stamatakis 67’), 2 Laura Russell (16 Julia Folk 80’), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Olivia DeMerchant 67’), 4 Latoya Blackwood, 5 Kayla Mack (19 Tyson Beukeboom 67’), 6 Jacey Grusnick (20 Barbara Mervin 65’), 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Chelsea Guthrie (Brianna Miller 64’), 10 Emily Belchos (22 Anaïs Holly 80’), 11 Magali Harvey, 12 Andrea Burk, 13 Alex Tessier (Brittany Waters 58’), 14 Elissa Alarie, 15 Julianne Zussman
NEW ZEALAND
1 Toka Natua (17 Aldora Itunu 64’), 2 Fiao’o Fa’amausili (capt.) (16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate 80’), 3 Aleisha Nelson (18 Aotearoa Mata’u 54’), 4 Eloise Blackwell, 5 Charlene Gubb (19 Sharnita Woodman 75’), 6 Charmaine Smith, 7 Charmaine McMenamin, 8 Aroha Savage (20 Angie Sisifa 48)’, 9 Kendra Cocksedge (21 Kristina Sue 80’), 10 Kelly Brazier, 11 Renee Wickcliffe, 12 Chelsea Alley (23 Hazel Tubic 46’), 13 Carla Hohepa (22 Janna Vaughan HT), 14 Portia Woodman, 15 Selica Winiata
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Helen O’Reilly (IRFU)
Assistants: Claire Hodnett (RFU) & Stu Carty (IRFU)
