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It’s do or die time for Canada when they face New Zealand at Billings Park in Dublin on Thursday in their final pool match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Both teams enter the match with two wins from two but as with Canada failing to collect a four-try bonus point against Wales it’s the North Americans who have it all to do against the tournament’s most lethal attacking side.
Canada have never beaten New Zealand, losing all 13 of their previous meetings. The closest result was the 16-8 score in the first test of June 2014. In recent months they have collided twice, with the Black Ferns coming away winners by 20-10 at Donnybrook in November and 28-16 in Wellington this past June.
In order to reach the Semi Finals, Canada must either defeat New Zealand or earn at least one bonus point. A loss by seven or less or four tries scored will give them a chance though they will remain at the mercy of later results with both the USA and Ireland also in the hunt. While a loss within one score has never been realised, Canada have once before scored four tries against the Black Ferns in a 40-22 match at Calgary Rugby Park in June 2015.
To achieve the previously unaccomplished François Ratier has kept the faith, making only one change and one positional switch to the team that stuttered against Wales. Andrea Burk rotates with Amanda Thornborough at inside centre, the two have split time in each game thus far, and Elissa Alarie returns to fullback with Julianne Zussman switching to the wing.
It will be the first of six games on Day Three of the World Cup, with kickoff set for noon local time, 7am Eastern, 4am Pacific. The match will be broadcast live by TSN and also streamed online by World Rugby.
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen, 2 Laura Russell, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Kayla Mack, 5 Latoya Blackwood, 6 Jacey Grusnick, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Lori Josephson, 10 Emily Belchos, 11 Julianne Zussman, 12 Amanda Thornborough, 13 Alex Tessier, 14 Magali Harvey, 15 Elissa Alarie
Replacements: 16 Jane Kirby, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Barb Mervin, 21 Chelsea Guthrie, 22 Andrea Burk, 23 Brittany Waters
