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New Zealand earned a convincing 28-0 victory over Canada in Auckland on Saturday night to retain their No2 world ranking. The Black Ferns bullied the Canadians up front and dominated the collisions, their rush defense never allowing the visitors to be comfortable on attack.
Both sides had early scoring opportunities but it was the home side who struck first. A barging run from Kaipo Olsen-Baker put Canada on the back foot and eventually the pressure yielded a penalty for slowing the ball down, which Hazel Tubic duly sent through the uprights.
The Canadians were caught trying to play too much out of their own end after the restart. New Zealand’s counter-ruck won possession and in no time Tubic landed her second penalty to make it 6-nil with 15 minutes played.
A cynical offense at the breakdown saw Tanya Kalounivale sent to the sin-bin. Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was the Black Ferns who asserted themselves and a Ruahei Demant line break pinned the Canadians on their goal line. Sophie de Goede won a turnover and Canada cleared their lines to hold the 6-nil scoreline at the half.
The Black Ferns turned up the heat in the second half. Ayesha Leti-I’iga blasted over the gainline on a set move, and the ball was moved wide to Ruby Tui in space. The winger chipped the cover and regathered herself to score a brilliant individual try in the corner.
Olsen-Baker saw yellow for a blatant side entry at a lineout drive. Canada kicked for the corner and again the drive came on. It looked as though a try was certain but when Emily Tuttosi dove for the line Tui prevented the grounding and the opportunity was lost.
The breaking point came just after the hour mark. New Zealand attacked the short side on a set move from an attacking lineout. Amy Rule crashed ahead and nearly made the line herself, but Maia Roos was there to pick and drive over for the score.
Two late tries in quick succession against the tired Canadians stretched the deficit. Leti-I’iga broke clean up the middle from the edge of a ruck, with Chelsea Bremner finishing the job from close range. From the restart Amy du Plessis was freed down the left side and Tui was there in support, swerving past what was left of the defense to score her double.
Canada will seek redemption against Australia on Friday night in the final round of the Pacific Four. New Zealand can make it a clean sweep if they defeat the USA.
SCORING
NEW ZEALAND 28
Tries – R. Tui 2 (46′, 76′), M. Roos (62′), C. Bremner (74′)
Cons – H. Tubic 0/1, R. Demant 1/3 (75′)
Pens – H. Tubic 2/2 (13′, 16′)
YC – T. Kalounivale (30′), K. Olsen-Baker (53′)
CANADA 0
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Phillipa Love (17 Angel Mulu 50′), 2 Luka Connor (16 Georgia Ponsonby 50′), 3 Tanya Kalounivale (18 Amy Rule 50′), 4 Maia Roos, 5 Joanah Ngan-Woo (19 Chelsea Bremner 65′), 6 Alana Bremner (18 Amy Rule 31′-HT), 7 Tafito Lafaele (20 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u 55′), 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9 Kendra Cocksedge (21 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu 61′), 10 Hazel Tubic (22 Sylvia Brunt 50′), 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12 Ruahei Demant (capt.), 13 Amy du Plessis, 14 Ruby Tui, 15 Chevelle Robins-Reti (23 Renee Wickliffe 63′)
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 Brittany Kassil 56′), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Veronica Harrigan 37′-HT, 69′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Maya Montiel 77′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom (20 McKinley Hunt 52′), 5 Courtney Holtkamp (19 Abby Duguid 58′), 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Brianna Miller (22 Maddy Grant 61′), 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Paige Farries (21 Anaïs Holly 73′), 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Sara Kaljuvee, 14 Renee Gonzalez (23 Alysha Corrigan 46′), 15 Elissa Alarie
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
Assistants: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand) & Tyler Miller (Australia)
TMO: Sara Cox (England)
