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New Zealand put Canada to the sword by a final score of 52-21 in front of 10,000 fans at TD Place Stadium on Saturday. It was a record attendance for a women’s rugby match in Canada, who applauded as the home side stuck with the world champions until their electric backline took over in the final quarter.
A frantic start to the game saw New Zealand scoring just a minute in with Luka Connor getting the credit from a lineout drive. Fabiola Forteza nearly had a response soon after but the flanker was somehow held up over the line by some desperate defense. Renee Holmes missed a shot at goal but it meant little as New Zealand struck for two tries in just four minutes.
The first went to Ruahei Demant, who slipped clean through a gap in the middle to score under the posts. Soon after Sylvia Brunt’s chip ahead was regathered by Amy du Plessis, who in turn fed Mererangi Paul in support for the finish. Holmes converted both and it was 21-nil to the visitors with just 19 minutes played.
After a brief water break Canada gave the crowd something to cheer for with two tries before halftime. Justine Pelletier bossed the forwards until Olivia DeMerchant punched through the line. Sophie de Goede went quick from an ensuing penalty and barged over for the first score. The second went to Forteza, who would not be denied after Tyson Beukeboom broke free from a maul and gave the scoring pass.
A back-and-forth start to the second half saw the Black Ferns scoring first. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu found a gaping hole on the side of a ruck and offloaded to du Plessis for a seven-pointer. Canada came straight back through their forwards and it was DeMerchant this time who had the strength to blast in after several attempts at New Zealand’s line. de Goede’s conversion from wide out made it a one-score game.
That would be as close as Canada would get. A bewildered backline could only watch as Paul scored on the end of an overlap and then Holmes grabbed a try after a Brunt line break and du Plessis chip ahead. The latter would grab a double before de Goede was binned for a cynical penalty, with Kelsey Teneti doing the honors for New Zealand’s eighth and final try of the day.
Despite the result Canada remain on track to qualify for the top tier of the year-end WXV tournament. They close out the Pacific Four at the same venue in Ottawa next Friday against Australia, while New Zealand will take on the USA Eagles.
SCORING
CANADA 21
Tries (3) – S. de Goede (33′), F. Forteza (38′), O. DeMerchant (52′)
Cons (3) – S. de Goede 3/3 (34′, 39′, 53′)
YC (1) – S. de Goede (77′)
NEW ZEALAND 52
Tries (8) – L. Connor (1′), R. Demant (14′), M. Paul 2 (18′, 57′), A. du Plessis 2 (44′, 73′), R. Holmes (61′), K. Teneti (78′)
Cons (6) – R. Holmes 6/8 (2′, 15′, 19′, 45′, 62′, 74′)
Pens (0) – R. Holmes 0/1
TEAMS
CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant (17 McKinley Hunt 65′), 2 Emily Tuttosi (16 Gillian Boag 71′), 3 DaLeaka Menin (18 Alex Ellis 58′), 4 Tyson Beukeboom (19 Emma Taylor 66′), 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Gabrielle Senft (20 Sara Svoboda 49′), 7 Fabiola Forteza, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Justine Pelletier (21 Olivia Apps 71′), 10 Julia Schell (22 Claire Gallagher 51′), 11 Paige Farries, 12 Sara Kaljuvee (23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa 64′), 13 Fancy Bermudez, 14 Florence Symonds, 15 Sabrina Poulin
NEW ZEALAND
1 Phillipa Love (17 Kate Henwood 45′), 2 Luka Connor (16 Georgia Ponsonby 37′), 3 Amy Rule (18 Tanya Kalounivale 45′), 4 Maia Roos, 5 Chelsea Bremner, 6 Alana Bremner (19 Lucy Jenkins 51′), 7 Kennedy Simon (co-capt.), 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (20 Kendra Reynolds 65′), 9 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (21 Iritana Hohaia 55′), 10 Ruahei Demant (co-capt.), 11 Katelyn Vaha’akolo (23 Kelsey Teneti 51′), 12 Sylvia Brunt (22 Rosie Kelly 71′), 13 Amy du Plessis, 14 Mererangi Paul, 15 Renee Holmes
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jenny Lui (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Attendance: 10,092
