WXV – Canada vs Ireland – ARN Guide

Two teams in top form collide in Langley on Saturday when hosts Canada square off against Ireland. The Maple Leafs were convincing winners over Les Bleues in Vancouver last weekend while the Irish celebrated a stunning upset of New Zealand, their first win over the Black Ferns since 2014.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 2 (89.90 points)
2024-09-29 – Canada 46, France 24 (Vancouver)
2024-05-19 – New Zealand 19, Canada 22 (Christchurch)
2024-05-11 – Australia 14, Canada 33 (Sydney)
2024-04-28 – USA 7, Canada 50 (Los Angeles)
2023-11-04 – France 20, Canada 29 (Auckland)

Current World Ranking: 6 (77.25 points)
2024-09-29 – New Zealand 27, Ireland 29 (Vancouver)
2024-09-14 – Ireland 36, Australia 10 (Belfast)
2024-04-27 – Ireland 15, Scotland 12 (Belfast)
2024-04-20 – England 88, Ireland 10 (London)
2024-04-13 – Ireland 36, Wales 5 (Cork)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

3 Alex Ellis replaces DaLeaka Menin
5 Courtney Holtkamp replaces Laetitia Royer
7 Caroline Crossley replaces Fabiola Forteza
11 Alysha Corrigan replaces Paige Ferries
15 Taylor Perry replaces Julia Schell

2 Cliodhna Moloney replaces Neve Jones
6 Erin King replaces Edel McMahon (injury)
9 Emily Lane replaces Molly Scuffil-McCabe
13 Aoife Dalton replaces Eve Higgins

NOTES

• both teams moved up the World Rankings table after their outstanding performances in Round 1… Canada’s big win over France combined with Ireland’s superb showing against New Zealand to knock the Black Ferns down to No3 and advance the Maple Leafs to No2… Ireland leapfrogged Australia from No7 into No6
• Kévin Rouet has opted to rotate his squad with an eye towards next year’s World Cup… the most notable alteration sees Caroline Crossley handed her first test start on the flank in place of Fabiola Forteza… Crossley is a long-time member of Canada’s national sevens program and was part of the Silver-medal winning side at the Paris Olympics
• the Maple Leafs have a 6/2 split on the bench this week, with Leicester’s Julia Omokhuale able to cover lock or loose forward… Rori Wood is set to make her test debut as a replacement… the 6′ (1.83m) UBC product recently switched her focus to prop, having played lock for Canada’s u23 side last year
• Tyson Beukeboom continues to lead the Maple Leafs in the absence of the injured Sophie de Goede… Beukeboom extends her cap record and becomes the first Canadian woman to play 70 tests
• Ireland captain Edel McMahon has been ruled out with knock suffered in training, so midfielder Enya Breen will take the on-field leadership role for the first time… Erin King comes in on the blindside flank with Aoife Wafer shifting to McMahon’s openside role
• it’s a first test start for King, and also for scrumhalf Emily Lane… meanwhile Ealing Trailfinders prop Andrea Stock is set to win her first test cap off the bench

QUOTES

Kévin Rouet (Head Coach)

“It was great to start off WXV 1 with a win last week against a top four team in the world [France] but the squad quickly shifted their focus to be ready for what will be a tough game against Ireland this weekend. Ireland will challenge us but even with a short week to prepare the team has looked sharp throughout training. I am excited to see what they will do out on the pitch this Saturday.”

Scott Bemand (Head Coach)

“A number of players have earned their opportunity in a green jersey on Saturday having worked hard to compete across the week and it will be a special moment for Enya to lead the team for the first time, supported by our leaders. A strong Canada outfit will provide a different challenge for us and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”

PREDICTION

It’s been eight years since the two sides last met, and just the fourth time all told. Ireland won at Galway in 2006 but the other two matches went Canada’s way. The Irish have won three straight against top-10 opposition for the first time since 2017, but the Maple Leafs are unbeaten in 2024 and celebrated their own famous victory over New Zealand in May – and accomplished that feat in Christchurch. Look for the home side to have the edge up front. Canada are favorites at home.

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Alex Ellis, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (capt.), 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Caroline Crossley, 8 Gabrielle Senft, 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Claire Gallagher, 11 Alysha Corrigan, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Shoshanah Seumanutafa, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 15 Taylor Perry

Replacements: 16 Sara Cline, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Rori Wood, 19 Laetitia Royer, 20 Fabiola Forteza, 21 Julia Omokhuale, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Julia Schell

IRELAND
1 Niamh O’Dowd, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 Linda Djougang, 4 Dorothy Wall, 5 Fiona Tuite, 6 Erin King, 7 Aoife Wafer, 8 Brittany Hogan, 9 Emily Lane, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 11 Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, 12 Enya Breen (capt.), 13 Eve Higgins, 14 Eimear Considine, 15 Stacey Flood

Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Siobhan McCarthy, 18 Andrea Stock, 19 Grace Moore, 20 Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, 21 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 22 Nicole Fowley, 23 Aoife Dalton

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, October 5
Venue: Langley Events Centre, Langley
Kickoff: 15:45 local (18:45 Eastern, 23:45 Dublin)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 61°F (16°C), wind W 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN3 (Canada), RugbyPass TV

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistants: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) & Jenny Lui (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (3): Canada 2, Ireland 1
2016-11-19 – Ireland 7, Canada 48 (Dublin)
2006-04-29 – Ireland 15, Canada 8 (Galway)
2002-05-13 – Ireland 0, Canada 57 (Barcelona)