Pacific Four Series thriller ends in a draw for Black Ferns and Canada

World No. 3 hosted No. 2 in Christchurch in the showpiece of the 2025 Pacific Four Series, and it was the Black Ferns looking to wrestle back the title Canada won off them at this very venue a season ago.

It was a remarkably tight contest, with Canada responding every time the hosts came away with a lead. After 83 minutes of superb Test rugby, the sides could not be separated at 27 points apiece.

Canada kicked off into a mild breeze and retained possession after the opening kick went unclaimed. The Kiwis won the ball in the lineout maul, and Canada spilled possession after the Ruahei Demant clearance.

The Kiwi midfield combined to break the Canadian line, and the Kiwis were knocking on the visitors’ line in just the third minute. After some tight carries, the ball was sent wide, and who else but superstar rookie Braxton Sorensen-McGee to claim the opening try. Demant nailed a wide conversion.

Ambitious attack from the restart ended in a knock-on by the hosts and handed Canada a scrum just outside the 22. That opportunity was short-lived.

A towering clearance from Demant led to Canada’s most promising attacking passage yet. Shortly after, a break from Laetitia Royer saw the lock gallop through a hole in the defensive line and fall just short of the tryline. Canada were quick to recycle and made the most of the opportunity, stretching and scoring through DaLeaka Menin. Schell converted.

Possession swung back and forth rapidly throughout the opening half, offering no respite or chance for cohesive attack. Both outfits were struggling to hold onto the ball in contact, and both were opportunistic at the breakdown.

Breaks from Layla Sae, Sylvia Brunt and Florence Symonds were highlights as play continued, but neither team were able to go much more than a full minute with the ball in hand.

Play never strayed too far from the halfway line with the teams combining for 14 turnovers in the opening half hour.

Some physical work from Sae got the Kiwis on the front foot with eight minutes remaining in the half, and New Zealand was eager to break the deadlock. Once back in Canada’s 22, the ball was put wide, and Ayesha Leti-I’iga was on hand to finish the play. The effort went unconverted.

The try-scorer linked up with Georgia Ponsonby soon after play resumed to get the Kiwis back deep into Canadian territory. After yet another stolen ball at the breakdown, Canada launched a lethal attack that got play back into the Kiwi half.

Outstanding distribution and pace kept Canada’s momentum going, and Asia Hogan-Rochester was on the receiving end of the creative play to score in the corner. Scores remained tied with the missed conversion, leaving the game even at 12-12 going into the break.

The halftime deadlock was a fair reflection of 40 minutes of staunch rugby. New Zealand was attacking with deep, complex shapes with their set plays, but continued to struggle with their timing in the second period.

Canada’s scrum came under pressure once milestone woman Tanya Kalounivale came into the action in her 20th game.

With linebreaks from Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Braxton Sorensen-Mcgee injecting life into the crowd early in the second period, the Black Ferns started to execute, and a chip kick found open grass for Leti-I’iga to run onto. The winger got a favourable bounce and ran the ball in under the posts.

Having responded with haste after each of New Zealand’s first-half tries, Canada continued that trend in the second half after Kiwi indiscretions gave the visitors attacking field position.

Canada went to their strong suit, the driving maul, and fresh onto the park, Olivia Apps spied a chance, peeling away to get the ball down on the line.

Territory

15%

32%

23%

30%

53%

Territory

47%

For the first time in the game, Canada managed to go back-to-back when a Demant clearance missed touch. Canada’s counter-attack was swift, and when the ball found Alysha Corrigan, the winger had the pace to win the race to the corner.

Facing their first deficit of the game, the Kiwis opted to take the next three points on offer. Demant was up to the task and drew the scores level at 22 apiece with 11 minutes remaining.

Canada’s game management had them playing in the right parts of the field when they needed to. The visitors went deep into phase play just metres from the hosts’ line, but the Black Ferns resisted and won a breakdown penalty.

Demant shocked the crowd with a tap just five metres from her own line, and the Kiwis made a break down the left flank. Kiwi possession was short-lived, though, and consecutive penalties had their backs against the wall again moments later.

With just four minutes left to play, a driving maul got Canada on the front foot, and Shoshanah Seumanutafa claimed a huge five points by reaching out over the line.

The Kiwis had three minutes to respond and were handed advantage with 90 seconds left. Demant landed her kick 15 metres out, and the final stand commenced.

The defence was resolute as the clock ticked deep into the red. It was an 83rd-minute try in the corner that saw Sylvia Brunt level the scores. Demant had had a chance to win it with the sideline conversion but missed, leaving the game tied. Fulltime score: 27-27.