Black Ferns remain undefeated in the Pacific Four Series on historic night for Canada Rugby
After travelling more than 9,500 miles from Brisbane to Ottawa, New Zealand picked up an impressive victory over Canada in the third round of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series at TD Place Stadium.
The defending Pacific Four Series champions New Zealand, who qualified for WXV 1 with victory, played the role of spoilers on an historic night for Canadian rugby as more than 10,000 fans attended for the largest ever crowd in Canadian rugby history for a women’s Test match.
It was a dream start for the visitors as hooker Luka Connor touched down in the opening two minutes to silence the fervent and record-breaking crowd in the nation’s capital. After the conversion by Renee Holmes, the Black Ferns enjoyed an early 7-0 lead.
Just moments later, the home fans thought they could celebrate their first try of the match when flanker Fabiola Forteza made an exciting 30-metre line-break, however, Holmes and winger Katelyn Vahaakolo converged on Forteza to hold her up over the try-line to prevent the score.
World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year 2022 Ruahei Demant went through Canada’s defence untouched to score her side’s second try under the posts in the 14th minute after sustained pressure inside Canada’s 22.
Winger Mererangi Paul added the third try four minutes later after a brilliant chip kick in the midfield by Demant was gathered by Mastercard Player of the Match Amy du Plessis, and spun through the hands to set up the try and outpace the final defender.
New Zealand controlled 70 per cent of the possession in the opening 20 minutes, taking a 21-0 lead into the first water break. However, the momentum would shift in favour of Canada before the half-time whistle.
Captain Sophie de Goede took a quick tap from a penalty deep inside New Zealand territory, and proceeded to carry four defenders over the whitewash to score her team’s opening try. The number eight added the extra two points to bring the score to 21-7.
Forteza would not be denied a second time before the half-time whistle to score Canada’s second try after a brilliant 40-metre driving maul from the Canadian forwards. Tyson Beukeboom broke free and found her team-mate on the inside before she scampered the last metres to score. After another conversion from De Goede, the score at half-time was 21-14 to New Zealand.
The visitors opened the second half with their bonus-point try by outside-centre Du Plessis after a brilliant snipe at the breakdown by scrum-half Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu. The home side, however, would respond through Canada’s third try by loosehead prop Olivia DeMerchant after nearly a dozen pick-and-go attempts on the Black Ferns’ try-line.
At many points throughout the match, the Canadian backline struggled to contain their opponent’s firepower when kicking away possession and Paul capitalised on an errant kick in the 57th minute to dot down her second try of the match as the visitors continued to pull away after every Canadian score.
In the final 20 minutes of the match the Black Ferns pulled away with further tries from Holmes, Du Plessis and one from replacement winger Kelsey Teneti to secure the 52-21 win to remain undefeated in the Pacific Four Series.
Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Simon said: “We’re just trying to be innovative. It’s an incredible group of women and we’re just trying to build each week. We knew Canada was going to be a class outfit, especially with a record crowd which is not only incredible for Canadian rugby but women’s rugby as well.”
Despite the loss, Canadian captain De Goede was pleased with her team’s performance in a record night: “I’m really proud of the way that we fought back, but frustrated that we had to fight back. We put ourselves in some sticky situations and we’ve had some learnings, but what an incredible day for Canadian rugby regardless of the scoreline.
“It means the world to us. Rugby in Canada is as strong as it’s ever been and we’re just really glad to be a part of it and we’re really grateful for the communities we’re a part of.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to comments