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'Both teams are fun to watch' - Rouet expects fireworks in Canada semi-final
By Joe Harvey
Canada head coach Kévin Rouet has said he is “excited” for his team’s 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with New Zealand.
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It is not hard to see why. Over the past three years these two teams have thrilled in the Pacific Four Series, picking up a win each and this year played out a 27-27 draw in Christchurch.
But those recent encounters can only tell so much, with both teams only thinly separated on the stats sheet at the World Cup so far. So far New Zealand have scored an average of 50.5 points per game. Canada have scored an average of 48.3.
Each side utilises their offloading game to great effect and both average similar numbers of entry into their opponents 22m – Canada average 15 per game to the Black Ferns’ 14. Fireworks are expected.
“Both teams are fun to watch play: fast, unpredictable, athletic people,” Rouet said.
“So it’s not exactly the same, but both teams want to play positive rugby. I like those kinds of teams, I like the way we play, I like the way New Zealand play, so I think it will be a good game. I’m excited for tomorrow.”
In so much as both teams are similar, there is also clear differences. Canada have 100 per cent scrum success in the World Cup. The best of any side.
They also top the competition for ruck success, lineout success and lead gainline forward percentage too. Their game has few faults.
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Where New Zealand lead the way is their tackle success rate, the number of linebreaks (14.8 per game on average) or defenders beaten (39.3 per game).
Canada will have been relieved to see that Jorja Miller is not involved for New Zealand due to injury.
The back-row turned their quarter-final encounter with South Africa on its head with her second half antics after the teams were level at half-time.
Canada’s own Swiss army knife in the form of Sophie de Goede is in sparking form. Potentially game-winning form.
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Due to play in only her eighth game since returning from a catastrophic ACL injury this Friday night, the 26-year-old second row leads the competition in conversions, carries, offloads and lineout takes.
Whatever drama unfolds beneath the floodlights on Friday night, it may even come down to who wants it more.
New Zealand are the World Cup holders. They have been world champions six times.
Canada, in the meantime, have enjoyed a mesmeric three years, which included leapfrogging their semi-final opponents to take second-place in World Rugby’s rankings. They want to finish their time in England with silverware at Twickenham Stadium.
“I said to the girls: the past three years, we can be proud of being consistent and that’s something hard for us to achieve,” Rouet said.
“We are not number one, we are number two but that’s good. We are here to win but no one can remove what we have done over the past three years, no matter the end of this adventure.”
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