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Karen Paquin to reach half century as part of unchanged Canada squad
Canada head coach Kevin Rouet has named an unchanged squad for his side’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final against New Zealand on Friday.
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It means 38-year-old flanker Karen Paquin, who scored a stunning try in the 46-5 quarter-final victory against Australia, will win her 50th cap in the back row.
Asia Hogan-Rochester, Alysha Corrigan (two), Sophie de Goede, McKinley Hunt and Fabiola Forteza were the other try scorers as Canada swept aside the Wallaroos at Ashton Gate last Saturday.
Canada will return to Bristol full of confidence this Friday, having won all four of their matches at the World Cup by an aggregate score of 193-31.
The Black Ferns will provide their sternest test in England so far, but the Canadians have a good recent record against their semi-final opponents.
Canada beat the Black Ferns in New Zealand for the first time last year to win the Pacific Four Series 2024 title and their most recent meeting ended in an entertaining 27-27 draw.
“We have shown over the past two years that we are one of the best teams in the world, and our last two results against New Zealand support that,” said Rouet.
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“We have every reason to believe that we can win this game. On Friday, we take another step toward the ultimate goal we have been building toward over our first four games and the last three years. It will be a short week of preparation, but the team will be ready.”
Canada team to play New Zealand:
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens (36 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (39 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs (67 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (39 caps)
5. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby (51 caps)
6. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers (11 caps)
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec (49 caps)
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (39 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais (41 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders / Exeter Chiefs (21 caps)
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (6 caps)
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs (64 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia (16 caps)
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens (24 caps)
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders (30 caps)
Replacements:
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC (37 caps)
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats (51 caps)
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) – Halifax Tars RFC (64 caps)
19. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders (82 caps)
20. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University / Saracens (20 caps)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens (38 caps)
22. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC (23 caps)
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau (23 caps)
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