Canada weather French storm to win thrilling WXV1 clash
With both teams losing their round two clashes in WXV1, Canada have bounced back by finishing their campaign with a famous 29-20 win over a desperate French outfit at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.
France dominated the territory battle during the opening 30 minutes or so, but Canada remained patient, passionate and hungry as they fought their way back into the contest.
Three second-half tries proved to be the difference as the Canadians ran away with a famous win over Les Bleues at the Auckland venue.
With the horror, disappointment and frustration from the disastrous 36-nil defeat in last year’s Rugby World Cup bronze still lurking in the history books, the Canadian players lined up for their shot at revenge on a beautiful afternoon in the north of Aotearoa.
Inside centre Alex Tessier got the WXV1 blockbuster underway with what appeared to be a slightly mishit kick-off, but Canada had the first opportunity to play with the ball – but only for a moment.
Teenage prop Ambre Mwakyembe won a penalty at the breakdown inside the opening minute which gave 20-year-old Morgane Bourgeois the opportunity to kick the first points of the Test. Playing in just her second appearance for France, Bourgeois nailed the long-range penalty.
It was a sign of things to come. France dominated the territory battle during the opening half as they continued to build phases inside the Canadian half of the field. Halfback Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Bourgeois were among the players piling on attacking pressure off the boot.
Canada weren’t helping their cause early on, either. Halfback Justine Pelletier dropped Canada’s first real chance with the ball on the back of a scrum near halfway, and Tessier failed to find touch with a penalty moments later.
Everything seemed to be going right for France. The ball wasn’t bouncing Canada’s way.
Les Bleues were practically parked inside Canada’s half as three early penalties gifted France some priceless attacking opportunities with the try line in sight, and eventually, it paid off.
Sporting red headgear, backrower Charlotte Escudero stood out with a pair of destructive carries deep inside Canada’s 22. In the following phase, as Escudero leapt up off the deck in the hope of getting the ball for a third time, halfback Sansus fought her way over the line for a decisive score.
Bourgeois added the extras from close range as France raced out to a 10-nil lead. At that stage, it looked like the tricolours were going to run away with it.
But there wasn’t a single point scored in the next 20 minutes. Canada weathered the French storm as they fought their way back into the contest with a try to hooker Emily Tuttosi.
With their first try-scoring opportunity inside the French 22 after almost 35 minutes of play, the Canadians formed a rampaging maul off the back of a Sophie de Goede take at an attacking lineout.
They always looked like scoring. Try-scorer Tuttosi jumped up and celebrated with her teammates as the Canadians took control of the momentum in this Test.
Four minutes later, France centre Nassira Konde was sent to the sin bin for a high shot that was described as “indirect” contact to the head by the on-field referee.
In direct contrast to the opening exchanges of this clash, the ball was finally bouncing Canada’s way.
But with a minute to run on the clock, France held on as they took a slender three-point lead into the break.
With it all to play for in the second term, flanker Emeline Gros made an impressive break into the Canadian 22 as Les Bleues searched desperately for a score to extend their lead.
But it was Canada who ended up opening the score in the second half. Wing Krissy Scurfield reaped the rewards of a brilliant Canadian counter-attack as the world’s fourth-ranked side took the lead for the first time.
Another try to blindside flanker Courtney Holtkamp saw the Canadians extend their advantage to beyond a converted try with 30 minutes to play, and they showed no signs of slowing down.
While Canada continued to apply pressure in attack, defence and around the breakdown, France showed their class with an impressive try of their own when they desperately needed to.
Wing Marine Menager scored a pivotal try as the French reduced the deficit to just two points after Bourgeois’ successful conversion.
Once again, it was anyone’s game. Close Test matches tend to be decided by a moment of brilliance, and that’s what it came down to.
Canadian centre Fancy Bermudez showed some skill, poise and rugby IQ to run away for the Maple Leaf’s fourth try of the afternoon. De Goede added the extras to extend their lead to nine points.
France may have stumbled a couple of times, but they were still well and truly in this fight. They risked landing a damaging blow inside the final 10 minutes as they ran deep into the Canadian 22, and they ended up walking away with three points.
Less than a converted try split the two teams once again, but that didn’t last long. De Goede, who had converted three of four attempts up to that stage, nailed the shot at goal.
Time was not on France’s side, and the Canucks knew it. The clock continued to tick by second by second as the full-time hooter began to warm up.
Canada kept their opponents camped down their own end as they held on for a famous WXV1 victory over France.
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting 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.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 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.
2 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.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 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…
1 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 commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments