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‘Let’s go girls!’ – Canada receive superstar endorsement ahead of semi-final
By Joe Harvey
“I’ll be cheering for you all on Friday!! Let’s go girls!”
Ahead of Canada’s 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, country megastar Shania Twain has thrown her support behind the team.
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The 60-year-old wrote her message of support in the comments section of a Macron Rugby post from her Instagram account which boasts nearly three million followers before the Friday night clash at Ashton Gate Stadium.
So far in the opening four weeks of this World Cup has seen hundreds of supporters wearing cowgirl hats. But up to now those have been worn in support of England’s Red Roses.
This latest move into the wild west will give the Canada camp a boost before their Friday night encounter with the Black Ferns as the side hope to win the tournament for the very first time.
Full-back, Julia Schell, said she was “not okay” after seeing the comment from the artist, who incorporated one of the most famous lines from her 1999 hit ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’, which Twain performed in the 2003 Super Bowl half-time show.
The track, somewhat ironically, was only ever No.1 in one country. New Zealand.
Coming into Friday’s match it is Canada who are the form team heading into the contest.
Regular opponents in the Pacific Four Series, the North Americans have not tasted defeat to the six-time world champions since 2023.
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A first-ever win over the Kiwis in 2024 was followed up by a 27-27 draw in May. Regardless of their recent good form the Canadians are not taking their opponents lightly.
“I’m very excited for the game,” DaLeaka Menin said. “In our last couple of games against New Zealand, we’ve had some good success.
“We were able to beat them for the first time two years ago and this most recent game we tied. We’ve rewatched those games and we know where we made errors.
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“We’re not underestimating them, but we’ve also been working on our processes this entire tournament and aiming to improve every match.”
In their 46-5 win against Australia in the quarter-finals Canada had their most consistent performance of the World Cup so far.
Alysha Corrigan scored two first-half tries, while Asia Hogan-Rochester, Sophie de Goede, McKinley Hunt, Fabiola Forteza and Karen Paquin also dotted down in Bristol.
“New Zealand is a very experienced team,” Kévin Rouet, Canada’s head coach, said. “They are very confident in themselves, so we know we can expect a lot defensively and offensively, both very physical.
“We just have to be good in a sense; our defence will be key against New Zealand. It’s going to be a good game.”