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Player comparisons: Canada steamroll Australia to book semi final spot
By Lucy Lomax
Canada looked scarily good on an afternoon in Bristol which saw the world number twos book their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
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Canada, so comfortable on the ball, their ruck speed and forward power is the envy of every other competing nation, and they showed these assets in abundance by steam rolling over Australia, winning their quarter-final 46-5.
Front row- Advantage Canada
McKinley Hunt made 14 tackles, scored Canada’s fifth try and showed pure power up front and in the contact, being dominant in her tackles. DaLeaka Menin didn’t have a perfect afternoon, a disallowed try and a knock on on the try line on another occasion but made 18 carries in her 60 minutes on the pitch and remained a powerful ball carrying threat throughout.
Disruption was caused in Australia’s front row as hooker Adiana Talakai was removed early on with a head knock.
Second row- Advantage Canada
What can’t Sophie de Goede do? Don’t be fooled by the four on her back, she is an extra back row for her team. Her picks and go’s kept Australia on their toes, busting up the middle, making multiple clean breaks, scored the team’s third try and kicking four conversions. Her and Courtney O’Donnell who’s line speed was impressive, are a frightening proposition for any team.
On the opposite side Kaitlan Leaney and Michaela Leonard battled hard but the lineout for Australia only functioned at 60% and without that platform the pair didn’t compare to Canada’s dynamic duo.
Back row- Honours Even
Caroline Crossley had a great start to the match, finding the try assist for Hogan Rochester’s opening score, Karen Paquin had the final say with outrageous footwork at the age of 38 to dot down in the 77th minute. Fabiola Forteza also got herself on the scoreboard showing huge determination to ground the ball just after half-time.
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What an impact Piper Duck and Emily Chancellor have had in this tournament, with captain Siokapesi Palu coming back into the fold against England last week, all three lead by example today, making a combined 52 tackles.
Half backs- Advantage Canada
Justine Pelletier was the heartbeat of side and kept them ticking over with her passing, had an almost telepathic connection between herself and de Goede. Taylor Perry, not a flashy ten but didn’t put a foot wrong in her 80 minute performance.
Mention must go to 20-year-old Faitala Moleka who once again showed us why she is such a player to watch. The fly-half made her tackles, showed her footwork and never shied away from her responsibility with the boot. Her tackle on de Goede when making a huge break in midfield was notable and the fly-half positioned herself well to field kicks in the back field.
Centres- Advantage Canada
Alex Tessier, a key distributor and kicker for her team, linked up the back line well in midfield. Florence Symonds had quite a game and was more of an attacking threat than her midfield partner, a deceptively strong player. You wouldn’t be able to tell she is a sevens specialist she looks so at home in 15s, making scything runs and owning her channel.
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In comparison Cecilia Smith and Georgina Friedrichs weren’t able to make as much of an impact on the game.
Back three- Advantage Canada
Asia Hogan-Rochester scored a screamer in the first minute of the match, Alysha Corrigan also had a fantastic finish for Canada’s second try, both showing pace to burn. Corrigan again got herself on the score board in the 19th minute. Julia Schell had a try disallowed and will look to get back on the score board, after scoring six in Canada’s first game of the tournament, in the semi-final next week.
Maya Stewart has had a quiet tournament by her standards and didn’t get many chances with ball in hand today. Desiree Miller scored a scorcher down the left wing to level the scores at 5-5 early in the match and showed she is both a threat in attack and defence. Caitlyn Halse again showed herself as an extremely exciting prospect at full back being confident and accomplished at only 18-years-old.
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