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RWC 2025: Four takeaways from Canada v Fiji
By Martyn Thomas at York Community Stadium, York
York’s fan zone hummed with the sound of confident Canadians ahead of kick off and it took their team fewer than seven minutes to hit the front.
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Captain Sophie de Goede profited from a slick lineout move, hitting the perfect line to take the ball and accelerate over the line. The forward then converted her score.
Gillian Boag burrowed over from close range in the 14th minute and despite seeing a second try for the hooker chalked off for a high tackle from Taylor Perry – that resulted in the fly-half spending 10 minutes in the sin bin – the world’s second-best side kept the foot on the gas.
Flanker Caroline Crossley went over with her team still a player light while Alysha Corrigan took a wonderful scoring pass from De Goede to wrap up the bonus point within seconds of Perry re-entering play.
That made the score 24-0 at half time but the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Fiji’s score early in the second half. A contender for try of the tournament already, replacement Kolora Lomani finished off a remarkable team move to send the Fijian fans in attendance into rapture.
Not to be outdone, Canada hit back. Player of the Match Julia Schell took over. The full-back scored one of the fastest hat-tricks in World Cup history – in under five minutes – and grabbed three more before the end of the game.
Fiji were reduced to 14 players for the closing stages as replacement prop Bulou Vasuturaga was shown a yellow card that was later upgraded to red. But it made little difference to the result and Karen Pacquin went over before the end to add an exclamation to Canada’s 65-7 win.
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This is what we learnt in York.
Schell lights up York
To put what Schell did in York into some context, the fastest hat-trick in men’s Rugby World Cup history was scored by Springbok Corbus Reinach. He managed three in 20 minutes against Canada in 2019.
On Saturday, Schell made that look sedate. The Trailfinders Women full-back scored her first three tries in fewer than five minutes. It took just another 16 to score three more.
The Player of the Match now holds the Canadian record for most tries in a single World Cup game, overtaking Mario Gallo who scored five against Spain in 2006. An incredible feat achieved in barely 21 minutes.
Schell’s second was the pick of the bunch. The full-back had plenty of work to do when she received the ball but rode one tackle on the Fijian 10m line and then held off another to dot down in the left corner.
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Canada are well stocked in the back three but in a whirlwind quarter Schell made herself virtually undroppable.
Canada stake claim
York buzzed from early on Saturday as race goers and rugby fans mixed with tourists in the historic city.
It created a vibrant atmosphere among the cobblestones. But as the punters headed home from the racecourse, one of the Women’s Rugby World Cup favourites was preparing to make a statement on the other side of town.
Canada arrived in England this month carrying the hopes of thousands of rugby fans on their shoulders. Could they be the team to break the New Zealand-England World Cup duopoly?
Based on the evidence of Saturday evening: Just maybe.
This was a good win for the North Americans and Kevin Rouet’s side did plenty right at York Community Stadium. Especially in the final 30 minutes as Fiji tired.
De Goede’s comeback continues at an impressive pace. The second row was as influential as ever in York, tackling, carrying, linking play and of course, kicking at goal.
Crossley and Gabby Senft were impressive up front. Justine Pelletier, Perry and Alex Tessier kept the team on the front foot. Florence Symonds, Corrigan and – of course – Schell shone with the platform they were given.
Canada ended the game with 65 per cent territory, made 151 carries – to Fiji’s 81 – and scored 11 tries. The final half an hour was scintillating.
But in truth they did not need to click into their absolute top gear. Rouet’s side will enjoy this win and rightly so, but they will know that tougher tests await.
Bermudez knock gives Canada concern
If there was one slight concern to come out of the day for Canada and Rouet it came in the sight of Fancy Bermudez limping off the field.
The winger – electric yet again in the first half – lasted only three minutes of the second before she had to be replaced by Olivia Apps.
That came after a collision with Lomani in the left corner and Canada must hope that it doesn’t prove too serious.
Bermudez is a difference maker at her best and will be a big miss if she is forced to miss a spell of the World Cup.
However, on the plus side, Canada are well stocked out wide. Paige Farries wasn’t in the matchday squad in York. Krissy Scurfield wasn’t even required in England.
Regardless, Rouet will hope for good news.
Lomani sends crowd wild
It was not to be Fiji’s day in York, but what you can always rely on from Ioan Cunningham’s side is fight and commitment.
Despite spending almost the entirety of the first half on the back foot the Fijiana refused to give up and provided arguably the moment of the match early in the second. Definitely the biggest, proudest celebration.
Winger Repeka Tove rescued a scewed – or brilliant – crossfield kick on her own 22 and from then on Fiji kicked into top gear.
Josivini Naihamu added impetus and captain Alfreda Fisher took on the baton and her side deep into Canadian territory. Moments later Lomani appeared on her shoulder, took possession and scored one of the best tries ever scored in the tournament.
Fijiana fans enjoyed the moment in the stands and it is sure to be a try that lives long in highlights packages.
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