Final Score: Canada 0-36 England

Recap from Rugby Canada 

Canada’s Women’s Rugby team have gone down 36-0 to France in the Rugby World Cup bronze medal game at Eden Park in Auckland.

A disappointing finish to Canada’s campaign, the team will look to build on their excellent performances to reach the bronze medal game in New Zealand, Kevin Rouet’s side having helped inspire the next generation of Canadian rugby players with their displays in the World Cup.

For the second week in a row, Canada started well but could not capitalize on their opportunities, and it was France who would get the opening try of the game.

Canada struggled to get out of their own half for much of the first half with France impressing with their kicking game.

Moments of brilliance from captain Sophie De Goede opened the French defence up at times, but Canada just couldn’t convert and with five minutes to play in the first period, France lifted, scoring two tries in quick succession to make it 22-0 at the break.

France continued their dominance after half-time, crossing for another pair of tries, Canada again having some good field position to score without the reward to show for it.

Canada stemmed the flow after France made it 36-0, but the damage was done, and the side were left to rue missed opportunities.

In the end, France deserved their victory, Canada finishing fourth in the Rugby World Cup, with four wins and two defeats.

Final Score: Canada 19-26 England

Tries: Paige Farries, Emily Tuttosi, Sara Kaljuvee
Conversions/Penalties: Brianna Miller

Recap from Rugby Canada 

Canada’s Women’s Rugby team have gone down bravely to England 26-19 in the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final at Eden Park in Auckland.

An incredibly courageous effort from Kevin Rouet’s side, the team came agonisingly close to beating the World’s No. 1 team, the fully professional Red Roses.

Canada started brightly, but England would make the most of their first opportunity in the game to open the scoring, converting from out wide to make it 7-0.

That early try gave England confidence, and despite some brave cover defence from Alex Tessier, England finished well in the corner to extend their lead. The conversion just hit the post, the score now 12-0.

Canada fought back. Off a lineout, scrum-half Justine Pelletier found half a gap and wriggled through, kicked to space and backrow Karen Paquin was first to chase down the grubber, dotting down to score. De Goede’s conversion just missed the mark, the score sitting at 12-5 after 20 minutes.

Continuing to fight back after England’s early dominance, Canada showcased their quality, working their way into England’s red zone. The maul got the English defence backpedaling towards their own tryline, and with advantage coming, Pelletier threw a beautiful looping pass for Alysha Corrigan to square things up.

Captain De Goede’s conversion missed by the narrowest of margins, and though England would add a penalty late in the half, Canada had a foothold in the game. The score 15-12 at half-time.

England added another penalty a couple of minutes after the break, extending their lead to six. As they had in the first half, Canada responded and looked destined to score, as they battered England’s try-line.

However, England somehow turned the ball over, and with Canada’s backline lined up to attack, England took full advantage and scored a runaway try, the score now 23-12.

Still, Canada refused to give up and a booming kick from Tessier put Canada five metres from England’s line again, the Red Roses also losing a player to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.

Despite their courageous efforts, Canada couldn’t convert the pressure into points, and England held on to their advantage.

Again, Canada did not wilt under pressure, and stuck to their tasks in defence for the next 10 minutes before breaking out through Elissa Alarie and Paige Farrie. England were solid in defence as well however, and Canada continued to search for the try to get them within touching distance.

Eventually the breakthrough came, Tyson Beukeboom ghosting through a hole in the English defence to break the Red Roses open. Canada barged at the try-line, and it was Beukeboom who would get the try.

De Goede converted to make it a one score game, though England would add a penalty, meaning Canada needed seven to tie the game.

The team continued to push, but the try just wouldn’t come, and England hung on to win 26-19.

Final Score: Canada 32-11 USA

Tries: McKinley Hunt, Karen Paquin, Paige Farries, Alex Tessier
Conversions/Penalties: Sophie De Goede

Recap from Rugby Canada 

Canada’s Women’s Rugby team have beaten USA 32-11 in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

Four tries and a fantastic display off the tee from captain Sophie De Goede delivered the victory for Kevin Rouet’s side, with Canada sealing their place in the 2021 Rugby World Cup semi-finals. With a guaranteed top-four finish, Canada has achieved automatic qualification for the 2025 World Cup in England.

USA started the game strong, pinning Canada deep in their half. That pressure would turn to points after 10 minutes, USA crossing for the opening try of the game.

Canada struggled to get a foothold in the game, but with one kick of the ball, Elissa Alarie turned the momentum in Canada’s favour, the fullback launching the ball from inside her half and bouncing it into touch in USA’s 22-metre zone, giving Canada the throw at the lineout.

Though the rolling drive wouldn’t lead directly to a try for Canada, the maul took the team close, allowing lock McKinley Hunt to push her way over the line. Captain Sophie De Goede converted brilliantly from out-wide to make it 7-5.

Four minutes later, Canada would have their second try, outstanding backrow Karen Paquin chasing down another expert kick from Alarie to score. USA added three points late in the half, leaving the score at 12-8 to Canada as the teams jogged into the locker rooms.

Canada shot out of the traps in the second period, star winger Paige Farries taking a deft pop pass through a hole and rounding the fullback to score the try of the day. De Goede converted for two points, USA added three almost straight off the kick-off, leaving the score at 19-8 only five minutes after the restart of play.

Canada’s captain responded with three of her own when the USA then lost a player to the sin-bin for a high tackle, restoring Canada’s 11-point advantage. Alex Tessier put Canada out of reach not long after, sustained pressure seeing the flyhalf cross untouched under the sticks. De Goede converted and added another three points from the tee making it 32-11 which is how it finished.

Canada now look forward to taking on England in the semi-finals next Friday at 8:30pm PT/11:30pm ET.

“I’m very pleased with the performance and proud of the effort from the players. We managed the weather well, scored some good tries and proved we belong in that top-four and our focus is now on England on Saturday.” Canada’s Women’s Head Coach Kevin Rouet

Final Score: Canada 29-14 USA

Tries: Tuttosi, Tessier, Farries, DeMerchant, Nelson
Conversions: De Goede (2)

Recap from Rugby Canada

Canada’s Women’s Rugby team have claimed their third bonus-point victory in a row in Rugby World Cup pool play, defeating the USA 29-14 at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.

The bonus-point victory sees Canada progress to the playoffs as second seed, meaning Kevin Rouet’s side will play USA in the quarter-finals this Saturday, 29 October at 8:30 p.m. PT and 11:30 p.m. ET on TSN 3.

Canada came out charging in the first five minutes and turned pressure into points off the back of the rolling maul, with hooker Emily Tuttosi crossing for her sixth try of the tournament.

Ten minutes later, Canada had their second of the day, flyhalf Alex Tessier absorbing heavy contact on her way to the try line. Sophie De Goede converted to make it 12-0.

USA responded, but Canada would have the final word of the first half, winger Paige Farries dancing down the sideline to grab her third try in as many games at the World Cup.

De Goede nailed the conversion from out wide to make it 19-7 which is how it stayed at half time.

USA seized the upper hand early in the second half and looked to have made it a one-try game but were called back for obstruction.

That seemed to jolt Canada into action, and from another textbook maul, Canada secured a bonus-point and top spot in pool B, Olivia MeMerchant the one to cross.

USA threw everything at Canada’s defence late in the game, and did manage to score a second try, but Canada would have the final say, replacement prop Mikiela Nelson barging over the line from close range to seal the win.

The final score 29-14, Canada progress to the quarter-finals as second seed with three bonus-point wins from three pool games.

Final Score: Canada 22 – 12 Italy

Tries: Paige Farries, Emily Tuttosi, Sara Kaljuvee
Conversions: Brianna Miller

Recap from Rugby Canada 

Canada’s Women’s Rugby team have won 22-12 against Italy at Rugby World Cup 2021 playing in 2022, a bonus-point also securing Canada’s place in the Quarter Finals.

Italy got the opening try of the game after just 70 seconds, but it wouldn’t take too long for Canada to respond through winger Paige Farries.

The flyer spotted a gap in the Italian defence, outpaced the covering fullback and dived under the posts. Brianna Miller converted to give Canada the lead.

In a first half full of nervous energy and brutality in defence from both teams, chances to score were limited but Canada put their trust in their rolling maul, and after a couple of attempts eventually Italy cracked, and Emily Tuttosi dotted down for her fourth try of the tournament.

Miller’s conversion hit the crossbar, leaving the score at 12-5 and that’s how it would stay going into the break.

Canada got their third try of the game 10 minutes after half-time, centre Sara Kaljuvee crossing the line for her first Rugby World Cup try.

Tuttosi would then grab her second of the game, again the forward pack showing their power at the maul. Captain Sophie De Goede couldn’t convert from the touchline leaving the score at 22-5.

That try also secured the bonus-point for Canada, earning them a spot in the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, with a test against the USA next round to determine top spot in the pool.

Italy would add a try late, but the result was not in question, the final score 22-12 to Canada.

Final Score: Canada 41 – 5 Japan

Tries: Paige Farries, Emily Tuttosi, Brianna Miller, Mikiela Nelson
Conversions: Brianna Miller, Sophie De Goede

Recap from Rugby Canada 

The Canadian Women’s Rugby Team have defeated Japan 41-5 in their opening game of Rugby World Cup 2021 playing in 2022 at Northland Events Centre in Whangārei, New Zealand.

Three tries to hooker Emily Tuttosi and a double for veteran scrum half Brianna Miller sealed the victory for Kevin Rouet’s side on the day when Canada’s Women’s team played their 150th test match.

It took Canada just two minutes to get their first try of the tournament, winger Paige Farries collecting a brilliant charge down from Sara Kaljuvee to score in her first Rugby World Cup.

Japan responded quickly, levelling the game at 5-5, but it wouldn’t take long for Canada to restore their lead,  Tuttosi crashing over the line for her first try. Miller converted to make it 12-5 after 15 minutes.

The scrum half then consolidated Canada’s lead 10 minutes later, scooting through a gap to score from 30 metres from the line, though she couldn’t quite find the target from the conversion.

Tuttosi then got her second of the game off the back of a dominant rolling maul, before Miller also grabbed a double with five minutes to play in the half.

Canada had more opportunities to extend their lead but were comfortable taking a 27-5 lead into the break.

Tuttosi completed her hat-trick 10 minutes after half-time, staying low to drive across the line. Captain Sophie De Goede converted brilliantly from the touchline to make it 34-5.

Replacement front row Mikiela Nelson was last to get on the score sheet, the loosehead prop dotting down from the base of the ruck, completing a strong display against a gutsy Japanese group.

Canada will now look forward to taking on Italy in their second pool game at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 15 October.