Canada always had a good chance of beating New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup semi-final but no one anticipated the manner of the win as they dominated the defending champions and played them off the park at times. This was a masterclass by Kévin Rouet’s team who used pace, patience and instincts to knock the Blacks Ferns out and book their spot in the final for only the second time.
The match had already been picked out as one that would go down in history but the result certified that. Sophie de Goede excelled once again for Canada. Whether affecting breakdown turnovers, kicking conversions or tearing through the opposition defence, she was the linchpin. The trust Canada had in each other when they had front-foot ball allowed them to play with pure freedom that downed New Zealand and set up a final against England or France next Saturday.
This is the first time since 2014 New Zealand will not be in the final, their first tournament loss since Ireland defeated them 11 years ago and just the second semi-final they have lost. Canada, who crowdfunded their preparations for this tournament and are semi-professional, went in as underdogs, a title they will surely not be labelled with again after a performance for the ages.
“The confidence in this team, we arrived at the game not being stressed by the event and not being stressed by playing the Black Ferns,” Rouet said. “That is a big gamechanger for us, especially with the way we want to play the game. If we don’t have the confidence it is going to be hard for us. I like to see that in this team now. I am pretty confident I will see the same behaviour arriving at the final.”
Ashton Gate was almost sold out and the tension was palpable. There were perfect conditions with no rain all day and clear skies at kick-off. Canada laid no challenge in response to the haka, they simply watched in a tight-knit line as the Black Ferns electrified the atmosphere.
The first blood came from a well-worked Canada try with the captain, Alex Tessier, collecting a chipped kick and the player of the match, Justine Pelletier, evading defenders to dive over. The crowd were treated to more moves from Canada as they constantly broke the line and they next scored through Asia Hogan-Rochester. The wing jumped on a huddle of her teammates in celebration with the Black Ferns looking shocked by how fast Canada were converting.
Each of the Canadian tries came after they won a penalty and kicked to the corner and their third was no different. A rolling maul and 15 phases later Florence Symonds scored and the defending champions congregated under the sticks trying to figure out how to get back into the game.
Whatever was said in that huddle worked: less than two minutes later Tanya Kalounivale was over. It set fire to New Zealand’s attack but one move went begging with a forward pass and then another through a dropped ball. The injury that sidelined Jorja Miller in those moments was keenly felt: in previous matches she was the player to create something from nothing. Not taking their chances cost New Zealand as Canada were in again, this time through the formidable De Goede.
The Black Ferns knew they had to be the next to score after the break but Canada did not take their foot off of the gas, with Tessier going over. A whiff of a comeback began with tries from Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who added her ninth of the tournament, but it was snuffed out with a De Goede penalty.
Both the New Zealand co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and director of performance, Allan Bunting, were emotional post-match. Tukuafu said she was “gutted” and Bunting added: “Sport is pretty tough sometimes. It can break your heart. We get another opportunity, which is a good thing, to play for our country.” The Black Ferns will play in the bronze medal match before the final next Saturday.
Canada may be underdogs again for the final, particularly if they face England, but that will be a mere title. Rouet’s side proved themselves before this semi-final as the world No 2 team but this will have woken everyone up to the level they are capable of. If they show up like this at Twickenham next week, this tournament will be tipped to have an upset on its hands, and Canada may have the trophy for the first time.
New Zealand Holmes (Leti-I’iga 50); Sorensen-McGee, Waaka, Brunt (Setefano 76), Woodman-Wickliffe; Demant, Pouri-Lane (Joseph 62); Viliko (Lolohea 66), Ponsonby (Henwood 66), Kalounivale (Rule 45), Roos, A Bremner (C Bremner 62), Mikaele-Tu’u, Tukuafu (Sae 56), Olsen-Baker. Tries Kalounivale, Mikaele-Tu’u, Sorensen-McGee. Cons Holmes, Sorensen-McGee.
Canada Schell; Corrigan, Symonds, Tessier, Hogan-Rochester; Perry (Seumanutafa 79), Pelletier (Apps 62); Hunt (Kassil 62), Tuttosi (Boag 77), Menin, De Goede, O’Donnell (Beukeboom 51), Crossley, Paquin (Royer 62), Forteza (Senft 66). Tries Pelletier, Hogan-Rochester, Symonds, De Goede, Tessier. Cons De Goede 3. Pen De Goede.
Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA). Attendance 24,392.
