Canada v France USA v New Zealand – Chula Vista 2 July 2019
The balance of power between the French and the Canadians had grown even tighter. With their loss to New Zealand in Round 1 the Maple Leafs found themselves demoted to fourth position in world rankings, now 0.01 behind les Bleues. What a difference 2 decimal points can make!
They’ve played each other 13 times, Canada winning 5, most memorably in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup in Paris, 18-16. So a lot hung from the result of this game in Southern California.
France still haven’t been able to reproduce their form of last year. The newer faces in today’s team couldn’t provide the continuity and command of basic skills often enough to hold down a powerful and cohesive Canadian performance.
An early attack by the Maple Leafs finished with a penalty in front of the posts taken by Sophie de Goede, their young No 8. She was to confirm the high promise she had shown last summer when captaining Canada’s Under 20s in their Tri-Nations tournament with England the the USA. She is a star in the making, possessed of an all-round game that allows a team to play around her.
France responded with a powerful attack finished off by the inevitable Safi N’Diaye.
Fifteen minutes in, Laure Sansus, their new scrum-half, broke brilliantly from a set scrum and beat the cover to the left corner. She’s built after the pattern of the traditional French No 9, le petit général, female version.
But the French couldn’t get their machine working without disturbing clanks and splutter. The line-out was a lottery and the ball turned over far too often. Emma Coudert, their fly-half, was inaccurate with her tactical kicking, so promising openings weren’t being exploited.
And in the first half there was a lot of kicking – box-kicks, tactical kicks, touch kicks, long-range efforts – most of them off-target.
Just after the drinks break, de Goede took a quick tap penalty in the French 22 for Janna Slevinsky to drive over.
Half-time 17-12
As the second half wore on, the Maple Leafs became more and more dominant. Their back three were fast and elusive, their kicking grew more productive. Sabrina Poulin, wearing No 11 but on the right wing, scored a try made by Elissa Alarie’s well-timed pass.
As soon as Laura Russell, the Canadian captain, was introduced off the bench, she scored a try, converted again by de Goede.
Two of France’s leading players, Pauline Bourdon and Jessy Trémoulière, also came on as replacements to improve matters. Bourdon upped the pace, but Trémoulière’s attempts to put her fellow backs away didn’t work out. It was left to her to score a late try with an elusive run in. This was the first time the French had entered the Canadian 22 for ages.
The French line-out refused to operate properly and move after move broke down.
Amanda Thornborough celebrated her 30th birthday with a late try to round off a decisive win for the Maple Leafs. The pack finished on top, repossessing efficiently, always there to provide support and continuity. They regain that third position and can now look forward to testing England to the full next Saturday.
Result: 36-19
Player of the Match : Sophie de Goede
Referee : Sara Cox
Teams
| Canada | France | ||
| 15 Alarie (C) | Pignot | ||
| 14 Farries | Banet | ||
| 13 Thornborough | Filopon | ||
| 12 Tessier | Peyronnet l-f | ||
| 11 Poulin | Ménager M. | ||
| 10 Black | Coudert | ||
| 9 Josephson | Sansus | ||
| 1 DeMerchant | Arricastre | ||
| 2 Boag | Sochat | ||
| 3 Menin | Joyeux | ||
| 4 Beukeboom | N’Diaye | ||
| 5 Grusnick | Forlani | ||
| 6 Slevinsky | Hermet (C) | ||
| 7 Forteza | Lecat | ||
| 8 De Goede | Diallo | ||
| 16 Fuamba | Touye | ||
| 17 Russell | Domain | ||
| 18 Laliberte | Deshayes | ||
| 19 Holtkamp | Fall | ||
| 20 Svoboda | Ferer | ||
| 21 Fauteux | Bourdon | ||
| 22 Miller | Cabalou | ||
| 23 Corrigan | Trémoulière |
USA v New Zealand
Would the Black Ferns be satisfied with the result the Red Roses achieved against the Eagles, 38-5?
Well, they were and they weren’t. They kept a clean sheet, but couldn’t get beyond a modest 33 points – finishing with exactly the same margin of victory.
The game that had looked to be the most ill-matched of the tournament – first against fifth – turned into a stirring battle. Only American inexperience at the top level prevented them from closing the gap on their illustrious opponents. For example, when New Zealand kicked off deep into US territory, the Eagles tried to run the ball back. Almost inevitably the ball was lost at a breakdown inside their own 22. Within four minutes the Ferns had their first try.
But the Eagles deserve huge credit for keeping pace with the World Champions right to the end, when they swarmed out of deep defence to finish well inside enemy territory.
For much of the game New Zealand seemed to be in charge, dispossessing the hosts all too often and mounting threatening attacks. Their line-outs worked like clockwork and they effected turnover after turnover. But the Americans defended stoutly, and may have surprised even themselves by their stamina through to the 80th minute.
In the first half Kendra Cocksedge organised a sequence of varied assaults on the American line, but only three of them turned into tries.
Alev Kelter had an excellent chance to get her side off the mark, but her penalty kick sliced wide from not far out.
Half-time: 0-19
Rob Cain wanted his players to try things out, not feel restricted by the strictly orthodox. That way, he feels, they will reach their best levels faster. Player development is still a key phrase for him.
There were plenty of unforced errors – in handling, support, choices of play and so on, but far fewer than against England. That is proved by the mere 14 points New Zealand were able to add after the interval.
The Eagles’ pack stood up manfully to Black Fern power, and the backs grew more and more confident of taking the game to the opposition.
The game was marked by the outstanding performance of Kendra Cocksedge who seemed to be at the heart of every good thing her side attempted. Two left-footed kicks were as telling as anything off her stronger foot, and she nailed nearly every conversion.
Significantly, after her departure at the three-quarter mark the Eagles seemed to have more time and space to develop their moves.
The Black Ferns now have the two European nations to face. It will be fascinating to see how they approach those games. They aren’t the finished article, but they will take a lot of beating.
Result: USA 0 New Zealand 33
Referee: Hollie Davidson
