Pacific Four series – Round Three
Canada v Australia
Gabrielle Senft of Canada is tackled (Photo by Fiona Goodall – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
This was the sort of game the WXV was designed for. Amazingly the Wallaroos and the Maple Leafs had met only three times in the past and the Wallaroos had yet to win.
The rain started shortly after kick-off and affected the flow of play. But the Wallaroos began well, taking advantage of a dogleg in the opposition back-line to open the scoring. Ashley Marsters drove over and Lori Cramer converted. (7-0)
That was against predictions, but Canada were again and again guilty of inaccuracies or unwise plays for which the weather shouldn’t be held responsible.
Another promising raid failed to achieve points, then the Wallaroos went further ahead with a Cramer penalty. (10-0)
Canadian supporters could calm themselves; surely the Maple Leafs would last the game better, and their bench had so much more experience.
But it took them a full 36 minutes before one of their threatening drives brought reward, Emily Tuttosi going over. Skipper Sophie De Goede, once more quite outstanding, added the two points.
Half-time: Australia 10 Canada 7
Canada’s scrum had been on top almost all the game, but quick heeling had spared the Wallaroos. But now, as a scrum slewed round, de Goede fed her scrum-half Justine Pelletier, and she somehow scrambled her way right over the line. (10-12)
That was the turning point. Once again the losing side failed to disturb the scoreboard in the second half.
Jay Tregonning showed what he thought of things by bringing on six replacements at once. But they couldn’t effect the swing that Simon Middleton’s eight achieved to turn the tightest of games against the French at Twickenham.
The Canadian pack drove forward relentlessly at the scrum. More patient now, the team built twenty phases that ended with a de Goede penalty. (10-15)
The margin was still narrow but the Wallaroos only rarely made a threatening break into the opposition’s red zone. One fine thrust came from the debutant Grace Kemp, who made a positive impression off the bench at No 8.
After several warnings to Australia Lauren Jenner finally showed a yellow card to Madison Schuck on 71 minutes.
One more at least might have come earlier, but a neck tackle by Lisa Patu on Tyson Beukeboom went unnoticed by the referee and, more worryingly, by the TMO too. A camera picked it up for all to see.
The Wallaroos’ player shortage showed. Before the end Alex Ellis added a welcome flourish from another series of drives.
Result: Canada 22 Australia 10
Player of the Match: Sophie de Goede
Teams
Canada:
1. Olivia DeMerchant (Halifax Tars), 2. Emily Tuttosi (Calgary Hornets/Exeter Chiefs), 3. DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs), 4. Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan) 5. Abby Duguid (University of Lethbridge/Loughborough Lightning), 6. Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers), 7. Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish), 8. Sophie de Goede (captain, Castaway Wanderers), 9. Justine Pelletier (Club de rugby de Québec/Stade Bordelais), 10. Taylor Perry (Oakville Crusaders), 11. Paige Farries (Westshore/Worcester Warriors), 12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), 13. Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish), 14. Alysha Corrigan (CRFC/Saracen), 15. Elissa Alarie (Westshore/SAB/Braves de TR)
Bench:
16. Laura Russell (Cowichan/Toronto Nomads), 17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), 18. Alex Ellis (Barrhaven Scottish/Saracens), 19. Emma Taylor (HRFC / London Saracens), 20. McKinley Hunt (Aurora Barbarians/Exeter Chiefs), 21. Sara Svoboda (Brantford Harlequins/Belleville Bulldogs/Loughborough Lightning), 22. Brianna Miller (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), 23. Maddy Grant (University of Ottawa)
Australia:
1. Liz Patu, 2. Ashley Marsters, 3. Bridie O’Gorman, 4.Michaela Leonard, 5.Kaitlan Leaney, 6. Piper Duck, 7. Shannon Parry (captain), 8. Grace Hamilton, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Arabella McKenzie, 11. Lori Cramer, 12. Cecilia Smith, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 14. Jemima McCalman, 15. Pauline Piliae-Risibale
Bench:
16. Tiarna Molloy, 17. Madison Schuck, 18. Eva Karpani, 19. Sera Naiqama,
20. Grace Kemp, 21. Iliseva Batibasaga, 22.Trilleen Pomare, 23. Mahalia Murphy
Officials
Referee: Lauren Jenner (NZ)
ARs: Sara Cox (RFU) and Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
TMO: Lee Jeffrey (NZ)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
