Semi-final, World Cup Eden Park, Auckland
Canada v England
Before we think of congratulating England on reaching another final, we have to praise the extraordinary performance shown by the Maple Leafs throughout the game.
For true amateurs to come so close to beating the short-odds favourites spoke volumes for their ability and fitness. They came within a hair’s breadth of denying the Red Roses the lead for the first time in the tournament. No question of them running out of breath in the last quarter; they built mulltiple phases to test English defences to the maximum. And this was their fifth match in five weeks.
This was a glorious game.
A second long kick by Canada saw Emily Scarratt drop the ball. Consternation among English fans? It was all Canada at the start, but the moment they suffered a turnover, England pressed home their advantage. Helena Rowland was very prominent in gaining a vital attacking line-out. Everything worked like clockwork. Marlie Packer added to her try-harvest. (7-0).
Canada paid for another deep kick that failed to gain the benefit hoped for. Rowland found acres of space as she motored to her right. At the last possible moment she fed Abby Dow who produced one of her shortest bursts to the line. (12-0)
Justine Pelletier brought her team straight back into the game with a brilliant scrum-break. As she was finally closed down, she poked a devilish grubber that finished over the England line. The first to arrive was Karen Paquin, showing once again her astonishing pace and skills. 35-year-old loose-forwards aren’t supposed to outpace backs like that. (12-5)
Again and again Canadians drove beyond English tackles, threatening to break out and cause mayhem; exactly the game-plan that had caused England so much triumph over the past two years.
But a fine 50-22 from Zoe Harrison led to another chance for an English line-out drive. As Abbie Ward powered over the line, determined defence brought another call of ‘held-up’.
Canada went on answering every English tactic. They kicked long, they drove line-out possession. Red Rose defence had to be spot-on.
As half-time approached, Aimee Barrett-Theron issued England with a warning. They needed to be squeaky-clean. Alex Tessier popped a kick into touch on England’s 5-metre line. From there the Leafs battered at the line with multiple phases. Then Pelletier looked up, spotted a chance and lobbed a long pass left to Alysha Corrigan who was over. 12-12 and England looked a long way from being the walk-over winners.
They returned to the attack. When offered a penalty, Scarratt showed the English state of mind by taking the 3 points from in front.
Half-time: England 15 Canada 12
Time for some serious talk indoors. Surely the Maple Leafs couldn’t keep up that pace for the second 40? Oh yes, they could! They looked as far from the ‘amateur’ side they actually are as it is possible to imagine.
England attacked from the restart with multiple phases, led by Sarah Bern and Zoe Aldcroft. Scarratt accepted the offer of another penalty in front. (18-12)
Then an unwanted serious injury. Helena Rowland had to leave the field on the trolley. After the game she was seen on crutches, so her place in the final must be in doubt
Canada showed their pedigree by attacking with huge skill. They built a multi-phase attack that left England defending wth huge commitment. When at last they achieved a turnover on their own doorstep, Leanne Infante spun the ball wide left; one more pass and Claudia MacDonald responded with a brave counter, runnng not to the edge, but back inside towards opposition strength. But she flew past them. As a tackle approached, she threw a long pass right that found Abby Dow.
I’ve already got Dow lined up for the best three tries of the season/year/decade. This latest run to the line might eclipse all of them. She needed one well-timed fend and she was over. (23-12)
Boring England.
They had defended resolutely on their own line, regained possession and run the length of the field to score.
And still the Canucks weren’t done. Tyson Beukeboom made a telling break through midfield and found support. Play pummeled the grass in front of the English line, Canada built phases and Beukeboom completed the move she had started. (23-19)
England fans were restored to that state of fear they had known only when facing the French. The Red Roses might lose. It was heightened when Vickii Cornborough was shown yellow for not releasing. To their credit, they held out well; Tatyana Heard, who had another industrious game in midfield, adding her weight to the scrum.
England resorted to the policy that has served them best in hours of trouble; they worked the ball patiently towards the opposition line, waited for the referee to blow her whistle, and Scarratt, captain now after Sarah Hunter departed the scene on 50 minutes, struck a fine penalty through the breeze.
That still left a lead of only 7 points, so finger-nails took a lot of punishment. But the so-called red- hot favourites came through, to end a remarkable run of eight wins for their doughty opponents.
Result: Canada 19 England 26
Player of the Match: Zoe Aldcroft
Teams
England (original squad; please note *):
15. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)
14. Abby Dow (Wasps, 29 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 106 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 7 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 44 caps)
9. Leanne Infante (Saracens, 56 caps)
1. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 34 caps)”
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 68 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 36 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 54 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 87 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (captain, Loughborough Lightning, 138 caps)
Bench:
16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
17. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 73 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
19. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 9 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 61 caps)
21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 8 caps)*
22. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 13 caps)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 29 caps)
* Botterman and L. Packer withdrew with injuries; Vickii Cornborough started; Sadia Kabeya and Shaunagh Brown were added to the bench; Muir switched to lhp finisher.
Canada
1. Olivia DeMerchant (Halifax Tars)
2. Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs)
3. DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans)
5. McKinley Hunt ((Exeter Chiefs)
6. Fabiola Forteza (Club de rugby de Québec)
7. Karen Paquin (Stade Bordelais)
8. Sophie de Goede (captain, Castaway Wanderers)
9. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC)
10. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue)
11. Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors)
12. Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish)
13. Alysha Corrigan (Saracens)
14. Maddy Grant (University of Ottawa)
15. Elissa Alarie (Westshore)
Bench:
16. Gillian Boag (Capilano)
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph)
18. Alex Ellis (Saracens)
19. Ngalula Fuamba ((T.M.R.R.F.C.)
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan)
21. Gabrielle Senft (Exeter Chiefs)
22. Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning) 23. Anaïs Holly (Town of Mont-Royal)
Officials:
Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR1 Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
AR 2 Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
TWO Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
For the record:
England’s run of success now reaches 30. Recent results between the two nations:
2021 England 52 – 12 Canada
2019 England 19 – 17 Canada
2018 England 27 – 19 Canada
2017 England 69 – 19 Canada
2017 England 49 – 12 Canada
2017 England 79 – 5 Canada
i.e. one very close result; Canada have scored in every match; their 2017 side was very callow, deprived of top players.
England’s run to the semis:
Round 1 – Red Roses 84 – 19 Fiji
Round 2 – Red Roses 13 – 7 France
Round 3 – Red Roses 75 – 0 South Africa
Quarter Final Red Roses 41 – 5 Australia
England’s dominance at the line-out and the driving maul that follows has upset the all-round nature of their play. Before this semi they had scored 35 tries, but only 11 by the backs. If its winning rugby (and this is a world cup), why alter the pattern, whatever the critics say?
The last-minute changes to the England 23 (Lucy Packer’s ankle-injury less last-minute) showed the absolute necessity for plenty of front-row back-up, and especially versatility. Not many 21- year-olds could be expected to pack down either side of the scrum in a world cup, but Maud Muir could.
