Australia v Canada
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Canada looked like a well-oiled machine as they forced the Wallaroos into submission.
But strangely all their points were scored by forwards; even stranger, the front row all crossed the line. The first stat becomes slightly less odd when we see Sophie de Goede taking the conversions.
There was delightful confusion at the kick-off; everyone was ready for the starting-pistol when it was realised the teams needed to change ends. The camera had shown the toss and the decision inside, so what went wrong? All I know is that a few captains need far more practice at coin-tossing.
In the opening minutes the Wallaroos were almost run off their feet; the visitors were playing with great accuracy despite their speed of thought and action. They gained an early reward. A penalty brought them to the 5-metre line. From there a drive saw Sara Cline open the scoring. A second try later and some accurate line-out throws will have calmed any nerves Kévin Rouet had about back-up for Emily Tuttosi.
The pack had their biggest success when they drove a maul from outside the 22 to just short of the line. As bodies fell to the floor, McKinley Hunt spotted the ball sitting loose at her feet and almost walked over.
It was a relief for the crowd seeing a Canadian handling error costing them a score. Tania Naden was on the end of a determined thrust to the line. (7-14)
Canada went straight back on the attack. Their policy was to pick and drive close to the breakdown; they did it so well that the ball-carrier was rarely isolated and picked off. With Olivia Apps threatening to exploit the tiniest gap they created, the Wallaroos’ defensive line was kept busy. Now Layne Morgan was deemed offside; Alex Tessier kicked to the corner and that was Cline’s second. (7-19)
When Australia repeated the same sequence, Canada managed to hold the drive, but I could have sworn that Tyson Beukeboom had swung round offside a moment earlier. She knows her way around a rugby pitch.
The other main plank in Canada’s game-plan was to send relieving kicks as deep as possible. Nothing very new about that, but young Claire Gallagher must have won the kicking trophy over Bella McKenzie by a few furlongs.
Half-time: 7-19
Another Australian error, a turnover, led to Hunt’s second try, stretching the lead away beyond likely recall (7-26). But the Wallaroos came back hard in attack. As they swung the ball left, menacing the line, a hand intercepted the ball and Natarsha Ganley stopped play. On checking the details, she decided that Madison Grant had prevented a probable score, so that was seven points in the kitty and our long-awaited first yellow card. (14-26)
It’s curious how rarely sides make effective use of the extra player. Now the game swung to the other end, and DaLeaka Menin made one of her typical bursts from a breakdown to cross the line. That was the Front Row Union very happy with affairs. (14-33)
Now Maya Stewart made a great break, but Apps has so much speed and anticipation of events that she got back to haul the winger down.
Excitement had grown as the pace hotted up, but into the last quarter players tired, and errors crept in, interrupting the flow.
The Maple Leafs confirmed their superiority by mounting attacks right past the final hooter. The Wallaroos did well to halt SdG as she powered to the line; they didn’t concede another score, but nor could they create a chance for themselves.
Result: Australia 14 Canada 33
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
Teams:
Australia
1. Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs), 2.Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies), 3. Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs), 4. Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs), 5. Michaela Leonard (captain, Western Force), 6. Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies), 7. Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels), 8. Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs), 9. Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs), 10. Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs), 11. Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs), 12. Trilleen Pomare (Western Force), 13. Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs), 14. Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs) 15. Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds)
16. *Hera Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force),17. *Sally Fuesaina (ACT Brumbies), 18. Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs), 19. Atasa Lafai (NSW Waratahs), 20. Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs), 21. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies), 22. *Samantha Wood, 23. Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies)
*uncapped
Canada
1. McKinley Hunt (Saracens), 2. Sara Cline (Western Force ), 3. DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs),
4. Tyson Beukeboom (Trailfinders) , 5. Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat ), 6. Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish), 7. Sophie de Goede (captain, Saracens), 8. Gabrielle Senft (Stade Bordelais), 9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay), 10. Claire Gallagher (Leicester Tigers ), 11. Paige Farries (Saracens ), 12. Alexandra Tessier (Exeter Chiefs), 13. Fancy Bermudez (Westshore), 14. Madison Grant (Cornwall Claymores), 15. Sarah-Maude Lachance (Stade Bordelais)
16. Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs), 17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph ), 18. Alexandria Ellis (Stade Français), 19. Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans), 20. Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais), 21. Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais), 22. Julia Schell (Trailfinders), 23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Chiefs Manawa)
Table P W L Pts
Canada 2 2 0 10
New Zealand 1 1 0 5
Australia 1 0 1 0
USA 2 0 2 0
Afterthought
How many pundits will be sharpening their quills to complain bitterly about Canada’s style of play?
Their pack was in almost complete control throughout, and the backs were happy to join in the same style of play.
I seem to remember England being heavily criticised, even by English observers, for their over- reliance on forward power in pre-John Mitchell days – as if the backs just stood round and admired. Completely unfair.
Now the Canadians offered a thoroughly enlightened game, focusing on their strengths and showing cohesion right across the park. Whether they will be able to hold the Black Ferns in check will be a matter of extreme interest.
