Last week Canada regained third place in world standings, but defeating the hosts remains a daunting challenge. After meeting them seventeen times, they have yet to win.
Team News
Black Ferns
Allan Bunting makes only change, and it’s enforced: an injury to loose-head Kate Henwood means Chryss Viliko wears the No 1 shirt.
It also means Bunting reckons he’s close to knowing his strongest line-up. That in turn gives opponents the chance to run a beady eye over the starting XV, hunting for any possible weaknesses.
The one addition to the 23 is a familiar name, Aldora Itunu. She returns after moving away from rugby to start a family. If and when she appears, it will mark the end of a three-year gap.
You can see her selection two ways: a triumph for her: her son will be in the stands; or an indication of the lack of competition in that vital part of the field, the front row. Itunu will be 33 next month.
Bunting has admitted that he and his assistants have been looking for improvement ‘in certain areas of our game’. We can spend the next 24 hours deciding which they are.
Maple Leafs
The big news for the visitors is the presence of Tyson Beukeboom for a record 68th time. Indeed the Leafs may have a better chance than usual of ending that winless run against the world champions. Kévin Rouet has been building a strong squad that now boasts more experience than ever before – a point sharpened by the praise given to Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, who makes her 20th appearance for the Ferns. That landmark is still considered noteworthy in Aotearoa.
Rouet has to make do without Sarah-Maude Lachance, who suffered an injury last week. Julia Schell steps up in her place, but at full-back. Shoshanah Seumanutafa becomes Alex Tessier’s partner in the centre; Fancy Bermudez shifts out to the wing.
Rouet opts for a 6-2 split, which inevitably runs the risk of exposing a shortage out behind.
It will be fascinating to see how far this greater all-round experience can affect the result; can the bench, for example, make a positive difference with their know-how and talent?
There’s little doubt they have a mountain to climb. Last year they lost 50-17, and that was at home in Ottawa, in front of a 5-figure gate. Much will depend on how well the staff can set their team up to break such a long losing run. It takes a skilled psychologist to overcome concerns about facing a bogey team.
Teams
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. Shoshanah Seumanutafa 14 Fancy Bermudez (Westshore), 14. Madison Grant (Cornwall Claymores), 15. Julia Schell (Trailfinders)
16. Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs), 17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph ), 18. Alexandria Ellis (Stade Français),
19. Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans), 20. Julia Omokhuale (Leicester Tigers), 21. Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais), 22. Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais), 23. Madison Grant (Cornwall Claymores)
New Zealand
1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Tanya Kalounivale, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 6. Layla Sae, 7. Kennedy Simon (co-captain, 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Ruahei Demant (co-captain, 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12. Sylvia Brunt, 13. Amy du Plessis,14. Ruby Tui, 15. Mererangi Paul
16. Luka Connor, 17. Amy Rule, 18. Aldora Itunu, 19. Charmaine Smith, 20. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 21. Iritana Hohaia, 22. Hannah King, 23. Patrica Maliepo
Officials:
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (RA) and Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
Location: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Table P W L Pts
Canada 2 2 0 10
New Zealand 1 1 0 5
USA 3 1 2 5
Australia 2 0 2 2
After this Christchurch game one more remains: NZ v Australia, 25 May
Afterthought
This match has great importance for both sides, but the neutral’s attention might well be fixed on the final game of the series next week. To widepread astonishment, the Wallaroos are facing the prospect of life in WXV2, the Eagles’ win this weekend leaving them the task of a first ever defeat of the Black Ferns. Now that would be a story.
