The result looks like a runaway win for the visitors, but the coaches won’t see it that way. Both will have concerns.
Kevin Rouet will be asking what happened to his side for long stretches of the second half. Ireland registered three tries to add to an early success.
For Scott Bemand the concerns run deeper. A half-time score of 7-33 was worse than he expected. He knew the size of the challenge, but so many of the early faults were self-imposed by his players: inaccurate line-outs, far too many penalties, dog-legs in defenc. e and tackles that weren’t decisive enough.
Ireland were already on a warning when Alex Tessier slipped a clever ball to Flo Symonds who stepped her way over.
Next Justine Pelletier threw a simple dummy behind a ruck and went all the way.
At least Ireland responded well. The ball flew to the left wing for Anna McGann to score.
That couldn’t continue. The Maple Leafs threw the ball around superbly for Symond’s to break Enya Breen’s tackle and saunter over. (7-21)
Inside the first half-hour Ireland were on their second warning. Neve Jones was the next to offend and spent 10 minutes watching on.
Canada took ruthless advantage. First, DaLeaka Menin, back on after her own disdemeanour; scored. Then Paige Farries completed a sensational move that included Pelletier, Sophie de Goede, then the whole back-line. Canada looked out of sight, 7-40.
But now came the Irish response the crowd had been craving. McGann had her second as the team built some determined cohesion. Dannah O’Brien converted from the left edge.
Next McGann made a huge break to the line, and Beibhinn Parsons, anxious not to be overlooked, added another on the right.
Could the recovery go on? The Canadians were missing tackles and looking bemused.
No! They reasserted their control, and it was appropriate that de Goede added the final try, supporting a fine drive by Crossley.
Result: Ireland 26 Canada 47
Player of the Match: Fabiola Forteza
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)
Teams
Ireland:
15 FLOOD 14 PARSONS 13 DALTON 12 BREEN 11 McGANN 10 O’BRIEN 9 REILLY 1 O’DOWD 2 JONES (captain) 3 DJOUGANG 4 CAMPBELL 5 TUITE 6 MOORE 7 KIRIPATI 8 HOGAN
16 MOLONEY-MACDONALD 17 PERRY 18 McGRATH 19 CORRI FALLON 20 MONAGHAN 21 BOLES 22 LANE 23 HIGGINS
Canada:
15 SCHELL 14 CORRIGAN 13 SYMONDS 12 TESSIER (captain) 11 FARRIES 10 GALLAGHER 9 PELLETIER 1 HUNT 2 BOAG 3 MENIN 4 DE GOEDE 5 BEUKEBOOM 6 PAQUIN 7 CROSSLEY 8 FORTEZA
16 TUTTOSI 17 KASSIL 18 DEMERCHANT 19 O’DONNELL 20 BUISA 21 APPS 22 SEUMANUTATA 23 LACHANCE
Afterthoughts
The Canadians came to Belfast far more game-ready than their hosts.
Bemand has been beset by concerns over injuries and possible recovery times.
He’ll sit down with his co-selectors and discuss final choices for his 32 RWC players over the weekend.
The worry is whether the shortcomings displayed here can be righted in time.
