New Zealand v Canada
Canada beat the Black Ferns for the first time in eighteen attempts, and away from home.
Photo: Rugby Canada
With that they captured the Pacific Four Trophy, secured their third place in world rankings and retained the Utrecht Shield (check that out if it’s new to you).
A final margin of three points seemed generous to New Zealand; the stats claim they dominated the game in territory and possession, but on the field it looked the other way around. Canada had a converted try wiped off for an obstruction that Shoshanah Seumanutafa can hardly be blamed for.
It was very cold in Christchurch. When the game started with two knock-ons, we feared the conditions might hamper play, but no, it turned into the hard-fought battle everyone expected.
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u made a big break off a dominant scrum; it needed a strong tackle by Gabi Senft to halt her. Then Aurélie Groizeleau gave the first of many penalties against the Black Ferns – they were to prove an Achilles heel for the hosts – to relieve pressure.
Canada played safe and canny in the opening minutes, short line-outs, peels round the front, close interworking between forwards. Even so, the odd mishandling showed the dangers of lost possession. The Ferns were intent on spreading the ball wide to expose gaps.
But a deep kick was countered by Julia Schell. Canada showed a range of skills as they offered no-look passes, knowing support was to hand. At the end of a breathless set of phases, they won a penalty in front which Sophie de Goede duly slotted. (0-3)
The Black Ferns countered at once, led by a break from their captain, Ruahei Demant. They punched at the line for Katelyn Vahaakolo to go over on the left. (7-3)
Canada’s one obvious weakness here was the line-out. That called into question Rouet’s selection of Sara Cline rather than Emily Tuttosi at No 2. The doubts were confirmed after the break: that was the one change Rouet called.
Another lost line-out led to the Ferns’ second try. It was yet another brilliant reverse pass by a No. 9, here Maia Joseph in her second test. Vahaakolo was away again for a try. (14-3)
Canada went straight back on attack. Alex Tessier hoisted a long cross-kick; Farries fed inside, but Seumanutafa couldn’t pick the ball cleanly off the ground as the line gaped.
Inside the half-hour Fancy Bermudez, who had a stormer of a game on the wing, drove over for Canada’s first try. That helped them believe the game could be theirs. (14-10)
Once more they forced the Ferns into error, but another line-out misfired. The next moment something similar was happening at the other end of the ground. The Ferns pack won a line-out, but their drive was somehow halted.
Half-time: 14-10
This had been a game that lived up to its billing: 2nd v 3rd, and a lot at stake. But it was the Maple Leafs’ experience and togetherness that was impressing most.
At once they won another penalty, and Tessier kicked them into the corner. From there the pack took over for McKinley Hunt to shunt her way across the line and give her side the lead for the first time. (14-15)
Photo: Rugby Canada
Laetitia Royer, who had made fifteen tackles already, had to depart with a shoulder injury, but on came Courtney Holtkamp to maintain Canadian pressure.
Past the 50-minute mark the game opened out, long kicks found space; counters varied between passing movements and other searching kicks. One demanding move by the Canadians left Demant pinned under a breakdown, but no lasting damage was done. She was very much the source of Kiwi advances, spotting tiny gaps, and misleading the opposition about her intentions.
But the Ferns were being held back by frequent infringements. By now they had conceded eleven penalties, mostly for technical errors that hinted at inexperience at the breakdown – side-entries and the like. They were to prove costly.
On the three-quarter mark Bermudez had her second, by the same methods as before. But now her team had a numerical advantage; Sylvia Brunt had been shown a yellow card. (14-22)
Canada seemed to have put the game to bed when a lovely move saw Paige Farries break and give a scoring pass to Tessier. De Goede succeeded with the conversion, only for the TMO to make a belated call to Groizeleau for possible obstruction. The officials took a long hard look, and there was Seumanutafa innocently blocking a would-be tackler from dealing with the break. Try written off; still 14-22.
One yellow brings a cascade. In turn Olivia Apps and the returning Aldora Itunu left the field, to add more disruption and excitement to affairs.
Seven minutes from time the frantic efforts of the Ferns to restore order bore fruit. Patrica Maliepo
crossed the line wide out, too wide for Demant to convert. (19-22)
It was as if the Canadians were fighting for their lives, and they managed it. Tessier was able to belt the ball high into the stand and the rejoicing started.
Result: New Zealand 19 Canada 22
Player of the Match: DaLeaka Menin
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), 22. 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
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Location: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch]
And what’s your favourite stadium name?
Table P W L Pts
Canada 3 3 0 14
New Zealand 2 1 0 6
USA 3 1 2 5
Australia 2 0 2 2
One game remains: NZ v Australia, 25 May
Afterthought
This game has really upset the apple-cart. The Black Ferns, once all but invincible, have now lost to France, England and Canada in quick succession. The criticisms are bound to start.
