New Zealand v Ireland: France v Canada
In the most dramatic circumstances imaginable the team from last year’s WXV3 beat the world champions.
Two contrasting matches to complete the first weekend of WXV1: the world champions versus the seventh ranked; and an eagerly awaited meeting of the two nations constantly tussling for third spot.
New Zealand v Ireland
Surprisingly, this was only the third time these sides had met; the score 1-1.
The Ferns started with wonderful handling skills, off-loads all sticking, till they were close to the Irish line. The pressure was all theirs, apart from relieving kicks by Dannah O’Brien. They provided only brief respite.
Strangely enough, the first try came to Atlanta Lolohea through a catch and drive. I thought that was the despised English method of attack. 7-0
From O’Brien’s drop-out Ireland stopped the Ferns’ counter to win a penalty inside their 22. Aoife Dalton needed attention to her nose; Eve Higgins came on. Ireland promptly lost a 5-metre scrum, and NZ played their risky handling game to clear their lines.
Instead the ball finished behind their line; scrum to Ireland. Sara Cox awarded a penalty for collapsing; Aoife Wafer tapped at once and forced her way over the line. 7-5
Next Linda Djougang was penalised for screaming at the ref! “Unacceptable!”. Renee Holmes added three points. 10-5
Now the Irish really showed their quality. Another blast by Wafer, then quick hands won them a penalty. They pressed at the Kiwi line, but in the end O’Brien had to dink a little kick through to the 5-metre.
They kept the pressure up. Holmes tried to run the ball out, but was pinged for holding on. Ireland came again. Another attacking scrum; Molly Scuffil-McCabe ran open-side to distract, Wafer ran blind and straight over the line. On the half-hour Ireland went 10-12 in the lead.
Once more a doubtful option by Holmes saw her chip ahead knocked down by Enya Breen, and O’Brien stuck the ball into the right corner. Cox needed TMO confirmation of an Irish try. Decision: try to Neve Jones. 10-17
Now the Ferns showed their class. Maia Joseph gave Katelyn Vahaakolo a brilliant reverse pass and she was launched into space. 17-17
As Ruby Tui put a free-kick into touch on the halfway line, the hooter sounded. Would Ireland counter again? No.
Half-time: 17-17
The Ferns had a few things said to them inside. Ireland were lucky when Sylvia Brunt just lost contact with the ball as she reached across the line.
Allan Bunting switched his entire front-row on 44 minutes. More skill as Mererangi Paul took the ball on the wing; with a sharp step she was over. 22-17. Then the TMO: a tiny knock-on earlier, no try; Niamh O’Dowd guilty of pulling down – yellow; penalty to NZ. 17-17.
Luka Connor try! 22-17
But Ian Tempest wasn’t done. He spotted obstruction in the line-out. No try! 17-17. I hope you’re keeping up.
On 55 minutes the Irish conceded a penalty. Holmes hit straight. 20-17 A very un-Fern-like decision, but pragmatic.
Now the game broke up; exciting for the spectators, exhausting for the players. When Ireland won another penalty, O’Brien aimed for touch, not the distant posts. With O’Dowd returned to action, Ireland hammered at the line, couldn’t get over but won another penalty.
From a 5-metre line-out a brilliant diversion towards the posts sent defences the wrong way and Erin King just made the line. The conversion rebounded of a post. 20-22
The Ferns went all out for a score, looking really threatening. Suddenly they lost control; the ball was out of the ruck; it finished way downfield in touch.
Eight minutes left, and the Ferns found their true style. Amy du Plessis made the first break, then deft interlinking saw Paul cross the line. 27-22
O’Brien switched a rolling kick back to the left. The Ferns took a quick line-out, then offended in midfield. Drama after drama. Ireland attack hard: when the ball was flung high and wide to the left wing. Holmes was on the receiving end, but she was penalised for holding on. The tension was hard to bear. The kick put the green shirts 10 metres out.
Another short one to O’Dowd. The Ferns were on their line again. Several quick phases, then TRY! A second for King. 27-27! O’Brien’s kick hit the far post – and fell inside! 27-29
It wasn’t over yet. Holmes’ kick didn’t reach ten. The hooter went. The Irish wanted to go (off) too, but Cox insisted on a choice. It was a scrum back on halfway. A quick heel, and O’Brien hoofed the ball to kingdom come.
A quite extraordinary result. Ireland leap two places in rank. Scott Bemand was a proud and happy man.
Result: New Zealand 27 Ireland 29
Player of the Match: Aoife Wafer
Teams:
New Zealand
15 Renee Holmes, 14 Ruby Tui, 13 Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, 12 Amy du Plessis, 11 Katelyn Vahaakolo, 10 Ruahei Demant (co-captain), 9 Maia Joseph, 1 Marcelle Parkes, 2 Atlanta Lolohea, 3 Amy Rule, 4 Chelsea Bremner, 5 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6 Layla Sae, 7 Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
16 Luka Connor, 17 Chryss Viliko, 18 Tanya Kalounivale, 19 Alana Bremner, 20 Lucy Jenkins, 21 Iritana Hohaia, 22 Hannah King, 23 Mererangi Paul
Ireland
15 Stacey Flood, 14 Eimear Considine,13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Enya Breen, 11 Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 1 Niamh O’Dowd, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Linda Djougang, 4 Dorothy Wall, 5 Fiona Tuite, 6 Aoife Wafer, 7 Edel McNahon (captain), 8 Brittany Hogan
16 Clíodhna Moloney, 17 Siobhán McCarthy, 18 *Andrea Stock, 19 Grace Moore, 20 Erin King, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Eve Higgins, 23 Vicky Elmes Kinlan
*uncapped
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
France v Canada
This was only the fourth time these sides had met on Canadian soil; the last in 2009. Six Maple Leafs has ousted the French from the Olympic Sevens in Paris on their way to a silver medal.
They began superbly, driving and linking. Shoshanah Seumanutafa spotted a hole, went through and fed Paige Farries for a short run-in. 0-7
It took France a long passage of patient building before they sent the ball wide left. Mélissande Llorens had room to dive over. 7-7 It needed a fine feed from Chloé Jacquet who added an even better conversion. Her kicking later was a cause for concern.
France showed they were still intent on the off-loading game – huge entertainment, but risky. Pauline Bourdon Sansus made a dangerous break, but France were caught holding on.
Behind a big catch and drive Alex Tessier, who was splendid all through, tried a chip over; it caused trouble, but a knock-on halted progress.
For the second game running, the close-quarter linking was excellent.
An exquisite inside pass by Tessier found Fancy Bermudez on the burst and she was through. 7-14 Then a good-looking chip by Claire Gallagher was answered by a return from Lina Queyroi who sent the ball deep into Canadian territory. Indeed it was a 50/22, so it was blue ball. Queyroi herself fed Marine Ménager who was over the line before the Maple Leafs could blink. That was a 50th cap present.14-14
This was ultra-quick thinking; great awareness.
Pamphinette Buisa found a gap in the French alignment – not the first – and she was through, but was caught holding on, as the support couldn’t keep up.
This was thrilling, high-quality play. Canada mounted another fast attack, Laetitia Royer made a big break, then DaLeaka Menin rumbled cleverly. Completing the job, Royer dived over the top to score. 14-19
A moment later another try, and Bermudez’ second. A run by Buisa was stopped by Gabrielle Vernier who was hurt in a fierce collision. With blood streaming from her face, she was replaced by Lina Tuy. She reappeared later with a scrum-cap and a lot of bandaging.
France had opted for a 6/2 split. That left them with versatility in the backs, but few spare bodies. Maybe the coaches knew their pack would be under pressutre, but it proved a very unwise call. Even with the extra forward available, the French eight were rarely able to put decisive pressure on their opponents. That was 14-24, and the bonus point
Half-time 14-24
For once, Tessier was caught in two minds, to be chopped in two by Agathe Sochat. Cogger-Orr awarded France a penalty, and PBS at once pointed at the posts. Jacquet did aim that way, but pulled her shot. At this level, the missing points seem to count double.
Now we could enjoy an outstanding solo run by PBS. It looked at first like her favourite loop move, but she spotted a gap inside and accelerated brilliantly to the line. Jacquet missed again. 19-24
Canada destroyed another French scrum. Tyson Beukeboom asked for a repeat. Royer picked neatly from the floor and was over for her second. 19-31
France recovered to put Nassira Konde over on the left (31-24). Jacquet missed yet another two points.
Canadian all-round power was having its effect, and Emily Tuttosi took her turn. 24-38, Madoussou Fall suffering a yellow in the process. When France offended again, Tessier opted to pot for goal. 24-41
Right at the end we saw all France’s problems exposed. They tried an intricate move with several neat passes, then the deflating knock-on. Canada built powerfully; after fourteen phases the ball spread and Asia Hogan-Rochester went outside, inside and over; her debut try after a silver medal.
This summed up neatly the strengths of the winners and the shortcomings of the losers.
Result: France 24 Canada 46
Player of the Match: Laetitia Royer
Teams
Canada
15 Julia Schell, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 13 Shoshanah Seumanutafa, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Paige Farries, 10 Claire Gallagher, 9 Justine Pelletier, 1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (captain), 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Pamphinette Buisa, 7 Fabiola Forteza, 8 Gabrielle Senft
16 Sara Cline, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Alexandria Ellis, 19 Courtney Holtkamp, 20 *Caroline Crossley 21 Olivia Apps, 22 Alysha Corrigan, 23 *Asia Hogan-Rochester
*uncapped, but Olympic silver medallists
France
15 Chloé Jacquet, 14 Mélissande Llorens 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Marine Ménager (co-captain), 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 1 Yllana Brosseau, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 4 Manae Feleu (co-captain), 5 Madoussou Fall, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 7 Émeline Gros, 8 Romane Ménager
16 Manon Bigot, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Rose Bernadou, 19 Hina Ikahehegi, 20 Téani Feleu, 21 Séraphine Okemba, 22 Alexandra Chambon, 23 Lina Tuy
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR, though originally from Canada)
Afterthoughts
It was a mighty tough game, players took a lot of heavy tackles. Bigot hopped off the field near the end, and Queyroi needed treatment. That’s where three matches in three weeks can look like a dressing-station.
For France, and especially the coaches, this was a lesson they didn’t want to experience. Apart from short periods of brilliance Les Bleues came off second best. The Canadians are a really strong force.
