Pacific Four, Round Three
Jo Yapp has published her team to face Canada in the last round of the Pacific Four series (see lists below).
The good news is that Georgina Friedrichs is fit to play, despite receiving what a disciplinary committee deemed “glancing blows” to the head from an American boot, but which the referee on the spot termed “thuggery”.
Tactically the other big news is Charlotte Caslick’s shift to 12. She played thoroughly well on the wing – you’d hardly expect anything else – but this move may point to Yapp’s long-term thinking, bringing a star player closer to the heart of the action.
Here comes another switch to a bench split of 6:2 in favour of forwards, no doubt a nod to the strength of the Canadian pack. It’s here that important changes are visible, a completely new front row. Whether they will be able to master their Maple Leaf opponents will be key.
Canada
Kévin Rouet is in the happy position of making changes with no fear of reducing the quality of his starting Fifteen. His one disappointment is the injury to Gabrielle Senft; Fabiola Forteza shifts across to replace her.
Olivia Apps makes her first start since last year’s Pac-4.
What’s at stake
At present only the USA are unable to claim the Pac-4 title. The final result won’t be known till the end of the NZ-USA match the next day. While the Black Ferns may confidently expect victory and the trophy, the Maple Leafs know they will have to work hard to keep the Wallaroos in check. They were disappointed not to hold out against the world champions last time; that at least shows their high expectations.
The thrilling 29-29 draw gave each side three points.
Teams:
Australia
1. Martha Fua 2. Katalina Amosa 3. Bridie O’Gorman 4. Kaitlan Leaney 5. Michaela Leonard 6. Siokapesi Palu (captain) 7. Ashley Marsters 8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra 9. Layne Morgan 10. Faitala Moleka 11. Desiree Miller 12. Charlotte Caslick 13. Georgina Friedrichs 14. Biola Dawa 15. Caitlyn Halse
16. Adiana Talakai 17. Bree-Anna Browne 18. Eva Karpani 19. Ashley Fernandez 20. Emily Chancellor 21. Ruby Anderson 22. Tia Hinds 23. Trilleen Pomare
Canada
1. McKinley Hunt 2. Gillian Boag 3. DaLeaka Menin 4. Courtney O’Donnell 5. Tyson Beukeboom 6. Fabiola Forteza 7. Karen Paquin 8. Fabiola Forteza 9. Olivia Apps 10. Claire Gallagher 11. Alysha Corrigan 12. Alex Tessier 13. Florence Symonds 14. Asia Hogan-Rochester 15. Julia Schell
16. Emily Tuttosi 17. Mikiela Nelson 18 Rori Wood 19. Julia Omokhuale 20 Caroline Crossley 21 Justine Pelletier 22. Shoshanah Seumanutafa 23. Fancy Bermudez
Match Details
The world being round, the match has the honour of taking place on two different days:
Date: 22 May
KO: 16:55pm (local time); 07.55 (BST)
For Canada: May 22 at 23:55pm (PT)
But May 23 at 02:55 (ET) – these times offered by Rugby Canada.
Venue: Suncorp Stadium Brisbane
(Might be simpler to view on playback)
A reduced table looks like this;
NZ 8 points (points difference +26)
Canada 8 (+12)
Australia 5 (-18)
USA 0 (-20)
Afterthought
It’s a curiosity of the series that, while all three onfield officials are neutral, the TMO is not. Is this money-saving, or what?
