Canada and New Zealand both scored 46 points to secure their semi-final places.
Now comes the question: which of them put in the superior performance?
New Zealand v South Africa
Was the first error of the game a portent of things to come? Jorja Miller made a short dash, but her pass was inaccurate.
New Zealand v South Africa (Photo: World Rugby)
At the scrum the Kiwi pack was sent tumbling backwards, just as Swys de Bruin had planned. Indeed the Boks spent most of the first quarter threatening the line.
But they had to wait a good 20 minutes for a glorious opening score. Babelwa Latsha was credited with the last touch. Could the impossible happen?
This upset got the Ferns operating properly; they started linking up more accurately. Liana Mikaele Tu’u thought she was over, but a microscope proved she was short.
The next moment Janse van Rensburg took long enough over a clearance kick for Maia Joseph to charge it down and Theresa Setefano had the world champions’ first score.
One point of concern for the Kiwis was their penalty count. Some observers felt Sara Cox might have offered Ruahei Demant at least a quiet warning. There was a similar spell in the second half.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee added to her try harvest with a simple walk-in on the right, and some black-painted on spectators may have thought they could relax and enjoy a procession. Not yet!
After the first 40 were up, the Boks mounted a monstrous drive involving the whole side – or was it all 23? Sanelisiwe Charlie was the delighted scorer, so the Kiwis retired to what they term the sheds (nothing so mean at Sandy Park) staring at a 10-10 score-line.
It scarcely needed wise words from Allan Bunting. What I feared would happen after the turn-round took place.
Though the Boks went on fighting the full distance, even the introduction of another Bomb Squad couldn’t alter events.
The new pack had some success, but by now the Ferns’ machine was purring.
Inside ten minutes they added three tries to put the game nearly to bed. (32-10)
It’s telling how a single error can lead to a trail of misfortune. Here, a bungled kick-off reception left South Africa stuck in home territory and leaking 22 points. The game slipped from their grasp.
Both Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Renee Holmes scored a pair of tries as the score mounted into the 40s.
It’s huge credit to the Boks that they added a third try by Lerato Makua before the end.
But Katelyn Vahaakolo, a substitute today, finished them off with a delightful try of her own.
Result: New Zealand 46 South Africa 17
Player of the Match: Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Referee: Sara Cox(RFU)
Afterthought
I’ll leave a comparison of the performances of the two winners till after the Canada- Australia game. But just take another glance at the second half of the score-line.
Canada v Australia
The Canadians played some sublime rugby in seeing off Australia.
They started with a simple try down the left in the first minute. Caroline Crossley made a break from an innocent looking ruck, and Asia Hogan-Rochester had open country ahead of her as she flew in.
The Wallaroos countered soon enough. They manoeuvred the ball so expertly that, when it came back left, Desiree Miller had all the space and speed she needed to answer AHR’s opening thrust. (5-5)
The Canadians took this as a personal affront. From here on their defensive wall proved unbreakable, despite all the Wallaroos’ efforts.
Later scores were even more brilliant than the first.
Four scooped offloads in succession by the pack brought Alysha Corrigan a try on the left. Then more outstanding handling led to her second, though it needed all her skill and control to place the ball on the line before she was bowled over.
Once more Sophie de Goede was a tower of strength in many departments; but her team doesn’t depend solely on her efforts.
By half-time the game looked safe, 31-5.
It was sad seeing Siokapesi Palu leave the field after only 45 minutes, but she had obviously not recovered 100% from her injury.
That the Maple Leafs managed only a further 15 points pays huge credit to the Wallaroos, but Canadian skill and cohesion gave them few chances. Piper Duck came very close, but her team could gain and retain possession only for short periods.
Now we had proper weather; it teemed with rain. Perhaps that accounts for inaccurate line-out throws, but they proved costly. Fabiola Forteza, operating at 8 today, was a beneficiary.
The sun agreed to shine again; we even had a rainbow.
Once more Maya Stewart, an ace in the Aussie pack (of cards) was starved of the ball. When she did make a run, the support was so far behind that possession was turned over.
A surprise: we had a short spell of booing, caused when Alex Tessier decided to take a pot at goal. Canadian strategy was to play the long game, but crowds have grown unaccustomed to penalty kicks.
The contrast in achievement was stark. The Canadian pack was powerful, mobile and at ease with the ball; the halves, Justin Pelletier and Taylor Perry, inventive; and the outside backs hard to contain.
The match concluded with a great solo try by the veteran Karen Paquin. She broke loose and slalomed her way to the line – an astonishing achievement so late in proceedings.
Once more Tessier took all the time possible out of the game with her conversion kick. She waited, the crowd waited. Her kick slewed well wide.
Result: Canada 46 Australia 5
Player of the Match: Sophie de Goede (once again)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Afterthought
It’s unwise going on insufficient evidence, but if we take these two games alone, Canada look superior to the Black Ferns.
They have beaten them and drawn with them in the recent past. They were playing a side higher ranked, yet still conceded only that one early try.
New Zealand’s major threats lie behind the pack. So long as the Canadian backs can keep them on a short lead for most of the coming contest, their long-term target, a first trophy win, becomes possible.
