NEW ZEALAND NARROWLY DEFEAT CANADA IN WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL MATCH PREVIEW
DUBLIN, IRELAND — Canada’s senior women’s team fell 20-10 to the New Zealand Black Ferns Wednesday in a matchup of the two best ranked teams in the world. Canada got second half tries from Magali Harvey and Laura Russell but three tries and the boot of Kendra Cocksedge propelled the Black Ferns to victory.
“We weren’t consistent today,” head coach Francois Ratier said. “We were able to scores tries but we gave away soft penalties. We were courageous, we never gave up but it just wasn’t enough today.”
After leading 8-0 at the interval thanks to a Cocksedge try and penalty, Canada came roaring back into the game as Harvey got her second try in as many games as she raced away to touch down after Latoya Blackwood had intercepted a Black Ferns pass.
However, New Zealand answered immediately as replacement forward Aotearoa Mata’u powered over from close range to push the Black Ferns’ lead to 15-5. Canada’s Brittany Waters was shown a yellow card in the 61st minute but the teams were back even just three minutes later as Eloise Blackwell was sent to the sin bin. Canada made the Black Ferns pay immediately as from the resulting lineout, Russell peeled off of a driving maul to touch down in the corner to cut the lead to 15-10 with 15 minutes to play.
But again New Zealand hit back right away. After Cocksedge’s penalty had missed, fullback Selica Winiata carved Canada apart to touch down in the 68th minute to seal the Black Ferns’ victory.
“We’re not happy,” captain Kelly Russell said. “We’re disappointed with the way we came out and played. We didn’t start playing our game until midway through the second half. The girls give it their all every minute of the game. We can’t ask for more. We just have to be more switched on when he hit the pitch.”
Canada returns to action on Saturday when they face reigning World Cup champions England at Twickenham. Broadcast details are still to be confirmed.
Canada versus New Zealand:
- Carolyn McEwen, Burnaby Lake RC (Vancouver, BC)
- Laura Russell, Toronto Nomads (Bolton, ON)
- DaLeaka Menin, Calgary Hornets (Vulcan, AB)
- Kayla Mack, Saskatoon Wild Oats (Saskatoon, SK)
- Latoya Blackwood, Westshore RFC (Montreal, QC)
- Jacey Grusnick, Aurora Barbarians (Alliston, ON)
- Karen Paquin, Club de Rugby de Quebec (Quebec City, QC)
- Kelly Russell, Captain, Toronto Nomads (Bolton, ON)
- Chelsea Guthrie, Stratchona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
- Emily Belchos, Westshore RFC (Innisfil, ON)
- Magali Harvey, Club de Rugby de Quebec (Quebec City, QC)
- Andrea Burk, Capilano RFC (North Vancouver, BC)
- Alex Tessier, Montreal Barbarians (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC)
- Elissa Alarie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC (Trois Rivieres, QC)
- Julianne Zussman, Castaway Wanderers (Montreal, QC)
- Julia Folk, Regina Rogues (Regina, SK)
- Demi Stamatakis, SFU (Vancouver, BC)
- Olivia DeMerchant, Woodstock Wildmen (Mapledale, NB)
- Tyson Beukeboom, Aurora Barbarians/Cowichan RFC (Uxbridge, ON )
- Barbara Mervin, Westshore RFC (Peterborough, ON)
- Brianna Miller, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC (Pointe-Claire, QC)
- Anais Holly, TMRRFC (Montreal, QC)
- Brittany Waters, Meraloma Athletic Club (Vancouver, BC)
Non-Dressed:
Gillian Boag, Capilano RFC (Calgary, AB)
Fabiola Forteza, Club de Rugby de Quebec (Quebec City, QC)
Mackenzie Higgs, Aurora Barbarians (Aurora, ON)
Frederique Rajotte, Markham Irish (Markham, ON)
STAFF
Head Coach: Francois Ratier
Assistant Coach: Shaun Allen
Assistant Coach: Colette McAuley
Scrum Coach: Gary Dukelow
Therapist: Nicole Ainsworth
Manager: Meg Howat
Analyst: James Kent
Media: Bryan Kelly
Canada’s Senior Women’s Schedule:
Canada 48 – 7 Ireland — Nov. 19 — UCD Bowl, Ireland
Canada vs. New Zealand — Nov. 23 — Donnybrook Stadium, Ireland
Canada vs. England — Nov. 26 — Twickenham, England
Black Ferns Team vs. Canada
1. Toka Natua
2. Fiao’o Faamausili – captain
3. Aleisha Nelson
4. Eloise Blackwell
5. Charlene Gubb
6. Charmaine Smith
7. Charmaine McMenamin
8. Aroha Savage
9. Kendra Cocksedge
10. Kelly Brazier
11. Renee Wickliffe
12. Chelsea Alley
13. Carla Hohepa
14. Portia Woodman
15. Selica Winiata
16. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate
17. Aldora Itunu
18. Aotearoa Mata’u
19. Sharnita Woodman
20. Angie Sisifa
21. Kristina Sue
22. Janna Vaughan
23. Hazel Tubic
Scoring Details:
Canada
Tries: Magali Harvey, Laura Russell
New Zealand:
Tries: Kendra Cocksedge, Aotearoa Mata’u, Selica Winiata
Conversions: Kendra Cocksedge
Penalties: Kendra Cocksedge
About Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Football has a long history in Canada dating back to its initial appearance in the 1860s. Since 1974, Rugby Canada has been a permanent fixture on the global rugby scene, including trips to each of the eight Men’s Rugby World Cups and seven Women’s Rugby World Cups. As a regular on the Men’s and Women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Canada continues to climb the world rankings and challenge the dominant rugby nations in both versions of the game. Canada’s Women’s Rugby Sevens Team also made history in 2016, capturing the first-ever Bronze Medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
To support the growth of rugby at the grass-roots level and to ensure there are elite programs for prospering young rugby players to become involved with, Rugby Canada has put an emphasis on developing its junior programs. Our goal is to develop and train competitive teams for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland, the 2018 Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, the 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Bryan Kelly I Manager, Communications and Media Relations I Rugby Canada I 3024 Glen Lake Road I Langford, British Columbia, Canada V9B 4B4 I Tel. 250.418.8998 ext. 314 I Fax 250.386.3810 I Cell. 250.216.5272 | bkelly@rugbycanada.ca I www.rugbycanada.ca