Canada v Australia – Women’s Pacific Four Series 2025

Canada Thump Australia 45-7 in Pacific Four Match: Full Match Video

Canada were relentless on attack and committed on defence as they pummelled host Australia 45-7.

Scorers: McKinley Hunt (1T), Karen Paquin (1T), Laetitia Royer (1T), Krissy Scurfield (1T), Alex Tessier (1T), Fabiola Forteza (1T), Julia Schell (1T, 5C)

The Guardian article and Rugby Canada report are appended below. We’ve also added the full match video below courtesy of NzRugbyVidz.

Guardian article

Wallaroos thumped 45-7 by Canada in harsh World Cup reality check

• Canada 45-7 Australia in final Pacific Four Test in Brisbane
• Wallaroos loss a setback before Rugby World Cup in August

The rise of Australia’s rugby women has been rocked by a clinical Canada in Brisbane, walloped 45-7 by the world No 2 side to crush local hopes of a first Pacific Four title. It extends the Wallaroo’s dismal run against the North Americans to 0-7 in XVs and leaves them plenty to ponder in the three Test lead-in to the World Cup in August.

The eight-try trouncing salts the wound of Australia’s shock defeat to Canada in the Sevens semi-final at the 2024 Olympics, where a 12-0 lead at Stade de France imploded into a 22-12 cataclysm. It ended their gold medal dreams and impacted the playoff for bronze, where a late USA try ultimately left the 2016 champions without a medal.

But hopes were high those demons could be laid to rest in Brisbane. With an infusion of Sevens stars by coach Jo Yapp, Australia had posted spirited victories over Fijiana and USA this past month. But against the Pacific Four champions – fresh from a 27-all draw with world champs New Zealand – they needed everything to go their way.

It didn’t. The kickoff was a disaster with a wicked bounce allowing Canada to regather 10 metres out. Two desperate turnovers by captain Siokapesi Palu kept the Canadians out initially, but a third error in as many minutes let the Red Army roll a maul 30 metres downfield, where prop McKinley Hunt planted the ball over the stripe for 7-0.

With blood in the water, Australia’s panic was preyed on. Timid defence and repeat errors was gifting hairless halfback Olivia Apps fast ball to light up Canada’s attack. In the 11th minute DeLeaka Menin burst through loose Wallaroos defence to put Karen Paquin over. A third stolen lineout then sent fullback Julia Schell to the line for 21-0.

Australia capitalised on a disallowed visitors try to launch raids down the short side. Again, Sevens convert Charlotte Caslick was the spark. Shifted from wing closer to the action at inside-centre, the 30-year-old was troubling Canada captain Alexandra Tessier with her charges and putting the Red Army on their heels with torrid defence.

But the gulf in class between the sides was sobering. Although Canada botched a second try through obstruction in the 39th minute, they shrugged it off to deal the home side a mortal blow on the stroke of halftime, a stolen scrum giving Laetitia Royer a clear path to the line for a fourth try and an ominous 26-0 lead at the break.

If there was a glimmer of hope for the Wallaroos, it was that they had fought back from 26 down against New Zealand a fortnight back, holding the Black Ferns to parity in the final 30 minutes to go down fighting by 38-12. Sure enough, they shot from the sheds, a Caitlyn Halse kick winning territory for Adiana Talakai to cross the stripe.

Alas, the try was scrubbed for a knock-on in the lead-up. Undaunted, Australia came again, Georgina Friedrichs making the break for Desiree Miller to carry two defenders over the line for 26-7. The “game on” glow lasted three minutes before Canada struck again, fast hands from Apps to her backs putting wing Krissy Scurfield into the corner.

Yapp had made five changes to the match-day 23 that defeated USA 27-19 in Canberra last week, including an all-new front row for the second-week running. When veteran centre Alex Tessier cut through to make it a 30-point margin, the coach rang more changes, seeking the alchemy Australia need to win a RWC top-four berth in England. It put starch in the gold line but not enough to stop Julia Omokhuale crossing for 45-7.

Although the Wallaroos have improved significantly this season and have one Test against New Zealand and two against Wales to experiment before the RWC pool stages, the dissolution of their set-piece in Brisbane is a major worry. The lineout and scrum were a shambles and Canada dismantled the home side in every department.

“Our setpiece was challenged,” Palu said after the loss. “But if we’re to try and take the positives, we’ve grown our depth in the middle.”

Canada’s victory leaves them top of the Pacific Four ladder, although New Zealand can wrestle the title away by defeating US and surging past Canada’s on points difference.

Rugby Canada Report

In need of a win and the bonus point to give themselves their best chance to repeat as Pacific Four Series champions, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team accomplished their goal on Friday, defeating the Australia Wallaroos 45-7 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The Canadians will now have to wait to see if the win was enough to retain the PAC4 crown as the outcome will not be known until the conclusion of the match between New Zealand and the USA on May 24. New Zealand will claim the title with a bonus point victory and a points difference of more than 24 points.

Canada led from wire-to-wire in a match that saw seven different players score points with Julia Schell leading the way, scoring 15 points herself including a try and five conversions. The match also marked a milestone for starting prop, DaLeaka Menin, who earned her 60th cap for Canada.

“The focus was on us this week,” said Captain Alex Tessier in a post-match interview. “Obviously we would have loved to get that win against New Zealand last weekend, but we had to move on. It was a short turnaround to this week. Friday came quickly but overall I was very proud of the girls today. It was a decent win. We put a lot of points on the board.”

Canada got off to a strong start in the third minute, winning a lineout at the 22-metre line. This set up a Canadian maul that ended with McKinley Hunt grounding the ball for the opening try. The conversion was successful by Schell, her first of five in the match.

Canada extended their lead in the 10th minute when veteran Karen Paquin, starting her third-straight match for Canada, finished off a give-and-go with Menin, putting Canada up 14-0 after another Schell conversion.

The momentum continued in the 18th minute when Schell added a try of her own. After Canada moved the ball wide from a maul, Schell powered through two Australian defenders to score. She then stepped up and converted her own try, giving Canada a commanding 21-0 lead.

In the 24th minute, Gillian Boag appeared to score from another maul, but the try was overturned after being reviewed by the TMO (television match official) for obstruction.

Canada closed the half with their fourth try of the match to secure the bonus point, this time from Laetitia Royer in the final minute. Royer was instrumental in a turnover that led directly to the score that put Canada ahead 26-0 at the half-time whistle.

Australia appeared to have scored early in the second half, crossing the line in the 42nd minute after a lineout deep in Canada’s territory. However, another TMO review found a knock-on and the try was disallowed, keeping the score at 26-0. However, just two minutes later, Australia made good on their pressure and finally broke through. The try was converted, narrowing the gap to 26-7.

Canada responded quickly in the 47th minute when Krissy Scurfield added to Canada’s lead, finishing off a well-timed pass from Schell along the sideline. The conversion attempt missed, but Canada remained comfortably ahead at 31-7.

Momentum continued to swing Canada’s way as Alex Tessier added another try in the 51st minute. It started with a smart tap-and-go by Olivia Apps, which pushed Canada deep into the Australian half. The Canadians maintained possession through several phases before finding Tessier out wide to finish. Schell converted her fourth, stretching the lead to 38-7.

A try from Fabiola Forteza and a fifth Schell conversion with eight minutes left to play in the game rounded out the scoring for Canada, securing the 45-7 victory.

“PAC4 was the first tournament for us to get ready for the World Cup,” added Tessier. “It was still our goal to win PAC4. We want to win every game, one game at a time but PAC4 plays a huge role in building this team for the World Cup.”

Canada will resemble for a training camp in Ottawa in late June to prepare for their next tour to South Africa for a pair of matches against the Springbok Women in Pretoria on July 5 and Gqeberha on July 12.

More information on the Pacific Four Series, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official World Rugby website HERE.

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Canada Name Team to Face Australia to Wrap Up Pacific Four Series: Kickoff May 22 at 11:55pm PT

Coach Kevin Rouet has made a number of changes to the squad that drew with NZ in the last match. In the front row there’s rotation from the bench with loosehead prop McKinley Hunt and hooker Gillian Boag getting the start while tighthead prop DaLeaka Menin retains her spot from the NZ match. Tyson Beukeboom starts at lock with Laetitia Royer moving to blindside flanker. Fabiola Forteza moves from blindside flanker to #8 and Karen Paquin retains the starting openside flanker role.

In the backs Olivia Apps gets the start at scrum-half, Krissy Scurfield comes back into the roster on the wing, the rest of the backline remains the same from the NZ match. A late change sees Fancy Bermudez replace Asia Hogan-Rochester in the reserves due to injury.

Canada

1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC / Gloucester-Hartpury
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Courtney O’Donnell (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
5. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
6. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / ASM Romagnat
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec
8. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
11. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria / Loughborough Lightning
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders

FINISHERS
16. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC / Exeter Chiefs
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – College Rifles RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
19. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish Rugby Club / Leicester Tigers
20. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
21. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
22. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau / Chiefs Manawa
23. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC

from Rugby Canada

With a bonus point victory over the USA and three points from the 27-27 draw against New Zealand, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has selected Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s 23-player roster that will take on Australia with the Pacific Four Series title on the line.

Canada and the Wallaroos will meet at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22 at 11:55pm PT / May 23 at 2:55am ET (4:55pm local time).

Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all still in contention to win the 2025 Pacific Four Series. The Canadians will look to earn a bonus point victory over Australia to give themselves the best chance at defending their title. The final outcome will not be known until the conclusion of the May 24 match between New Zealand and the USA.

“This final match versus Australia is once again just another opportunity to test ourselves against a top team in the world,” said Rouet. “There was some disappointment amongst the team after the draw against New Zealand last week but we know if we fix some of the details in our game that we can come back with a strong performance against Australia. It is a short week to prepare but I am confident in our group.”

Fabiola Forteza will take over the No.8 position due to an injury to Regina’s Gabrielle Senft that will force her to miss Canada’s final Pacific Four Series match. Laetitia Royer, who was named to World Rugby’s 2024 Dream Team of the Year, moves to the back row alongside Forteza and veteran Karen Paquin. Canada’s all-time women’s caps leader, Tyson Beukeboom, will start her first game for Canada this tournament after coming off the bench against USA and New Zealand.

Olivia Apps, who also captains Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, will start at scrum-half, her first start for Canada’s 15s squad since the final match of the 2024 Pacific Four Series. Apps came off the bench for all three of Canada’s WXV 1 matches last fall in Vancouver.

More information on the Pacific Four Series, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official World Rugby website HERE.

WHERE TO WATCH
Canada vs Australia will be available live on TSN2 and TSN+ on Thursday May 22 at 11:55pm PT / Friday May 23 at 2:55am ET. Earlier this year Rugby Canada and TSN announced a long-term agreement bringing increased coverage in 2025 and beyond for rugby fans in Canada.