England Defeat Canada 45-12 in WXV Match: Match Highlights Video
from World Rugby
A remarkable four-try haul to Lark Atkin-Davies has helped power England to a 45-12 over a brave Canada in Dunedin. It sets up for an intriguing final WXV 1 round next weekend, when England will play off with New Zealand in a rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup final.
The absorbing first half saw the ball in play for a number of long periods, as both sides strived to move the ball. However, it was a very handy kick that broke the deadlock early when Holly Aitchison sent the ball towards the Canadian line and a wicked bounce caused a mix up in defence. Full-back Ellie Kildunne showed great awareness to follow up and ground the ball, the TMO confirming the try after the replay clearly showed her hand getting there first.
Kildunne then followed up soon after with an excellent 50:22, but tough Canadian defence kept them out. From there the game settled into an entertaining series of possessions for both sides as they often found space to run into. Gradually Canada gained the upper hand and patiently worked the ball into the English 22, unlucky not to score when a pass was knocked down by Aitchison.
The Red Roses fly-half received a yellow card for the infringement and Canada took the opportunity to launch a successful lineout drive, which resulted in a try for hooker Emily Tuttosi on the half-hour mark.
That stung the English pack into action, only a few minutes later setting themselves up for a lineout drive of their own. Lark-Davies rumbled over for her first try, a feat she clearly enjoyed enough to repeat the process as the hooter for half-time sounded.
Canada weren’t done, though, straight after the resumption an errant English pass was scooped up by Shoshanah Seumanutafa. The outside-centre weaved a lovely path towards the line and released a perfectly-timed pass to the flying Paige Farries, who went half the length of the field to score.
However, Lark-Davies and her English pack were in a rampant mood, again striking for another two tries in the space of five minutes. The fourth was even more costly for Canada, as it came off the back of a yellow card to Julia Schell for a dangerous tackle. The English hooker was given a well-earned rest after that as her side began to roll the substitutions.
England didn’t take their foot off the pedal, though, scoring two sensational tries in the final 12 minutes. Kildunne was the provider for both, first cruising around the Canadian edge defence and curling around to link up with Jess Breach. The prolific wing sped away to score her 35th international try, only moments later Kildunne was on hand to provide a pass for Claudia MacDonald to weave her way infield and score.
Even though the result was beyond doubt, Canada kept fighting and spent the rest of the game hot on attack. They were unlucky not to score when a pass just slipped out of Farries’ reach, but also had to contend with an English tackling effort that kept up its intensity right till the final whistle.
Canada will play their final match against Australia in Auckland next weekend, while England will know exactly what they have to do against New Zealand if they are to be crowned the inaugural WXV 1 champions.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Face England in WXV Action Tonight at 11pm PT : Roster Listed
Canada’s next two games will be tough ones. Canada defeated #6 Wales last weekend but they have #1 England and then #3 France left in the WXV tournament. England were on a 30 game win streak before losing to NZ in the World Cup final, they’ve started another 8 game win streak including two recent wins over Canada. France upset hosts NZ last week, they remain ranked 3rd but gained 3 ranking points on #2 NZ and only trail them by a single ranking point now.
from Rugby Canada
Playing England for the third time this fall, Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s roster for their second WXV match in New Zealand.
After a 42-22 victory over Wales in their opening game of WXV, the new three-tier annual global women’s international 15s competition, Canada will play England at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand at 7:00 p.m. local time on Friday October 27 (11:00 p.m. PT on Thursday October 26 / 2:00 a.m. ET on Friday October 27). Prior to their back-to-back matches versus the Red Roses in September, Canadian rugby fans will remember the epic showdown between the two countries at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) where Canada narrowly fell to the Red Roses by a score of 26-19 in the tournament semifinal.
Rouet has made a few minor changes to his roster following the match against Wales. Paige Farries draws back into the starting lineup on the wing, and Sarah-Maude Lachance will wear the fullback jersey while Madison Grant will be set to enter the game off the bench. After earning her 50th international cap against Wales, DaLeaka Menin will start the game at tight head prop, with Alexandria Ellis moving to the bench as a front row reserve.
“We knew coming into the tournament it would be a short turnaround after our match against Wales to get prepared for England this week, but we are ready,” said Rouet. “The continuity and maturity of the team is really starting to show. We saw positives in our offence in our first game against England back in September, and a better defensive game in our second match against them. Now we need to combine those and put everything together on Friday to get the result we want.”
Returning for each of Canada’s WXV matches is the NFP Forward & Back Game Changers contest. Fans will have the opportunity to vote virtually for the players (one forward and one back) who they think were game changers for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team at WXV, with a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a signed jersey. Details on how to participate will be announced on Rugby Canada’s social media channels.
More information on WXV, including the full schedule and results, can be found on the official website at wxvrugby.com.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canada vs England will be broadcast on TSN3 and TSN+.
TSN+ is the new stand-alone digital streaming service from Canada’s Sports Leader, and is home to an extensive slate of live sports coverage from around the world, including Rugby Canada matches. For more information on TSN+, including subscription options, visit TSN.ca/TSN+.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM WXV MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ENGLAND
1. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Exeter Chiefs
4. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan RFC / Ealing Trailfinders
5. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
6. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Stade Bordelais
7. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) – Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
8. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Saracens
9. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa
11. Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
14. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
15. Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Lons Section Paloise
FINISHERS
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) – Capilano RFC
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Redcoats
18. Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
19. Ashlynn Smith (Abbotsford, BC) – University of Calgary
20. Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers
21. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
22. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers
23. Madison Grant (Cornwall, ON) – Cornwall Claymores