Canada’s Women’s XVs Defeat Italy 34-24 at Starlight Stadium in Langford
from Rugby Canada
In their first home international test match in seven years, Canadas Senior Womens 15s beat No. 6-ranked Italy 34-24 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC on Sunday as their Journey to the Rugby World Cup continued.
Tries from Paige Farries, Sara Kaljuvee, Emily Tuttosi and captain Sophie de Goede, as well as a series of conversions from de Goede and Brianna Miller, secured the victory for Head Coach Kevin Rouets side, whose official team partner is NFP.
We are pleased with that, Rouet said following the match. But we know we let Italy come back in the game with some soft penalties and easy tries. So, its a good lesson for us for the World Cup because its very manageable and fixable so we can move forward with that.
In starting the match, DeLeaka Menin earned her 35th cap and Kaljuvee her 10th. Meanwhile, in the second half, Karen Paquin and Brittany Kassil claimed their 30th and 25th caps respectively when they entered the field as substitutes.
With both teams drawn in Pool B at the Rugby World Cup, this game provided an early taste of what to expect in New Zealand later this year. It was Canada who applied the early pressure and it paid off in the seventh minute when scrum half Miller swung the ball out to Farries from a breakdown and the winger scored unchallenged.
Against the run of play, Italy provided an immediate response as full back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi broke through Canadas defence with an evasive run to collect the visitors opening try. However, the hosts remained on top physically and made it count when Kaljuvee went over in a carbon copy of Canadas first try, which was followed by a successful de Goede conversion.
An emphatic defensive stand by Rouets side just after the half-hour mark forced a knock on by the Italians, but the away side remained on the attack and eventually reaped the rewards of sustained possession as Maria Magatti powered over the line to score their second try. Sillari missed the conversion and the teams went into half time level at 12-12.
After the break, Canada re-asserted their hold on the match with consecutive tries thanks to dominance in the pack. The first came from a lineout deep in Italy territory as de Goede collected the ball and the Canadian forwards drove over the line for Tuttosi to touch down. The second was scored by de Goede herself as the captain dove over in a close-quarters situation. Miller hit both resulting conversions to make it 26-12.
A Sara Tounesi score cut Canadas lead to nine points in the 58th minute, but the hosts remained unrattled and extended their advantage six minutes later through Farries second try of the match. Canada did concede a late Elissa Giordano try from a lineout with just over five minutes to go but a successful De Goede penalty conversion two minutes before the final whistle sealed the 34-24 win for the hosts.
It was absolutely incredible, said Victoria native de Goede on playing and winning a match so close to her hometown. Just being able to go into the stands after the game, give my mom and dad a hug and my brothers, aunts, uncles and friends. Theres honestly no feeling like it. Im just still reveling in it.
She added: I thought Italy put up a really good fight. They had a lot of momentum in their carries, they were really feisty at the breakdown and had great skill in their backs. It took a lot for us to win that and I think what it came down to was finishing from our backs and good go-forward from our forwards at set pieces. Im really proud of one through 23 today, and our extended squad that was in the camp.
Double try-scorer Farries said: It was pretty amazing. Ive got a lot of friends in the crowd. I have lived in Victoria for a long time so it was really special to not only hear a bunch of Canadian voices and have the crowd on our side for once but also getting to hear specific voices friends from university, friends from the sevens program and colleagues.
Next up for Canadas Senior Womens 15s is a home clash with Wales at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS – their final test match on home soil before they head to the Rugby World Cup.
*Canada Name Team to Face Italy on Sunday*
Canada named their team to face Italy on Sunday at 3pm PT. One of the big changes is Julia Schell at #10. Canada must get their backline firing if they’re going to challenge the top teams at the world cup. Canada have won their recent matches through forward power and tenacity but when they came up against higher ranked teams like NZ the failings in the backline became apparent. Schell was the Canada U20 #10 back in 2017. Also Maddy Grant at outside centre is a change, Grant didn’t get much playing time in the Pacific Four tournament in NZ, she was named as a reserve back in the Australia match.
from Rugby Canada
Ahead of their first home international test match in seven years, Canadas Senior Womens 15s game day roster has been named for their clash with Italy this weekend.
Head Coach Kevin Rouets Womens 15s, whose official team partner is NFP, face the Italians on Sunday at Starlight Stadium, kickoff 3:00 p.m. Pacific, in Langford, BC – the home of Rugby Canada. Click here to buy tickets.
The match is one of two warmup fixtures on home soil the second against Wales in Halifax, NS on August 27 – for the Womens 15s before they head to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year, for which they will be seeded No. 3.
Following her return from injury, Fabiola Forteza starts in the back row, while Julia Schell will lineup at fly half for the second senior cap of her career. DeLeaka Menin will earn her 35th cap at tight head prop and, should they enter the field as substitutes, Karen Paquin and Brittany Kassil will claim their 30th and 25th caps respectively. Sophie De Goede will captain the side.
Our preparations this week have been exceptional, said Rouet. We are pleased with how the team has performed in practice and how the group is coming together as we continue our Journey to the Rugby World Cup.
He added: This weekends match against Italy will be difficult but we will relish the challenge and know we have what it takes to get the win. We also look forward to playing in front of a passionate home crowd at Starlight Stadium.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch Canadas Senior Womens 15s test match versus Italy live on TSN 1, via TSN.ca and the TSN App. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:00 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. An encore presentation is set for Monday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern / 4:00 p.m. Pacific on TSN 2.
CANADAS SENIOR WOMENS 15S GAME DAY ROSTER VS ITALY
1 Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) Halifax Tars
2 Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3 DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) Exeter Chiefs
4 Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) HRFC / Saracens
5 Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) Cowichan RFC
6 Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) Red Deer Titans / Loughborough Lightning
7 Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec / Stade Bordelais
8 Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers
9 Brianna Miller (Pointe-Claire, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
10 Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers
11 Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
12 Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
13 Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa
14 Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) – T.M.R.R.F.C. / Stade Rennais
15 Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC / SABRFC / Braves de TR
FINISHERS
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) Capilano RFC
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) Guelph Redcoats
18. Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) University of Ottawa
19. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
20. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) Castaway Wanderers
22. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
23. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
*Head Coach Kevin Rouet Names Squad for July Camp in Preparation for Match Against #6 Italy on Sunday*
from Rugby Canada
As the Journey to the Rugby World Cup continues for Canadas Senior Womens 15s, Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named his squad for their July camp, from which he will pick his game day roster for the upcoming test match against Italy, the teams first at home since 2015.
On Sunday, July 24, the Womens 15s, whose official team partner is NFP, will take on Italy at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC, the home of Rugby Canada, before heading east to Halifax, NS where they will host Wales at the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, August 27. Click here to buy tickets.
Having competed in the Pacific Four Series in New Zealand last month, where Canada claimed victories over the USA and Australia, the squad came back together on Friday to officially begin the camp, though many players had previously gathered in Langford as part of a soft centralization.
Among those in the squad, Audrey Champagne and Mahalia Robinson are participating in the first senior camp of their careers, while Fabiola Forteza and Janna Slevinsky have returned from injury and are included alongside Mackenzie Carson.
The goal of this July camp is to bring the group together and continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup, said Rouet. The experience of hosting and playing in a home test match for the first time in seven years will be one to savour for the players.
He added: Italy will be a tough opponent as they are ranked No. 6 in the world, and we expect them to provide us with a difficult test. This match will also give us the opportunity to put the plans we work on during the camp into action.
CANADAS SENIOR WOMENS 15S SQUAD FOR JULY CAMP AND TEST MATCH VERSUS ITALY
Abby Duguid (Edmonton, AB) University of Lethbridge / Loughborough Lightning
Alex Ellis (Ottawa, ON) Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) CRFC / Saracens
Ana?s Holly (Montreal, QC) Town of Mont-Royal RFC
Audrey Champagne (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec
Brianna Miller (Pointe-Claire, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) Guelph Redcoats
Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) Aurora Barbarians
Cindy Nelles (Belleville, ON) Belleville Bulldogs / University of Canterbury
Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) Red Deer Titans / Loughborough Lightning
DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) Exeter Chiefs
Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC / SABRFC / Braves de TR
Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) HRFC / Saracens
Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec / Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) Castaway Wanderers
Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) Capilano RFC
Janna Slevinsky (St. Albert, AB) Calgary Saracens
Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers
Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Quebec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Lons Section Paloise
Laura Russell (Bolton, ON) Cowichan RFC / Toronto Nomads
Mackenzie Carson (Abbotsford, BC) – Saracens
Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) Concordia University
Marie Thibault (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Quebec
Maya Montiel (Dieppe, NB) University of Ottawa
McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) UBC Rugby / Capilano Rugby
Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l’ile-Perrot, QC) – T.M.R.R.F.C.
Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) Halifax Tars
Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) Westshore RFC / Worcester Warriors
Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) Ottawa Irish
Renee Gonzalez (Toronto, ON) Westshore RFC
Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) – T.M.R.R.F.C. / Stade Rennais
Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
Sarah-Maude Lachance (Victoriaville, QC) – Club de Rugby de Québec/Lons Section Paloise Rugby Feminin
Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers
Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) Oakville Crusaders
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) Cowichan RFC
Veronica Harrigan (Lucan, ON) Brantford Harlequins
TEAM STAFF FOR JULY CAMP AND TEST MATCH VERSUS ITALY
Kevin Rouet Head Coach
Emma Delory Team Manager
Jeremy Steinbach- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Dave Butcher Assistant Coach
Duncan McNaughton Assistant Coach
Maria Gallo Support Coach
Jocelyn Barrieau Support Coach
Clint Lemkus Support Coach
Jack Hanratty Support Coach
Stacey Maskelyne – Analyst
Alli Rodway Athletic Therapist / Medical Lead
Kiyomi Thompson Athletic Therapist
Dr. Heather Henry Team Physician
Kristy Martin Hale Coordinator, Womens High Performance