Canada Defeat Wales 31-3 in Warm-Up Match for World Cup in October: MATCH VIDEO
Canada grew into the game as Wales put them under pressure early and took an early 3-0 lead. Canada took over the rest of the match except for the last 10 minutes as substitutions seemed to interupt Canada’s dominance and Wales started to press again. The Canadian defence held firm and the final was 31-3.
As is expected with this Canadian team the forwards set a strong platform and were, for the most part, clinical in stringing phases together and breaking the gain line on a consistent basis. Support was strong and prevented turnover ball. The scrum was dominant throughout, the lineouts were working well except for the last 10 minutes when they inexplicably fell apart. The kicking game is still a work in progress and will need improvement to beat teams like England and NZ. Canada were able to threaten out wide and winger Maddy Grant had an outstanding match both on attack and defence.
Canada’s first World Cup match is against Japan on October 9th.
MATCH VIDEO
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Senior Womens 15s marked their final warmup test match on home soil before the Rugby World Cup with a 31-3 win over Wales at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS on Saturday.
Tries from Paige Farries (2), Fabiola Forteza, Maddy Grant and Justine Pelletier as well as a string of successful conversions from a combination of Brianna Miller and captain Sophie de Goede were enough to seal the victory.
I think the girls reacted well, said Canadas Senior Womens 15s Head Coach Kevin Rouet following the match. I think the first ten minutes could have been worse. It was a bad ten minutes but they came back into the game slowly and were patient, built momentum and it was great to see that.
In starting the match, Elissa Alarie earned her 40th cap for the national 15s team at full back, while Alexandra Tessier received her 35th at centre and Miller scored her 30th at scrum half. Having entered the field as second-half substitutes, Laura Russell got her 53rd cap – pulling level with her sister, Kelly, as the third most-capped Canadian woman of all time – while Pelletier earned her 10th.
Olivia DeMerchant and Emma Taylor, who both call Halifax home, also played in the fixture with the former named in the starting lineup and the latter coming on from the bench in the second half.
Saturdays match began with early pressure from No. 9-ranked Wales which resulted in a penalty conversion from fly half Elinor Snowsill to give them the lead within nine minutes.
No. 4-ranked Canada soon found a foothold in the game, though, led by their dominant pack. In fact, the games first try was scored when the hosts opted for a scrum on the five-metre line following a penalty and the ball was swung out to Farries who went over. Miller hit the conversion to make it 7-3.
Momentum with the Canadians and they made it count when Forteza crossed the line for their second try on 23 minutes as they tightened their grip on the first-half proceedings. A further try saw Grant receive the ball in space on the right wing and outpace the Welsh defence to touch down as Canada went into the break leading 17-3.
In the second half, the home side continued to delight a passionate Nova Scotia crowd as Farries scored her second try of the evening within three minutes of the restart. Miller was successful with the conversion to extend the score to 24-3.
Fresh from entering the pitch as a substitute, Pelletier marked her 10th appearance in a Canada jersey by scoring her teams fifth try in the 66th minute. The scrum half received the ball no more than a few yards out and spun a Welsh defender to successfully go over before de Goede split the posts with the resulting conversion.
That represented the matchs final points scored as Canada completed a convincing victory over their opponents. Next up, the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
It was awesome, said Emma Taylor after playing a senior international test match within a couple of hours of her hometown of Scotsburn, NS. We started a little slow but the crowd was amazing. When I ran onto the field I could just hear people getting to their feet so it was really exciting for me personally. I think the girls were floored by the amount of support here. It was an awesome win, a really good team win.
It was great to be in front of a home crowd, commented Olivia DeMerchant following the game. Its always really good to have Canadian rugby fans pumping us up so I love it.
*Canada Name Team to Face Wales on Saturday at 1pm PT*
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Senior Womens 15s match day roster for this weekends international test match against Wales has been confirmed.
Head Coach Kevin Rouets side, whose official team partner is NFP, take on No. 9-ranked Wales this Saturday at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m. Atlantic / 1:00 p.m. Pacific.
The fixture represents the Womens 15s programs last warmup match on home soil before they head to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month. Olivia DeMerchant and Emma Taylor, both of whom call Halifax home, are part of the roster with the former in the starting lineup and the latter named among the finishers.
Several cap milestones will be achieved for Canada over the course of the match. Elissa Alarie who is also a regular for Canadas Senior Womens Sevens team will earn her 40th cap for the 15s, while it will be Alexandra Tessiers 35th cap and Brianna Millers 30th.
Should she enter the field as a substitute, Laura Russell will earn her 53rd cap to pull level with her sister, Kelly, as the third most-capped Canadian woman of all time, while Justine Pelletier will receive her 10th cap if she enters the fray from the bench.
The players have trained extremely well this week and our preparations to face Wales have been thorough, said Rouet. We look forward to another opportunity to test ourselves ahead of the Rugby World Cup, and a chance to play in front of another home crowd in such a passionate rugby city in Halifax and province in Nova Scotia.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch Canadas Senior Womens 15s test match versus Wales live on TSN 1 and 4, via TSN.ca and the TSN App. Kickoff is 5:00 p.m. Atlantic / 1:00 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. An encore presentation is set for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern / 8:30 a.m. Pacific on TSN 2.
CANADAS SENIOR WOMENS 15S GAME DAY ROSTER VS WALES
1. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) Halifax Tars RFC
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) Red Deer Titans
5. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) Cowichan RFC
6. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Québec
7. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC) Club de rugby de Québec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
8. Sophie de Goede © (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers RFC
9. Brianna Miller (Pointe-Claire, QC) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
10. Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON) Oakville Crusaders
11. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
13. Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
14. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) Worcester Warriors
15. Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC
FINISHERS
16. Laura Russell (Bolton, ON) Cowichan RFC / Toronto Nomads
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) Guelph Redcoats
18. Alex Ellis (Ottawa, ON) Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
19. Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) HRFC
20. Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l’ile-Perrot, QC) – T.M.R.R.F.C.
21. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
22. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Club de rugby de Québec
23. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers