Canada Defeat France 46-24 in Round One of WXV 1: Video Highlights
Canada opened their WXV 1 campaign with a 46-24 win over France, the win will see Canada rise to #2 in the World rankings behind England. The match was close for the first 30 minutes with the teams tied at 14-14 until player of the match, second row, Laetitia Royer scored the first of her two tries to put Canada ahead, 19-14. A lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
At 35 minutes wing Fancy Bermudez scored her second try to give Canada a 24-14 lead going into the half.
Six minutes into the second half France closed the gap to one try when their scrum half, Pauline Bourdon, outpaced the Canadian backline defence to make the score 24-19. Laetitia Royer again made her presence felt and gave Canada some breathing room when she went over for her second try at 51 minutes to extend Canada’s lead to two tries, 31-19.
France would again come back to score on the outside making it a 31-24 game and a nervous final 20 minutes for Canadian fans.
Canadian supporters breathed a little easier when Emily Tuttosi crashed over the line at the 65 minute mark and Canada were again two tries ahead in the match, 38-24. At the 72 minute mark, Canada decided to make it a three score game when they kicked a penalty, Alex Tessier slotting the ball through the posts, 41-24, and now with 8 minutes remaining the game finally seemed secure.
Canada would add one more try by XVs debutant Asia Hogan-Rochester and the final was 46-24.
The forwards, as usual, were the cornerstone of the victory and for the most part won the contact battle. The scrums were fairly even but Canada had one important dominant scrum that earned them a crucial penalty. The lineout faltered a few times but got the job done at key times. Fancy Bermudez with ball in hand was a force as indicated with her two tries. The kicking game from Tessier and Schell was as good or better than their opponents.
There were a few work-ons for next match against Ireland. The support for the runner wasn’t always there or was a second too slow, this is perhaps where they miss Sophie de Goede the most. She anticipated the game and the breakdown so well. There were some mental lapses, the gaff by Claire Gallagher on the 50/22 kick by France that allowed them to tie up the match, was a major one.
Ireland upset NZ which shocked many people, so Ireland are not to be taken lightly and Canada will have to bring their ‘A’ game to secure the win.
Canada Scoring
Paige Farries (1T), Fancy Bermudez (2T), Laetitia Royer (2T), Emily Tuttosi (1T), Asia Hogan-Rochester (1T) Alexandra Tessier (4C, 1P)
Video Highlights
Canada Announce 23 Players for France Match on Sunday
Canada announced its 23 players for the match against France. Seven players won’t get their start in this match from the 30 announced for the tournament, those players are Gillian Boag, Julia Omokhuale, Karen Paquin, Rori Wood in the forwards, and Mahalia Robinson, Sara Kaljuvee, Taylor Perry in the backs.
Canada can rise from 3rd to 2nd in the World Rankings with a win on Sunday.
There’s been no mention of Sophie de Goede in the Rugby Canada media releases, Sophie herself has gone silent since announcing her ACL injury 12 weeks ago. She’s the only player missing from the starting roster that defeated NZ in May when winning the Pacific Four title. It will be a major point of interest to see how the team performs without their iconic captain.
Kick off is at 3:45pm on Sunday.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team roster announced for opening match of WXV 1 in Vancouver against France
The match day roster for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team’s first game of WXV 1 in Vancouver has been selected by Head Coach Kevin Rouet.
Canada will face France at BC Place on September 29 with kick-off scheduled for 3:45pm local time in Vancouver (6:45pm ET) to begin their 2024 WXV 1 campaign.
“The team is looking forward to getting WXV 1 started on home soil here in Vancouver,” said Rouet. “Our journey and preparation for Rugby World Cup starts now and we are looking forward to seeing a strong performance from the team against France on Sunday. Training camp has been a great experience, and the players have been working hard to prepare for the tournament. Everyone is excited to be back on the pitch.”
Named to Canada’s match day roster against France are 20 players who were selected for Canada’s historic win over the New Zealand Black Ferns at the 2024 Pacific Four Series this past May in Christchurch.
Asia Hogan-Rochester and Caroline Crossley are in line to earn their first caps after recently winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team alongside fellow teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps and Alysha Corrigan, who were also named to the match day roster.
Starting in the centers for Canada is Shoshanah Seumanutafa from White Rock, BC who played her rugby growing up at the Pacific Academy and UBC Thunderbirds where she three Canada West championships.
Tickets for WXV 1 can be purchased HERE. Tickets are purchased as single day passes, with each ticket providing fans access for a full match day. This means purchasers can attend multiple games using a single ticket on September 29, October 5 and October 12. Fans will be able to exit and re-enter the stadiums in accordance with regulations.
Additional questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@rugby.ca.
All of Canada’s WXV 1 matches will be available on TSN and TSN+. On Sunday September 29, Canada’s game against France will be broadcast on TSN2 and livestreamed on TSN+ at 3:45pm PT/6:45pm ET.
More information on WXV can be found HERE.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Match Day Roster vs France
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) – Guelph Goats
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) – Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) – Cowichan Piggies / Aurora Barbarians / Ealing Trailfinders
5. Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC) – St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia Univeristy / ASM
6. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish
7. Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
8. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) – Castaway Wanderers / Saracens
9. Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Stade Bordelais
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Leicester Tigers
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) – Saracens
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) – Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC / Exeter Chiefs
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
14. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC / Saracens
15. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) – Guelph Goats / Castaway Wanderers / Ealing Trailfinders
FINISHERS
16. Sara Cline (Edmonton, AB) – Leprechaun Tigers
17. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Saracens
18. Alexandria Ellis (Ottawa, ON) – Barrhaven Scottish / Stade Français Paris
19. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) – Red Deer Titans Rugby
20. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
22. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC
23. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads