England 26 – Canada 19 in Semi-Final Battle- Canada Face France in Bronze Medal Match: Video Highlights and Post-Match Comments from Sophie de Goede
It was an impressive effort by the Canadian women who pushed the #1 ranked team in the World to the final whistle. The effort garnered a lot of praise for Canadian women’s rugby from around the rugby world. It was Canadian heart and soul typified and how we would want all our rugby teams to perform. Canada will now face France in the Bronze medal match.
Below are post match comments from captain Sophie de Goede, video highlights and the match report by Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press.
CANADA CAPTAIN SOPHIE DE GOEDE – Post-match comments
Im so proud of every person if our group and everyone who has been with us since the beginning. I want to say a big thank you to the fans and everyone who has been supporting us. We felt your belief in us and will continue to hopefully make you proud next week. There are things Im sure we can take in terms of discipline and composure in that last ten minutes and learning how to win. I think there was no difference in terms of talent that was out there today and I think just to think about what we could do with more games and more recourses makes me proud to be Canadian and I think there is a bright future ahead for us.
On the overall match
Just proud. There are a few people out there after the match just saying that we couldn’t have done any better. Saying that we left it all out there. I think there’s so much more in this group, and I thought we performed well today. I’m really proud, but I think with more opportunities there’s so much potential in this team. So, I’m just disappointed that we didn’t reach that today.
We’re Canadians and we’re really proud of it, but it’s not a rugby nation. Globally it’s not recognized, and we really wanted to bring recognition to Canada and Canadian rugby today.
On the missed opportunities
It’s little details that we didn’t quite get right as a collective and that cost us. We have to go back and review it, but it’s not for lack of focus or the effort. So, it’s something to work on. But again, we’ll keep repeating that we are really proud of what we did today.
I don’t think it came to the referee today. I thought she did a great job and all the referees throughout this tournament have been great. It was just up to us to win the game.
On what such a match means back in Canada
Hopefully it means a lot. We’ll see in the years to come. But yes, that’s why we wanted to win it so bad. Our final is going to be on TV back home, more people are going to watch it. We wanted to win for ourselves for sure, but also for the country. I think that’s part of where it comes from. The other part is I think we’ve accomplished something although we still have another game to go. I am very proud of what we’ve done and hopefully we’ll see Canadian rugby progressing in the years to come and if we have any part in that then I’ll be very proud.
On hopefully being professional at the next Rugby World Cup
We definitely want to be professional, and I think we showed today that if we had those resources and opportunities, if we had more days together, what that could do. We never want to lose the sense of togetherness and sacrifice and passion that we’ve had as an amateur team.
On how to rally the team for the next game
They’re not hard troops to rally. Everyone gets behind each other. It’s even more evident when you’re in the group. I think the opportunity to play for a medal at this Rugby World Cup game with this group one more time isn’t something that I’m going to have to sell. Everyone’s going to be looking forward to it.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Canadian Press by Neil Davidson
Canada played its part Saturday on a day that showed the best of women’s rugby.
Unfortunately the valiant Canadian display came in a 26-19 loss to England in the Rugby World Cup semifinal in Auckland, New Zealand.
The high-tempo game was a showcase for the sport on a sunny but windy afternoon at Eden Park. Third-ranked Canada gave No. 1 England all it could handle in a hard-hitting, physical affair.
“I’m just proud of the girls for the work they did,” said Canada coach Kevin Rouet. “I’m just disappointed by the result, for sure. I thought we deserved more than that.”
“We are very close to No. 1. That’s what I know now,” added the French-born coach.
The win extended England’s winning streak to 30 matches, which dates back to a 28-12 loss to New Zealand in July 2019. The Red Roses will meet the defending champion Black Ferns in Saturday’s championship game at Eden Park.
The Canadians will play No. 4 France for third place.
Second-ranked New Zealand and France put on their own show after the Canada game.
The Black Ferns rallied from a 17-10 deficit at the half to lead 25-17 before the French cut the lead to one point with a converted try in the 65th minute. French fly half Caroline Drouin had a chance for the win in the 80th minute but her penalty kick drifted wide left.
In the earlier semifinal, the game turned in the 50th minute with England holding on to a slim 18-12 lead and Canada knocking on the door.
England, after resolutely defending a prolonged Canadian attack deep in its own half, won the ball back and went on the attack. Instead of kicking to safety, wing Claudia MacDonald elected to run out from behind her try-line. After cutting through the Canadian defence, she passed to Abby Dow who accelerated past the last line of defence for a highlight-reel try her second of the day and 23-12 lead.
Canada finally breached the England defence in the 68th minute with lock Tyson Beukeboom crashing over for a converted try that cut the lead to 23-19.
Emily Scarratt’s 70th-minute penalty extended the English lead to seven points. Canada kept coming, forcing the English to make tackle after tackle. But England held on.
Canada’s gritty performance drew praise from England.
“Canada were relentless. They came and they came and they came,” said England captain Sarah Hunter. “The girls just put their bodies on the line We were desperate to get into the final next week.”
“Canada were fantastic challenged us in every area of the game,” added England coach Simon Middleton.
Karen Paquin and Alysha Corrigan also scored tries for Canada, which trailed 15-12 after a first half that saw the Canadians playing into the wind. Captain Sophie De Goede kicked two conversions.
Marlie Packer also scored a try for England. Scarratt booted a conversion and three penalties.
The Red Roses have not lost since a 28-13 defeat at the hands of New Zealand in July 2019. And they have now won nine straight over Canada.
The Canadian women saw their eight-game win streak snapped.
The English are a professional side with players under contract to the Rugby Football Union. Many of the Canadians have jobs outside of rugby that they put on hold to prepare for the World Cup.
“We’re Canadian and we’re really proud of it,” said de Goede, whose parents both captained Canada in rugby. “But it’s not a rugby nation and so I think globally it’s not recognized. We really wanted to bring recognition to Canada and Canadian rugby today.”
The Canadians resorted to a GoFundMe page to help pay for an unofficial centralization ahead of the World Cup.
“There was no difference in talent out there today,” said de Goede. “Just imagine what we can do with more games and more resources. I’m really proud to be Canadian and I think there’s a bright future ahead for us.”
England lost fullback Helena Rowland to injury early in the second half. And prop Vickii Cornborough was sent to the sin-bin in the 54th minute for repeated England violations.
Rouet stuck with the same starting 15 that beat the seventh-ranked Americans 32-11 in last weekend’s quarterfinal.
Both Canada and England came into the match having won their four previous matches at the tournament. And both teams boasted a strong pack with effective driving mauls.
The importance of the Canadian pack was shown by the fact that Rouet, for the second game in a row, had seven forwards and just one back on the bench.
The Canadians lost veteran forward Laura Russell and fly half Taylor Perry to injury on the eve of the tournament. Scrum half Brianna Miller was ruled out after an injury against Italy.
The tournament was originally slated for 2021 but was postponed due to the pandemic.
Canada’s best finish at the tournament was second in 2014 when it lost 21-9 to England in the final. The Canadian women placed fourth in 1998, 2002 and 2006 and were fifth last time out in 2017.
England has never finished out of the top three at the tournament.
The Red Roses also won in 1994 and have finished runner-up five-times (losing to the U.S. in 1991 and New Zealand in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017). They were third in 1998.
England improved to 29-3-1 all-time over Canada.
Canada and England also met Saturday in the Rugby League World Cup with England winning 54-4 in pool play in Wigan, England. Rugby league is the less popular rugby code, with 13 players per side as opposed to 15 per team for rugby union.
*Coach Rouet Names Canada Team to Face England in RWC Semi-Final on Friday 8:30pm PT*
Coach Kevin Rouet has only made one change to the team that defeated USA in the quarter-finals. On the bench he’s brought back Sara Svoboda to replace Pam Buisa . He’ll be anticipating a physical, forwards-oriented battle and has gone with 7 forward reserves and only one utility back reserve, Anaïs Holly.
Kickoff is Friday at 8:30pm PT and is live on TSN 4.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Womens rugby team head coach Kevin Rouet has named his side to take on England in the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final this Friday at 8:30 p.m. PT and 11:30 p.m. ET at Eden Park in Auckland, live on TSN 4.
Canadas Womens rugby team head coach Kevin Rouet has named his side to take on England in the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final this Friday at 8:30 p.m. PT and 11:30 p.m. ET at Eden Park in Auckland, live on TSN 4.
One of rugbys most famous venues, Eden Park will host both Semi-Finals, the final and the third-place playoff in the next two weeks, Rouets side looking to claim the gold medal against three of the Worlds largest unions, England, France and hosts New Zealand.
Canada progressed to the final four with victory over USA in the Quarter-Finals and face their toughest test in the tournament so far against a fully-professional English team who hold a 29-game winning streak.
Canadas Womens rugby team head coach, Kevin Rouet said: Its of course a big step up in competition this week but were excited for that challenge.
Weve focused this week on the areas we can improve, and I think weve been getting better each week, so our mindset doesnt change.
The players have sacrificed a lot to be here, theres a job to do on Saturday and well arrive at Eden Park ready to go.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fridays game against England will be shown live on TSN 4. Coverage begins from 8:15 p.m. PT and 11:15 p.m. ET.
CANADAS WOMENS RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ENGLAND
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. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
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. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Riviere-du-Loup, QC
10. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) Worcester Warriors
12. Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
13. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) CRFC / Saracens
14. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa
15. Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) Capilano RFC
17. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) Guelph, ON
18. Alex Ellis (Ottawa, ON) Barrhaven Scottish / Saracens
19. Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l’ile-Perrot, QC) T.M.R.R.F.C.
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) Cowichan RFC
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) Castaway Wanderers / Exeter Chiefs / Regina Rogues Rugby Club
22. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
23. Anaïs Holly (Montreal, QC) Town of Mont-Royal RFC