Canada Defeat Italy to Remain Top Pool B and Second Seed in Tournament
Canada earned an important bonus point in the match against Italy which currently puts them as the second seed in the tournament as England managed a narrow win over France with no bonus point. Currently NZ are top seed with 10 points and a +68 point differential, Canada are at 10 points but with a +46 point differential, England are at 9 points with a +71 differential. If Canada can get a bonus point win against USA, they would retain the 2nd seed.
Currently these are the seedings after 2 rounds with a playoff scenario of 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 in the knockout round. NZ, Canada, England, France, Italy, Australia, USA, Wales. It’s looking like Canada will face either USA or Australia in the quarter-finals.
Sophie de Goede was named player of the match and Emily Tuttosi scored another 2 tries which makes her the leading try scorer at the tournament with 5 tries.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Womens Rugby team have won 22-12 against Italy at Rugby World Cup 2021 playing in 2022, a bonus-point also securing Canadas place in the Quarter Finals.
Italy got the opening try of the game after just 70 seconds, but it wouldnt take too long for Canada to respond through winger Paige Farries.
The flyer spotted a gap in the Italian defence, outpaced the covering fullback and dived under the posts. Brianna Miller converted to give Canada the lead.
In a first half full of nervous energy and brutality in defence from both teams, chances to score were limited but Canada put their trust in their rolling maul, and after a couple of attempts eventually Italy cracked, and Emily Tuttosi dotted down for her fourth try of the tournament.
Millers conversion hit the crossbar, leaving the score at 12-5 and thats how it would stay going into the break.
Canada got their third try of the game 10 minutes after half-time, centre Sara Kaljuvee crossing the line for her first Rugby World Cup try.
Tuttosi would then grab her second of the game, again the forward pack showing their power at the maul. Captain Sophie De Goede couldnt convert from the touchline leaving the score at 22-5.
That try also secured the bonus-point for Canada, earning them a spot in the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, with a test against the USA next round to determine top spot in the pool.
Italy would add a try late, but the result was not in question, the final score 22-12 to Canada.
Canada 22 (12) (Tries: Farries, Tuttosi 2, Kaljuvee; C: Miller) def Italy 5 (5)
*Canada Name Team to Face Italy on Saturday in Round 2 of World Cup*
Canada had a close 34-24 win over Italy at Starlight Stadium in Langford in July but now it’s at a neutral venue. There’s little doubt that Canada’s forwards will have the edge but how will the backline stack up? That’s the key question as Italy showed some scoring threat out wide but Canada struggled in that area of the game. It’s a question that will be answered on Saturday.
Coach Kevin Rouet has gone for a younger Sara Svoboda at openside. Karen Paquin who had a quiet game in Round 1 will be on the bench to share her experience in the second half. There’s still no sign of #10 Taylor Perry (Taylor Black) so Julia Schell will again take the key distributor role at #10.
Goods news for Canada is that Olivia DeMerchant is available at loosehead prop and gets the start.
It should be a competitive match with, hopefully, Canada coming out ahead as they did in July.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Womens Rugby Team will face Italy in their second pool game of the Rugby World Cup this Saturday at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
Canada claimed a 41-5 bonus-point victory against Japan in their opening game of the tournament and sit top of Pool B heading into Saturdays clash against second-placed Italy, with only points difference separating the two teams after round one.
Headlining Kevin Rouets selection is the return of loosehead prop Olivia DeMarchant who will become just the seventh Canadian Womens player to represent her country on 50 occasions when she takes to the field in Auckland at her third Rugby World Cup.
Canadas head coach, Kevin Rouet said: Its great for us to have the ability to rotate in a couple of players who will bring good impact to the team.
Italy will present a different challenge this week but again for us its about focusing on building into the tournament and what we can do on the field.
Kickoff is at 4:45 p.m. PT and 7:45 p.m. ET. on Saturday 15 October, which is 12:45 p.m. local time on Sunday 16 October.
WHERE TO WATCH
Saturdays game against Italy will be shown live on TSN 4. Coverage begins from 4:30 p.m. PT and 7:30 p.m. ET, with kickoff at 4:45 p.m. PT and 7:45 p.m. ET
CANADAS WOMENS RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ITALY
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 rugby de Québec
7. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
8. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers RFC
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) Worcester Warriors
12. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
13. Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
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. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
20. Emma Taylor (Scotsburn, NS) HRFC
21. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC Club de rugby de Québec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
22. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Riviere-du-Loup, QC
23. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) CRFC / Saracens