Canada’s Women’s Head Coach Francois Ratier has announced his starting roster for Wednesday’s IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) Semi-Final against France.
The highly anticipated semi-final is set for Wednesday evening at the nearly sold out 20,000 seat Stade Jean Bouin in downtown Paris. The winning team will advance to the tournament final in the same venue on Sunday evening to face either Ireland or England, who are in the other semi-final.
Canada Set for Women’s Rugby World Cup Semi-Final
Canada boasts an undefeated 2-0-1 record so far at the WRWC, having opened the tournament with wins over Spain and Samoa, before drawing their final pool match 13-13 against the 2010 WRWC runner-ups, England.
France cruised through the pool stages relatively untouched, having scored 98 points and allowed only 6 in victories over Wales, South Africa and Australia. The hosts are the only team to not have conceded a try during the pool stages.
Canada’s side for Wednesday’s test match has only one change from the side that drew England on Sunday in Marcoussis, as Brittany Waters replaces Jessica Dovanne on the wing.
These two sides split a two-game series last November during Canada’s November Tour; France opened the series with a 27-19 victory in Pontarlier on November 2, while Canada defeated the hosts 11-6 on the 6th in Amneville.
“We played France twice last November and have watched their games so far during the World Cup and we know they’re a very strong team. They will also have the support of a big crowd at Stade Jean Bouin, so it’s going to be a difficult game for us,” said Coach Francois Ratier.
“This game is a fantastic opportunity for us to show the world that we belong here in the semi-finals of the World Cup and in the Finals, and our goal is the play our game and enjoy the experience,” added Ratier.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work that our team has done so far in the World Cup, but we’re not finished. We have a big challenge ahead of us tomorrow in Paris and we’re all really looking forward to it,” said Captain Kelly Russell.
“We know there’s going to be a packed crowd of supporters for France tomorrow, but we are going to continue playing our game and know that we have the support of Canadians here in France and watching back home on TSN,” added Russell.
Kick off is set for 8:45pm local time (2:45pm ET/11:45pm PT) and the game will be broadcast LIVE on TSN, Rugby Canada’s official broadcast partner.
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