Canada plays the Wallaroos to end 2023 Pacific Four Series

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Rugby Canada Team on July 9, 2023

Both teams, with a 1-1 record, will look to end the Pacific Four Series in second place after New Zealand defeated Canada in an exciting game with over 10,000 fans in the game. Now Rugby Canada plays the Wallaroos in Australia Rugby to determine who likely finishes second in the Pacific Four Series tournament.

Canada plays the Wallaroos at TD Place Stadium

Canada

Rugby Canada lost their last game 52-21 to the two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions, the Black Ferns. This is what Sophie De Goede, Canada’s captain, said about the atmosphere and the game itself (source: Rugby 15s Senior Women):

“I thought we did a good job battling back from tough positions, but we put ourselves in those positions. New Zealand’s a world-class team so they’re definitely putting the pressure on and they came to play,” said de Goede. “[Playing in front of the record-setting crowd] was special. There are no words because it’s never happened before. It’s pretty cool and I hope that just as players before us inspired us, I hope we can inspire the next generation through games like this.”

There were a record-setting 10,092 fans, the most fans attended at any single Rugby Canada women’s national team game. It was a moment that Canadian rugby union fans will never forget. Now, what de Goede said was true. They gave up the first 21 points before scoring 14 points to end the half. In the second half, Canada tried to fight back, but New Zealand was too much for them on the day.

Australia

The player Canada will need to be wary of is Maya Stewart. Her speed will be a problem for most teams as she scored three tries for the Wallaroos on Saturday against USA Rugby in a 58-17 victory at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.

This is what Eva Karpani, the Wallaroos player of the match in the 58-17 win over USA Rugby, said about the win in Canada’s capital city about the mentality of the game on Saturday: (source: World Rugby):

“Team first focused. And stick to our strengths and calm.”

Australia, like Canada, enters next Friday’s game with a record of 1-1 after also losing to New Zealand in June in Australia.

READ MORE: Rugby Canada Pacific Four Series: Looking to build on 2022

Head-to-head

The Canadian women has the advantage in the head-to-head record with Rugby Australia. They met each other once in the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Canada won that game by a scoreline of 43-12. Both teams also met each other in the 2022 Pacific Four Series, where Australia started the game strong, but Canada came back and won the game. A big reason for that was Emily Tuttosi playing a significant role in turning that game around.

Games coming up for both teams

READ MORE: Sophie De Goede: Player profile of Rugby Canada’s captain

The Canadian women will face Australia on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET in Ottawa at TD Place Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on TSN and will also be shown live on FLO Rugby. Both Canada and Australia have five points each and both have earned a bonus point. A win for either team would mean earning second place in the Pacific Four Series tournament.

Even a win with a bonus point, both Canada and Australia are unlikely to win the Pacific Four Series Tournament as New Zealand has a much better points differential, even if they somehow lose to the U.S. Canada has a slightly better points differential than Australia, so a draw would mean that Canada gets second and Australia third in the Pacific Four Series tournament.

 

Photo Credit: Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography from the Rugby Canada Facebook Page on July 8, 2023.

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