Pacific Four Canada vs New Zealand ARN Guide

Canada will square off against World Cup champions New Zealand in the second match of Saturday’s Pacific Four double-header in Ottawa. A record attendance for a women’s rugby match in Canada is expected to be set with over 9,000 tickets sold at the time of writing.

With these being the two highest-ranked teams in the competition, the winner is virtually certain to clinch top spot and a place in the top tier of the new WXV tournament later this year. Both teams were victorious in their first matches of the tournament, Canada overwhelming the USA in April and New Zealand shutting out Australia a little over a week ago.

This will be the 16th meeting between the two sides and while Canada have been competitive in recent years, they are yet to taste success against the Black Ferns. Last year’s match in Auckland finished at 28-nil to the home side. New Zealand would go on to win the World Cup with Canada finishing in 4th place.

Kévin Rouet has selected his strongest available starting side with star player Sophie de Goede again leading them out. Justine Pelletier is vice-captain and continues to start at scrumhalf in the absence of Brianna Miller. Julia Schell is the flyhalf with both Taylor Perry and Alex Tessier ruled out.

There are three new caps in the team. Florence Symonds starts on the wing, with Canada Sevens teammate Olivia Apps on the bench. Flyhalf or center Claire Gallagher could also debut, and midfielder Shoshanah Seumanutafa could win her second cap after a four year test hiatus.

Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting has kept his side largely intact after the 50-nil smashing of the Wallaroos in Brisbane. The front row is rotated en masse, and there is a likely debut for replacement flanker Lucy Jenkins from the Christchurch-based Matatū side of Super Rugby Aupiki.

On home soil and in front of a bumper crowd, Canada will back their chances at a first-ever win over New Zealand. Though this isn’t quite the World Cup-winning roster, it remains a world class outfit bristling with talent. Expect a fierce contest but there’s no doubt that the Black Ferns are favorites.

Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. FloRugby will broadcast in the USA, Sky Sport in New Zealand, TSN 4 in Canada, and the World Rugby website for those located elsewhere.

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Fabiola Forteza, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Julia Schell, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Sara Kaljuvee, 13 Fancy Bermudez, 14 Florence Symonds, 15 Sabrina Poulin

Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Alex Ellis, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Sara Svoboda, 21 Olivia Apps, 22 Claire Gallagher, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa

NEW ZEALAND
1 Phillipa Love, 2 Luka Connor, 3 Amy Rule, 4 Maia Roos, 5 Chelsea Bremner, 6 Alana Bremner, 7 Kennedy Simon (co-capt.), 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10 Ruahei Demant (co-capt.), 11 Katelyn Vaha’akolo, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 13 Amy du Plessis, 14 Mererangi Paul, 15 Renee Holmes

Replacements: 16 Georgia Ponsonby, 17 Kate Henwood, 18 Tanya Kalounivale, 19 Lucy Jenkins, 20 Kendra Reynolds, 21 Iritana Hohaia, 22 Rosie Kelly, 23 Kelsey Teneti

Date: Saturday, July 8
Venue: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: FloRugby, Sky Sport NZ, TSN 4, World Rugby

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jenny Lui (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-06-12 – New Zealand 28, Canada 0 (Auckland)
2019-06-28 – Canada 20, New Zealand 35 (Chula Vista)
2017-08-17 – Canada 5, New Zealand 48 (Dublin)
2017-06-09 – New Zealand 28, Canada 16 (Wellington)
2016-11-23 – Canada 10, New Zealand 20 (Dublin)
2015-06-27 – Canada 22, New Zealand 40 (Calgary)
2014-06-14 – New Zealand 33, Canada 21 (Whakatane)
2014-06-10 – New Zealand 16, Canada 8 (Tauranga)
2006-08-31 – Canada 7, New Zealand 66 (Edmonton)
2005-07-08 – Canada 5, New Zealand 32 (Ottawa)
2005-07-05 – Canada 3, New Zealand 43 (Ottawa)
2004-06-08 – Canada 5, New Zealand 32 (Vancouver)
2000-09-23 – Canada 0, New Zealand 41 (Winnipeg)
1999-10-16 – New Zealand 73, Canada 0 (Palmerston North)
1996-09-08 – Canada 3, New Zealand 88 (St. Albert)
1991-04-06 – New Zealand 24, Canada 9 (Cardiff)