Canada shock New Zealand to make Rugby World Cup final

After a frantic two-minute opening passage of play in which possession switched sides several times, Canada imposed themselves on the chaos and never really gave up control.

Taking advantage of Renee Holmes’ kick out on the full, Tessier collected a chip-ahead and from the resulting phase Pelletier darted, dummied and danced under the posts.

Shortly after, wing Hogan-Rochester breezed past full-back Holmes to extend the lead to 12 points in as many minutes.

A reeling New Zealand had occasional openings, but Alana Bremner spilled the ball to curtail one promising attack, while Canada’s ground game proved too strong on another.

The excellent De Goede got over the top of a breakdown to win a penalty in midfield, before Symonds was sent over by Tessier’s smart hands for a third unanswered try.

Prop Tanya Kalounivale barged over to belatedly get the Black Ferns on the board, but there was no reeling in Canada. De Goede cantered away for another try off Pelletier’s delicious one-handed offload and her team headed down the tunnel 24-7 to the good.

It was not just the scoreboard where New Zealand were down. They had also conceded five penalties to Canada’s none by the break.

Tessier’s score shortly after the restart was gleefully celebrated by Canada who sensed it was the one that put them out of reach.

They were right.

New Zealand huffed, puffed and improved in the second half, but were never able to inject jeopardy back into the contest.

De Goede ate up the minutes clipping over a gimme of a penalty to take Canada back out beyond two converted scores and could have created another try had she found wing Alysha Corrigan after a late intercept.

It did not matter in the final reckoning.

The last rites on New Zealand’s title played out to chants of ‘Canada, Canada’ and a backdrop of mobile phone torches, before the stadium DJ fired up hits by Canadian pop powerhouse Shania Twain in celebration.


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