New Zealand 48
Canada 5
Sean Farrell reports from Billings Park, UCD.
ON A DAY of pool deciders, New Zealand turned what should have been a close-run contest into a procession for their march to top seed for the semi-final stage with 15 points from their three games.
Though the Black Ferns saw off the world’s number three team with relative ease in June, even they must have been surprised with a dominant eight-try win over a terrific Canada outfit who will now miss out on the semi-finals.
Canada lived up to their billing as finalists in the last World Cup for just about seven minutes as they tested the Kiwi defence with a terrific high-tempo attack based off the pop passes of Lori Josephson. That early promise was torn to shreds by the searing pace of Portia Woodman on New Zealand’s very first attack. The Sevens star broke through the red midfield and scorched her way to the 22 before releasing a textbook pass for Selica Winiata.
While there was a sharp breeze blowing across the field at 45 degrees from Canada’s end, the Black Ferns reeled in the ambition of their rugby in favour of turning the screw with clever kicking from Kelly Brazier and Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali.
Pinning the Canucks into the corner, the black pack forced their advantage and used the power of tighthead prop Aldora Itunu twice in the space of five minutes to breach the whitewash and put a 19-point gap between the teams with just 23 minutes on the clock.
Ituunu would have her name called out on the tannoy again five minutes later, but this time after receiving a yellow card for a head high hit. No matter. The disparity in strength was already in evidence. So while the red wall rushed up and presented for tackles, they too often were brushed aside by the powerful out-half Subritzky-Nafatali, number eight Aroha Savage and, to devastating effect the sheer velocity of Woodman.
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Stacey Waaka danced through a haze of tackles to grab New Zealand’s fourth try while they were still down to 14 women and on the stroke of half-time, Subritzky-Nafatali went out the back to Brazier who scythed through the last line of defence to leave the world’s third-best best with a 29-point half-time deficit against the world number two.
The second half delivered a similar pattern. A frenetic early Canadian pace that proved the quality in their ranks, but the onslaught was contained and VSN resumed making big carries from first receiver to pave the way for captain Fiao’o Faamausili to force a sixth.
With the US Eagles entering the day on 10 points in Pool C, one ahead of Canada’s nine in Pool A, the Americans took pool position in the race for a runners-up spot with a valiant try-scoring bonus point in defeat to England to put them on 11 points. Ireland, though, can still consign France to the mix when they clash for the right to top Pool C at 19.45 this evening.
A bonus point of ‘garbage time’ tries might have altered that picture for Canada. And after Eloise Blackwell picked up a second Kiwi sin-binning, there was a faint hope of that with Jacey Grusnick dotting down after a sweeping move on the hour mark. However, such optimism soon faded as the Ferns returned fire with a Renee Wickliffe score before Itunu completed her hat-trick and an impressive blackout of the pool stage.
Scorers
New Zealand
Tries: S Winiata, A Itunu (3), S Waaka, K Brazier, F Faamausili, R Wickliffe
Conversions: K Cocksedge (3/7) K Brazier (1/1)
Canada
Tries: J Grusnick
Conversions: E Belchos (0/1)
CANADA: Elissa Alarie (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC); Magali Harvey (Club de Rugby de Quebec), Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians), Amanda Thornborough (Westshore RFC), Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers); Emily Belchos (Westshore RFC), Lori Josephson (Aurora Barbarians); Carolyn McEwen (Burnaby Lake RFC), Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Kayla Mack (Saskatoon Wild Oats), Latoya Blackwood (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC), Jacey Grusnick (Barrhaven Scottish), Karen Paquin (Club de Rugby de Quebec/Castaway Wanderers), Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads/Cowichan RFC) (capt).
Replacements: Jane Kirby (Highland Fergus Rugby Club), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Olivia DeMerchant (Woodstock Wildmen/Castaway Wanderers), Tyson Beukeboom (Aurora Barbarians/Cowichan RFC), Barbara Mervin (Westshore RFC), Chelsea Guthrie (Stratchona Druids), Andrea Burk (Capilano RFC), Brittany Waters (Meraloma Athletic Club/Castaway Wanderers).
NEW ZEALAND: Selica Winiata (Manawatu); Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau), Stacey Waaka (Waikato), Kelly Brazier (Otago), Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau); Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Counties Manukau), Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury); Toka Natua (Waikato), Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Auckland) (capt), Aldora Itunu (Auckland), Eloise Blackwell (Auckland), Charmaine Smith (North Harbour), Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland), Sarah Goss (Manawatu), Aroha Savage (Counties Manukau).
Replacements: Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties Manukau), Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato), Aotearoa Mata’u (Counties Manukau), Rebecca Wood (North Harbour), Linda Itunu (Auckland), Kristina Sue (Manawatu), Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland), Carla Hohepa (Waikato).
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
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Updated: 17.00, after the US lost to England.
Cheat
Get over it
Also go and get your facts right
He is disgrace to the nation. Bet this time sample B won’t go missing
bit severe. it was his horse. he’s the real cheat. glue factory.
Seen his horse hanging out on the boardwalk of the Liffey.
Why is it that people give out when we don’t win medals, but when we put a rider into a competition who has a really good chance of a medal, people call him a cheat, ( his horse failed a doping test ) not Cain and don’t forget he was cleared of having any involvement, plus all of cian’s horses have passed every doping test within the last four years . so why don’t you all get of your high horses . I wish Cain all the best in the qualifier maybe he’ll even bring a medal home .
Well said.
I’m disgusted that this guy is representing my country. As far as I’m concerned he’s a cheat, he shouldn’t be there. If he wins a medal I won’t be celebrating.
im the same..can’t support him.
Well said Vanessa
Humans who take drugs have control over what goes into their bodies, if you are a rider, lots of other people have access to the horse, grooms, vets, anyone passing the stable.
That last episode was all a story from “spooks” missing sample, break in to offices ect
Very strange but still stripped of gold and should not have gone his place should have been given to next in line
Where are all these stupid cheat comments coming from? From my recollection it was his horse that tested positive for a banned substance and not Cian and he was cleared of all involvement in the doping incident. Before or since Athens there hasn’t been a single concern raised about any horse ridden by O’Connor. Get your facts straight before accusing a sportsperson of something so serious.
It’s the fact that there was a real underhanded effort to get sample b to disappear. Said he had no knowledge of it. Well he would say that wouldn’t he.
Don’t we have short memories.
I am a show jumping fan 24/7. I am involved in the production of young horses and travel to shows around the country week in and week out. I do not recognise most of the people commenting on this thread. Yes you are entitled to an opion but that doesnt make you informed or correct. Well done Cian and good luck in the next round from a real Irish Show Jumping Supporter.
Eric Lamaze reigning Olympic champion was thrown out of the Canadian team on several occasions because of cocaine abuse. Now clean and forgiven and hugely popular ( as well as really brilliant ) … Why can’t Cian O’Connor benefit from a similar forgiveness? Especially since his horse tested positive for a tranquilliser?? Go on Cian! Win a medal !! Might be difficult against this English and Saudi Arabians…
Other riders and their families have suffered as a result of this guys drug history. Yet because of his connections he gets picked – whoever picked him should be fired and the committee that helped decide. It means the selectors are cheats as well as O Connor. If a family member of mine was missed out as a result of corruption and cheating I would be disgusted. It’s real Irish where the rich can buy their way out of trouble. Pat Hickey gets promoted and the honest people who compete against O Connor and his selectors must try and keep their chins up against these cheats. It’s our children who will suffer from the example given ie take drugs and you get ahead. Thank you Pat Hickey and your selectors for this sin against decent people. I hope he falls of his horse.
Irish people don’t like success in others, they just like to wallow in their own self pity and blame other people, the government, the British. Someone does well? Must be a cheat, someone earns to much? Must be corrupt. Get over yourselves, knock that large chip off your shoulder and support your country and those competing and working hard for it. Bring on the reds!
so who gave the horse the drugs?
the FEI said it was satisfied that Cian O’Connor was not involved in a deliberate attempt to influence the performance of the horse.
Although the substance was prohibited, it was not performance enhancing.
Always amuses me when i state FACTS and get red thumbs, seems people don’t like the truth.