sa国际传媒, captained by Sophie De Goede of Victoria, gave heavily favoured England all it could take before succumbing 26-19 in the women’s rugby World Cup semifinals at famed Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, late Friday night local time.
De Goede fought back tears but composed herself for her post-game address to the crowd: “I’m so proud of every person in our group and everyone who has been with us in this cycle.”
The graduate of Oak Bay Secondary, where she was a dual rugby and basketball standout, said there was little to choose between the teams in the semifinal.
“We knew we were in it,” said the 23-year-old Islander. “There are things I’m sure we can take away like discipline and composure in that last 10 minutes. We are learning how to win. There was no difference in talent out there today.”
The difference might have been that England is a fully professional side while most of the Canadian players are amateurs who hold down other jobs.
“Just imagine what we can do with more games and more resources,” said De Goede. “I’m really proud to be Canadian and think there’s a really bright future ahead of us.”
The Canadians, who went 3-0 through the group stage and beat the U.S. 32-11 in the quarter-finals, even won raves from their opponents.
“That was incredible. sa国际传媒 really tested us. sa国际传媒 was relentless and came and came and came,” said England captain Sarah Hunter.
“We knew sa国际传媒 would be in it because they have been fantastical throughout the tournament. It was a great showcase of what women’s rugby is all about. It was end-to-end stuff. It went right down to the wire. It will go down as one of the great games.”
Added an impressed England head coach Simon Middleton: “It was a classic semifinal and I just want to throw out a massive congratulations to sa国际传媒. They were absolutely world class. They gave it everything they had and were outstanding. We had to give it everything we had to get home.”
England won its 30th consecutive Test match dating to 2019 and will meet New Zealand — 25-24 victors over France in the other, even-more-thrilling semifinal — in the World Cup final next Friday at 10:30 p.m. PT at Eden Park. sa国际传媒 will play France in the bronze-medal game next Friday at 7:30 p.m. PT. TSN is airing both games.
England led its semifinal 12-0 before veteran flanker Karen Paquin, a 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist with the Langford-based Canadian sevens team, touched down a through kick by Justine Pelletier to get sa国际传媒 started.
An Alysha Corrigan try from short range was converted by De Goede as sa国际传媒 tied it 12-12 before England took a 15-12 lead into the half-time break. De Goede converted a try by substitute Tyson Beukeboom in the second half.
But it was England’s breathless field-length try, finished off with a long run by Abby Dow, that proved decisive in the second half. That and England methodically taking advantage of sa国际传媒’s mistakes and kicking the easy nine points offered by three penalty goals awarded directly in front of the uprights.
“It’s Test knockout rugby and about game management,” said Hunter. “You have to respect a side like sa国际传媒, and when points were offered, we had to take them.”
Starting alongside De Goede, Paquin and Corrigan for sa国际传媒 was former University of Victoria Vikes star Paige Farries, a fleet threat down the wing.
Former UVic Vikes player Sara Kaljuvee, who brings quickness from the Olympics and Commonwealth and Pan Am Games in sevens rugby, started at outside-centre and Elissa Alarie from Westshore RFC, silver medallist at the 2014 World Cup and sevens player last year in the Tokyo Olympics, at full-back. UVic Vikes and Westshore RFC player Gabrielle Senft was dressed in reserve off the bench.
“Our goal is to win the World Cup, so we are going to be very disappointed,” said Canadian head coach Kevin Rouet.
“England was better than us in the details but I am just proud of the girls. There were more than a few opportunities missed by us but at least we created them. Give us a chance and we will be back. We are confident we can come back and win third place.”
