Familiarity did not breed contempt as two Island players, home-grown Sophie De Goede and adopted Victorian Paige Farries, led world No. 4 sa国际传媒 to a 34-24 victory over No. 6 Italy in a women’s rugby Test match Sunday at Starlight Stadium in Langford.
The first Canadian home game in seven years was held to prepare the two teams for the World Cup, Oct. 8 to Nov. 12 in New Zealand.
“It was incredible and I reveled in it and went into the stands and hugged my mom and dad, aunts, uncles and friends after the game,” said Canadian captain De Goede of Victoria, who was named player of the match.
They are not just any parents. Dad Hans De Goede is a Canadian rugby legend who came out of Vic High and James Bay Athletic Association to be named twice to the all-world XV and captained sa国际传媒 in the first men’s World Cup in 1987. Mom Stephanie White was captain in the first-ever Canadian women’s Test match in 1987, played in Victoria against the U.S., and was sa国际传媒 co-captain in the 1991 World Cup and captain in the 1994 World Cup.
Sophie De Goede, a dual rugby and basketball star at Oak Bay Secondary and Queen’s University, scored a try and kicked a penalty goal Sunday and generally dominated from the No. 8 position.
“Italy put up a good fight and it took a lot for us to win that game,” she said.
Farries, out of Red Deer, Alta., and who starred for the University of Victoria Vikes, scored two tries.
“It was amazing. I have lived in Victoria a long time and had lots of friends in the crowd,” said Farries.
“Victoria has a big rugby community, as you could see by the people who came out today, so what more can you ask for.”
The home side did not disappoint the enthusiastic gallery of about 2,000 as sa国际传媒 blunted several close-in pushes by Italy.
“They were knocking on the door but we slammed it in their face,” said Farries.
Offensively, Farries was there when needed on the wing to finish: “The team did all the hard work. I just had to dart across for the tries. There were two of the easiest tries I have scored.”
Sara Kaljuvee and Emily Tuttosi also scored tries for sa国际传媒 while Brianna Miller made three converts. Kaljuvee was a travelling reserve player on the Langford-based bronze-medallist Canadian sevens team at the 2016 Rio Olympcis and played in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and won two Pan Am Games gold medals at Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019. She continues a successful transition to the XVs game.
sa国际传媒 cracked open a game that was tied 12-12 at the half Sunday with two quick tries to open the second half. But it was not really decided until De Goede nailed a penalty goal with three minutes remaining.
“It was a win and we have to be happy with that. I told the players to keep it simple and do the basic things and not overplay it. It’s not pretty but it’s efficient,” said sa国际传媒 head coach Kevin Rouet.
“But we let Italy back in the game. That is fixable and will be a good lesson for us for the World Cup.”
sa国际传媒 plays No. 9 Wales on Aug. 27 at the Wanderers Ground in Halifax, N.S., on Aug. 27 in its final preparatory Test before the World Cup.
