Semi Finals

[Which Tyler]

SF.jpg

[Which Tyler]

Both should be close, but Eng v Can should be "never in doubt"


NZ v Fr should be fascinating.
NZ are coming into form well, whilst France are still learning to play without Sansus, especially. Hopefully Menager and Trémoulière will be fit again for the SF.

IMO France are the better team, but there's about as much in it as home advantage usually brings; so I just can't pick between them.
I'd say if France get both RM and JT back, I'd have them slight favourites; if neither, then NZ are slight favourites.

[Mr Mwenda]

Yes, England can't take Canada lightly but if they play their patterns they should be fine.

The other one is fascinating as you say. I do wonder if NZ have really been tested yet. The French pack i think will fancy their chances to bully the black ferns.

[Which Tyler]

Canada v England; Eden Park; 3.30am (UK)
Ref: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TJs: Aurelie Groizeleau & Maggie Cogger-Orr
TMO: Ben Whitehouse

Canada
1 Olivia DeMerchant
2 Emily Tuttosi
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Courtney Holtkamp
5 McKinley Hunt
6 Fabiola Forteza
7 Karen Paquin
8 Sophie De Goede

9 Justine Pelletier
10 Alex Tessier
11 Paige Farries
12 Sara Kaljuvee
13 Alysha Corrigan
14 Maddy Grant
15 Elissa Alarie

16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Alexandria Ellis, 19 Ngalula Fuamba, 20 Tyson Beukeboom, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Sara Svoboda
23 Anais Holly

England
1 Hannah Botterman
2 Amy Cokayne
3 Sarah Bern
4 Zoe Aldcroft
5 Abbie Ward
6 Alex Matthews
7 Marlie Packer
8 Sarah Hunter

9 Leanne Infante
10 Zoe Harrison
11 Claudia Macdonald
12 Tatyana Heard
13 Emily Scarratt
14 Abby Dow
15 Helena Rowland

16 Lark Davies, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Poppy Cleall
21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Ellie Kildunne

[Which Tyler]

New Zealand v France; Eden Park; 6.30am (UK)
Ref: Joy Neville
TJs: Amber McLachlan & Sara Cox
TMO: Ian Tempest

New Zealand
1 Phillippa Love
2 Georgia Ponsonby
3 Amy Rule
4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5 Chelsea Bremner
6 Alana Bremner
7 Sarah Hirini
8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u

9 Kendra Cocksedge
10 Ruahei Demant
11 Portia Woodman
12 Theresa Fitzpatrick
13 Stacey Fluhler
14 Ruby Tui
15 Renee Holmes

16 Luka Connor, 17 Krystal Murray, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20 Kennedy Simon
21 Ariana Bayler, 22 Hazel Tubic, 23 Ayesha Leti-l'iga


France
1 Annaelle Deshaye
2 Agathe Sochat
3 Clara Joyeux
4 Celine Ferer
5 Madoussou Fall
6 Gaëlle Hermet
7 Charlotte Escudero
8 Romane Menager

9 Pauline Bourdon
10 Caroline Drouin
11 Marine Menager
12 Gabrielle Vernier
13 Maelle Filopon
14 Joanna Grisez
15 Emilie Boulard

16 Celia Domain, 17 Coco Lindelauf, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Safi N'Diaye, 20 Marjorie Mayans
21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Chloe Jacquet

[Mr Mwenda]

Botterman just rotation? She seems a bit of a penalty magnet...

[Which Tyler]

Botterman out (knee), Cornborough to start, Brown to bench.
LPacker out (ankle), Kabeya comes in which seems... odd; probably a reaction to Canada's 7:1 bench split



7 minutes in - I thought Canada were supposed to be able to challenge our forwards / set piece.
It's a scrappy opening couple of minutes; but then we calmed down, got hands on ball, and established some confidence.
Kicking that penalty to the corner from 5 m out, in front of the posts is an unusual decision in the ladies game; but the kick is fine, as is the lineout, and maul straight on over.
Again, I thought they'd provide a bigger challenge to our forwards.


14 minutes - Wow from Rowland, but, Canada... just standing off her. Well finished by Dow.

I'm obviously on my own here, so I'll restrict comments to once per quarter

[Which Tyler]

HT

Canada finding their feet since then, and back into the game.
1 (well worked and taken) try against the run of play and a HUGE celebration, but the confidence has flown in.

As for the battle of the packs - I've seen nothing so far to suggest that Canada can stop us at scrum or maul, or particularly spoil our rucks.
But they're sure providing a threat of their own.

Stadium is virtually empty

[Which Tyler]

49 min


F*** me!

[Which Tyler]

57 min


Ref really needed to stop that earlier - passing the ball literally over the top of the injured player who's holding her head - no problem apparently.

But the far side winger getting a little medical attention 70m away? Yeah, we can't allow the lineout until she's ready.

[Which Tyler]

FT

Now that's knock-out rugby.

Well played Canada, sort out some professionalism, and you'll be properly scaring the top teams.

Was a touch closer than I expected, but it never felt that Canada would actually win.

[Which Tyler]

Allez Les Bleues!

[Mr Mwenda]

Allez Les Bleues!

France's choice to blow this or not. Cut out the unforced errors and they'd comfortably put the black ferns away, rackon.

[Mr Mwenda]

Ferns had a good spell there, first time they made ground. But then the French ballsed up a clearance appallingly. France seem to be self-destructing. They will be raging at half time.

[Mr Mwenda]

And the France go into imperious mode.

[Mr Mwenda]

How many kicks on the full are France aiming for?

[Mr Mwenda]

How many kicks on the full are France aiming for?

But then if your alternative is just kicking the ball away in broken play...

[Which Tyler]

As I keep banging on about, they're missing Sansus and Trémoulière - touch of genius, but more importantly, calm controlling heads in decision making positions

[Mr Mwenda]

Yeah, can't help. But you'd think there was wit and experience enough in the French squad to not get into such a panic.

[Which Tyler]

Panic seems harsh, but I know what you mean. Discipline in decision making (and execution when kicking towards touch) just isn't where it should be.

Let's call it "over-excited"

[Mr Mwenda]

Well hopefully they've calmed down. The defensive venom seems to have returned!

[Which Tyler]

That's not going to help

[Mr Mwenda]

Sums up the French performance...

[Which Tyler]

Stupid?

[Mr Mwenda]

Stupid?

Stuuuuuuupid