Black Ferns playmaker Ruahei Demant scores a try against Canada in the World Rugby Pacific Four Series. Photo / Getty Images
Black Ferns 52
Canada 21
The Black Ferns have booked their spot to meet England, France and Wales in the newly-minted WXV 1 competition later in the year.
Needing a top-three finish in the Pacific Four to earn a place in that competition, the New Zealand side secured that with a 52-21 win over Canada in Ottawa on Sunday morning.
Despite what the scoreline might suggest, it was a test in every sense of the word, as the Black Ferns had to answer plenty of questions posed by the Canadians.
It didn’t look like that would be the case as the Black Ferns charged out to a 21-0 lead inside 20 minutes, taking advantage of some poor exit plays from the Canadians and enjoying the invitation into attacking territory.
But their free-flowing attacking style wasn’t without some issues as handling errors and some untidy work at the breakdown saw the Canadians gain extra possessions. While Canada were finding space to exploit in the Black Ferns’ defensive line, the New Zealand side stayed focused and backed themselves when they did get back in possession.
“Full credit to Canada,” Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant said. “We knew they’re a quality side and we knew playing them at home was going to be extremely challenging. We knew that they’re a team that is very tenacious and play right to the very end and that’s exactly what they gave us today.
“I was really proud of the way we learned from the half, the messages that our coaches gave us at halftime and the fact we were able to put that out on the paddock after halftime.”
After a breakout performance from second-five Sylvia Brunt last week, it was her midfield partner Amy du Plessis who led the way against Canada. Scoring two of the side’s eight tries, her work carrying and distributing the ball impressed, but it was her workrate without possession that really stood out.
Du Plessis was in constant motion, chasing kicks and applying pressure on the back of them, at times making things happen with her hustle.
Demant was again in the thick of everything on attack, although made a couple of mistakes in missing the sideline from penalties, while halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu’s composure at the ruck when the play threatened to get a bit messy made good things happen.
It was a physical contest. The world No 4 Canadians were up for the challenge and the Ferns pack were required to answer in kind. There were plenty of players who stepped up in that facet, Amy Rule, Phillipa Love, Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Chelsea Bremner among them.
The Black Ferns got off to a superb start when Katelyn Vahaakolo came close to scoring a spectacular solo effort in the opening minutes, only to be taken down a couple of metres from the line. It led to the game’s opener, scored by Luka Connor from close range.
The Ferns fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which began a run of poor execution both ways before the Black Ferns again settled in possession, with tries from Demant and Mererangi Paul seeing them take a handy lead.
Some teams might fold under that sort of start, but the Canadians kept working and were soon rewarded through impressive captain Sophie de Goede, who bulldozed through defenders to score. Her loose forward partner Fabiola Forteza was across the stripe soon after, after being held up earlier, and the Black Ferns only held a seven-point lead at the break.
Du Plessis pushed the Black Ferns out a bit further soon after the restart, but the Canadians wouldn’t go away and when Olivia Demerchant scored, the match looked set for a big finish with the score at 28-21.
It got that, in a sense, as the Black Ferns kicked things up a gear and exploited the tiring Canadian defence to run up the score and remain at the top of the Pacific Four leaderboard.
The Ferns will finish their tournament next week against the United States; the Americans sitting at the foot of the ladder, having conceded over 50 points against both Canada and Australia.
Black Ferns 52 (Amy du Plessis 2, Mererangi Paul 2, Luka Connor, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes, Kelsey Teneti tries; Holmes 6 cons)
Canada 21 (Sophie de Goede, Fabiola Forteza, Olivia Demerchant tries; de Goede 3 cons)
HT: 21-14
The Black Ferns showed resilience in the final moments to deny Canada the win.