Canadian women fall to France in bronze-medal match at Rugby World Cup

Canada’s Rugby World Cup marketing campaign ended in disappointment Saturday, crushed 36-0 by France in the bronze-medal match in Auckland, New Zealand.

The fourth-ranked French have been higher in nearly each part, outkicking, outrunning and outhitting the third-ranked Canadian women, who maybe left their ‘A’ sport in final weekend’s gritty semifinal loss to top-ranked England.

The Red Roses confronted defending champion New Zealand, ranked second, in the ultimate that adopted Canada’s match.

England went into the championship sport driving a 30-match win streak relationship again to a 28-13 loss to the Black Ferns at the Women’s Rugby Super Series.

The win will transfer France above Canada into third place in the rankings with an opportunity to transfer into second with a New Zealand loss.

WATCH | France cruises previous Canada to declare World Cup bronze:

It marked the third time in a row — and seventh in 9 editions of the World Cup — that France has completed third at the event. The French have misplaced the bronze-medal match simply as soon as, crushed by Australia in 2010.

Canada’s finest end was second in 2014 when it misplaced 21-9 to England in the ultimate. The Canadians have been fifth final day trip, in 2017 in Ireland.

Marine Menager scored two tries whereas Madoussou Fall, Pauline Bourdon, Annaelle Deshaye added singles for France, which led 22-0 at the half. Caroline Drouin booted 4 conversions and a penalty.

The Canadians had a territorial edge in the second half however typically shot themselves in the foot with dealing with errors once they did make floor.

Impressive run

Despite the loss Saturday, the Canadian women have turned heads since opening the event with a 41-5 win over No. 12 Japan, displaying off a robust pack and elusive backs. They have been the one non-professional facet to make the ultimate 4, with out centralized contracts and with many placing day jobs apart to signify their nation.

Canada gave England all it might deal with earlier than falling 26-19 in final weekend’s semifinal. The French misplaced a 25-24 nail-biter to New Zealand in the opposite semifinal, denied the win when a last-minute penalty kick drifted simply extensive.

Canada got here into the third-place match with a 7-8-0 file towards the French however had received the earlier 4 conferences. France’s final win over the Canadian women got here in 2013, a 27-19 resolution on residence turf in Pontarlier.

The two sides had World Cup historical past. France downed Canada in the third-place sport in 2002 in Barcelona (41-7) and 2006 in Edmonton (17-8). Canada additionally misplaced the third-place match to England (31-15) in 1998.

It was a sunny however breezy afternoon at Eden Park with temperatures round 29 Celsius.

For the sixth sport in a row at the event, the French held their opposition scoreless in the primary 20 minutes with Canada enjoying into the wind in the primary half.

The French scrum was rock-solid and the forwards stored battering away at the Canadian defence. Drouin upped the lead to 10-0 with a penalty in the twenty first minute after a Canadian infraction close to its try-line.

After spending a lot of the half enjoying defence, the Canadians attacked late in the half solely to be penalized for not releasing the ball in the deal with.

From the following penalty, France drove again up the sector. Centre Gabrielle Vernier sliced by means of the Canadian line, beating Canadian fly half Alex Tessier, and handed to Bourdon for a transformed strive in the thirty sixth minute and a 17-0 lead.

Another 50-22 kick gave France a lineout deep in the Canadian finish and Menager went over in the nook after a slickly executed assault down the blind facet from the driving maul.

The French stored coming in the second half with tries by Annaelle Deshaye (forty second) and Menager (61st).

France’s Vernier was despatched to the sin bin in the 62nd minute for a excessive deal with. Vernier acquired the worst of the collision however acquired the yellow card.

Having used all its replacements, France performed with 13 women late in the sport with Vernier in the bin and Menager compelled off with an harm.

Canada additionally misplaced ahead Emma Taylor to harm in the dying minutes.

French coach Thomas Darracq made one change to his beginning 15, slotting in Assia Khalfaoui at prop for simply her third take a look at begin. The French matchday 23 options 5 gamers who received bronze at the 2017 event.

Emotions ran excessive through the anthems with 35-year-old Canadian flanker Karen Paquin shut to tears.

Fullback Elissa Alarie, in her third World Cup, earned her forty seventh cap in her last sport for Canada. The 36-year-old from Trois-Rivieres, Que., has additionally been a stalwart for the Canadian sevens group.

Veteran lock Tyson Beukeboom moved into sole possession of second place on Canada’s all-time women’s 15s cap listing, coming off the bench to make her 56th nationwide group look. Gillian Florence, who retired in 2010, tops the listing with 67 Canadian caps.

Prop Olivia DeMerchant earned her 54th cap, passing sisters Laura and Kelly Russell for fourth place in the Canadian women’s file e book. Kelly has retired whereas Laura missed this World Cup by means of harm.

The Canadian women received three straight to take Pool B earlier than dispatching the seventh-ranked Americans 32-11 in the quarterfinal.

France completed runner-up to England in Pool C at 2-1-0 earlier than downing No. 5 Italy 39-3 in the quarterfinals.