Canada’s head coach, Kevin Rouet, has implemented three alterations to the starting lineup for the upcoming quarterfinal clash against seventh-ranked Australia in the Rugby World Cup hosted in England. Courtney O’Donnell will commence in the second row while Caroline Crossley will assume the position of blindside flanker, displacing Fabiola Forteza to No. 8. On the other hand, Tyson Beukeboom and Gabby Senft will start from the bench.
Alysha Corrigan, who featured in Canada’s initial two matches of the tournament, will take over the wing position from Paige Farries.
Rouet’s squad will have a split of 6 forwards and 2 backs on the bench, with Olivia Apps and Shoshanah Seumanutafa being the only backline players.
Canada, ranked second, secured the top spot in Pool B after securing victories against No. 13 Fiji (65-7), No. 12 Wales (42-0), and No. 6 Scotland (40-19).
The Wallaroos, finishing as runners-up in Pool A behind top-ranked England, triumphed over No. 15 Samoa with a score of 73-0 and drew 31-31 against the eighth-ranked U.S. team, before succumbing to a 47-7 defeat against the Red Roses.
“Our primary objective entering the World Cup was to lead our group, and we have accomplished that,” stated Rouet. “Now, we need to shift our focus to the knockout stage. The team has been progressively developing during the initial three games, and we are aware of our capabilities on the field. The emphasis this week has been on honing our skills and game details to deliver a performance we can be proud of.”
The starting 15 representing Canada will bring a wealth of experience to the match with a combined total of 518 caps, of which captain Alex Tessier, prop DaLeaka Menin, and O’Donnell contribute 179 caps. The substitute bench boasts a cumulative total of 330 caps, with lock Tyson Beukeboom aiming to add to her Canadian-record of 81 caps.
Canada has maintained an unblemished record of 7 wins in 7 encounters against Australia, with their most recent victory being a commanding 45-7 triumph in May in Brisbane during the Pacific Four Series. Notably, each of these victories has been by a margin of 12 points or more.
Australian backrower Tabua Tuinakauvadra expressed, “We have evolved significantly as a team since the beginning of the year and are more than capable of challenging the top teams, contrary to public perception.”
The anticipated game is scheduled to take place at the Ashton Gate Stadium, with a capacity of 27,000 spectators, serving as the home ground for soccer’s Bristol City and rugby’s Bristol Bears.
The victorious team between Canada and Australia will set up a potential semifinal encounter against either third-ranked New Zealand or the tenth-ranked South Africa on September 19, also to be held in Bristol.
