Canada's fullback Julia Schell about to score her fifth try during the Women's Rugby World Cup pool match between Canada and Fiji in northern England, on Sunday. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP
Canada shut Fiji out 65-7 in their opening Women's Rugby World Cup Pool B clash in York on Sunday morning (NZ time) with fullback Julia Schell scoring six tries in the process.
Having led 24-0 at half-time, the Canadians scored seven tries in the second 40 minutes, to stamp their mark in their opening world cup match.
Schell did the most damage, scoring all her six tries in that spell, and made 16 carries.
The Canadians, ranked second coming into the world cup, turned the magic on in the second half and proved too strong for the Fijiana side, who finished the game with 14 players following the upgraded red card to replacement Bulou Vasuturaga.
Fijiana captain Alfred Fisher said it was a tough one for them, but she was thankful to the players for staying in the game until the final whistle, her focus already on their second pool game against Scotland next weekend.
"Our defence and the yellow card," she said as the areas that let them down.
"I want to thank the girls for the effort. It was a tough match but it will be a good lesson for us. Scotland next week and then Wales.
"We are staying in the fight and playing until the last whistle.
"Our defence and our discipline," she added as areas they would need to work on.
Losing coach Ioan Cunningham congratulated Canada and said his side will need to review and go again.
"I am extremely proud of the players. We showed what we can do with the try that we scored," he said.
"We probably didn't put enough of those moments together, but congratulations to Canada. They showed why they are the second-best team in the world.
"We will have a good, honest review. All that matters is what we discuss within our team. We've got need to learn quickly and sort it out.
"Massive thank you to York. It's been awesome, we've had a great welcome. The support was excellent. We look forward to that in Manchester next week."
Winning Canadian captain Alex Tessier was happy with the result and what they were able to do, but pointed to their slow start in the first half as an area Canada would need to work on before meeting Wales next.
"That's a very good win for us. We remained in control," she stated after the game.
"That was our key points today; to retain the ball and be clinical in attack. We managed to stay composed throughout the game and then put a lot of points on the board. I think that's very satisfying for a start.
"The way we started, we got a little bit excited. Cleaning up those little extra offloads will be key [going forward]. We also need to remain disciplined in defence.
"We got penalised too many times, particularly in the first half. That's something to build on next week.
"We need to keep it one game at a time, switching our mindset to the Welsh team; that will be different to today."
Kevin Rouet, Canada's head coach, was satisfied.
"I'm very happy. It took a little bit of time, but I'm very happy with the way we finished the game also," he said.
"The games will be tougher and tougher. We won't unlock every team after 20 minutes, we know that. But we made a good performance and are very happy with 65 points.
"We will be working on the small details going forward, because a lot of people expect us to deliver. At some point, the players need to be relaxed with being one of the favourites.
"I think there was a lot of tension at the beginning of the game. If we trust ourselves, we are going to be able to win."
First half mistakes
Fijiana made a jittery start to their campaign, letting Canada control the first half with mistakes and giving away a number of critical penalties.
While Canada dominated the scrum battles, winning two tightheads, which later resulted in tries, the Fijians were not able to retain possession when they had that.
Knock-ons, being late in support play and in-decision at times denied them any real chance of breaking the Canadian line.
Fiji's scrum half Kolora Lomani passes the ball during the match between Canada and Fiji, which Canada won 65-7. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP
Canada's first half dominance saw them make 454 metres in the first 40 minutes, while Fijiana was forced to make 80 tackles in that spell.
The Canadians, ranked second in the world heading into the World Cup, claimed a tighthead from Fiji's first scrum feed inside the Fijian half, and the ensuing lineout that followed saw tall timber Sophie De Goede receive the ball from the lineout tap to run in unchallenged for the team's first try.
De Goede, somewhat similar to what former Wallabies captain John Eales used to do, was her team's first choice goalkicker and she converted her own try to give her side a 7-0 lead.
Canada's scrum dominance saw them claim another tighthead in the 10th minute before hooker claimed their second try in the game, diving over the ball from the base of a rolling maul, after another lineout win in the 15th minute.
While flyhalf Taylor Perry was off the field for 10 minutes from the 18th minute for a head contact, Fijiana attacked with ball in hand, but support players were too late to arrive at the breakdown as Canada won two turnovers.
Fijian captain Alfreda Fisher, number eight Manuqalo Komaitai, hooker Bitila Tawake, inside centre Josifini Neihamu and Jade Coates were involved with some moments of attacking for the side.
But Canada scored two more tries through flanker Caroline Crossley and winger Alysha Corrigan, with De Goede's conversion of Crossley's try giving the side a 24-0 lead at half-time.
Canada dominates
Fijiana started the second half showing their flair and scored a try in the end.
Two minutes in, inside centre Josifini Neihamu broke through the Canadian line from within the Fijiana's 22 metres and sent skipper Fisher onwards before an in pass to replacement Kolora Lomani, who ran 10 metres to score.
Fullback Litiana Vueti converted as Canada led 24-7.
The try gave the Fijians renewed energy, with fans cheering from the grandstand at the York Community Stadium.
But a loose ball in the 49th minute gave the opportunity to counter, with Schell finishing off with her first try of the match.
The Schell show continued in that half with five more tries.
The Canadians rounded off their try-scoring spree with replacement Karen Paquin powering over from a driving maul, and captain Tessier's conversion gave them a big enough cushion to lead the points table ahead of Scotland, who defeated Wales in the first pool match earlier on Sunday morning.
