Canada’s head coach, Kevin Rouet, has decided to make three adjustments to the starting lineup for the quarterfinal clash against Australia in the Rugby World Cup in England on Saturday. The alterations see Courtney O’Donnell and Caroline Crossley taking up positions in the second row and back row, respectively, with Fabiola Forteza moving to No. 8. Tyson Beukeboom and Gabby Senft will begin the match on the bench.
Alysha Corrigan, who had started in Canada’s initial two matches of the tournament, will replace Paige Farries on the wing.
Rouet has opted for a split of 6 forwards and 2 backs on the bench, with Olivia Apps and Shoshanah Seumanutafa representing the sole backs.
Canada, ranked second, emerged as the winners of Pool B after securing victories against Fiji (65-7), Wales (42-0), and Scotland (40-19).
Meanwhile, Australia finished as the runners-up in Pool A, following wins against Samoa (73-0), a draw with the U.S. (31-31), and a loss to England (47-7).
Rouet expressed satisfaction with Canada’s pool stage performance, stating, “Our goal coming into the World Cup was to finish on top of our pool and we did that.” He emphasized the need to shift focus towards the knockout stage, highlighting the team’s progress and preparation for the upcoming challenge.
The Canadian starting lineup boasts a collective total of 518 caps, with key players like captain Alex Tessier, prop DaLeaka Menin, and Courtney O’Donnell contributing 179 caps. The bench strength of eight players adds a further 330 caps, with Tyson Beukeboom aiming to extend her record of 81 caps for Canada.
Canada holds a perfect 7-0-0 record against Australia, with their most recent encounter resulting in a 45-7 victory in May during the Pacific Four Series in Brisbane.
Australia’s Tabua Tuinakauvadra acknowledged Canada’s growth as a formidable opponent, stating, “We’re a much different team from the start of the year and much more capable of taking on those bigger teams than the public think we are.”
The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the Ashton Gate Stadium, with the winner set to face either New Zealand or South Africa in the semifinals on September 19, also in Bristol.