The Prague Post - Canada end New Zealand's reign as world champions with superb semi win

The North Americans produced a superb opening 40 minutes, running in four tries to lead 24-7 at half-time as Justine Pelletier, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds and Sophie de Goede all crossed the Black Ferns' line.

Canada captain Alex Tessier added a fifth try early in the second half to seemingly put the result beyond doubt before New Zealand, who only had prop Tanya Kalounivale's try to show for their first-half efforts, hit back.

But the Black Ferns, the record six-time champions, had left themselves too much to do as their run of 18 successive wins at the World Cup since losing to Ireland 11 years ago ended in emphatic fashion.

Canada are now through to their second World Cup final, having lost to England in 2014.

Next week at Twickenham, they will play the winners of Saturday's second semi-final, also in Bristol, between tournament favourites England and France.

"That was crazy," Pelletier, the player of the match, told the BBC. "It's not just one game, it's a lot of hustle in the dark. Now we're in the light."

- 'One more job left' -

The outstanding De Goede said the team was not satisfied with simply making the final.

"I don't think we've gone and done it yet, we've got one more job left to do," she said.

"The Black Ferns are six-time world champions, we knew we had to put in an incredible performance today.

"Our attack has been firing all tournament, but we knew we had to do a big job in defence."

New Zealand captain Kennedy Tukuafu was left lamenting her side's errors, saying: "I think for us it came down to that discipline area, we weren't able to hold onto the ball to gain momentum.

"It was a tough game, they (Canada) are a good side and unfortunately it wasn't our day today."

Victory for Canada, second in the world rankings to New Zealand's third place, was their third successive undefeated match against the Black Ferns after a thrilling 27-27 draw in Christchurch in April followed their 22-19 win at the same venue last year.

And it took Canada, whose squad crowd-funded their way to this tournament under the banner of "Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025", just eight minutes to open the scoring when wing Alysha Corrigan found scrum-half Pelletier, who dummied the last defender and went over.

De Goede, Canada's goal-kicking lock, landed the conversion.

And just three minutes later, wing Hogan-Rochester shrugged off an attempted tackle by Black Ferns' full-back Renee Holmes before sprinting in.

Canada's defence forced New Zealand into into several uncharacteristic knock-ons and after several close-range rucks sucked in the cover defence, the ball was spun wide to centre Symonds to score a 24th-minute try.

De Goede's conversion hit the post but Canada were now 17-0 up.

Yet just two minutes after Canada's third try, the Black Ferns had their first when Kalounivale powered her way over from close range.

But five minutes before half-time, Canada deservedly had a fourth try when De Goede, from 25 metres out, stormed over between the posts following an excellent inside pass from Pelletier.

De Goede landed the easy conversion and Canada led 24-7 at the interval.

And they had another try in the 43rd minute when Tessier cut back to slide over the line.

Shortly before the hour mark, however, New Zealand flanker Liana Mikaele-Tu'u hit a line and powered over for a converted try.

The reinvigorated Black Ferns closed the gap still further through teenage wing sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee out wide on the flight following a cross-kick by fly-half Ruahei Demant.

Sorensen-McGee couldn't convert her own score, however, and Canada led 31-19 with 15 minutes left.

And any remaining Canada nerves were settled by De Goede's penalty six minutes from time.

M.Jelinek--TPP