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Written by RUGBYMag.com News Release
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 00:01 |
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Canada Slams South Africa in Women's Nation's Cup |
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Canada -
Women
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Canada ran away with a heavy 52-17 victory against South Africa on the first day of Nations Cup competition, in Oakville, Ontario Tuesday.
Canada stepped on to the pitch for the first time since the 2010 World Cup, and did so after announcing a last-minute change. Ottawa’s Marie Bosco was added to the reserves bench, due to a minor injury flare-up with Cheryl Phillips.
From the beginning, it appeared that Canada’s speed across the field was going to be difficult for their opposition to contain, as Edmonton’s Jen Kish, who was standing in as Canada’s No. 8 during offensive scrums, was a constant threat and kept Canada on the front foot for most of the game.
“We are blessed with two great No. 8s,” said Head Coach John Tait. “Jenn has the ability and speed to get out and attack the other team’s backline, so we have enjoyed seeing what she can do in those situations. She was great today in both attack and defense.”
After an early Canadian try, the South Africans were able to claw their way back to a 7-6 scoreline, but that was as close as the match would get. A steady stream of quick ball with ample support runners began to see Canada widen the gap. Despite often heroic South African tackles, the Canadians began a parade to the try line.
The real story of this match was the impact of Canada’s 7s internationals. Names like Kish, Russell, Marchak, Burk and Landry were threats whenever they touched the ball; Landry herself notching three of Canada’s tries, with electric turns of pace.
"Overall I was very happy with our set piece, and I thought the overall team performance really improved in the second half,” said Tait. “One exciting thing was that the new caps really stood out. I thought Kayla Mack did great work around the park and showed she deserved to be out there. Kelly Russell really had a Captain’s performance out there as well."
As pleased as the Canadian management was with the team’s accomplishments, they are under no illusions about the path ahead of them in this competition.
“We are going to have to be a little more aware of where we are on the field in the future, and tighten up our kick chase,” Tait added. “We are only going to get so many opportunities from here on in at this tournament, so we will have to make sure we take them when they arrive."
The Canadian women will now rest up for their match on Day #2 of the Nations Cup, against the USA in Chatham, Ont. on Friday. The Americans pushed England to the extreme limit in their Day #1 match, losing a heartbreaker 15-11.
Final Score: Canada (52) - South Africa (17)
Canadian Lineup
1. Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid (Club de Rugby de Quebec) Quebec City, PQ
2. Kim Donaldson (Burnaby Lake) Vancouver, BC
3. Corinne Jacobsen (Burnaby Lake) Vancouver, BC
4. Maria Jaworski (Calgary Hornets) Calgary, AB
5. Danielle Rowlands (Kirin RFC / Calgary Hornets) Colonsay, SK
6. Kayla Mack (Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK
7. Jen Kish (Lep Tigers) Edmonton, AB
8. Kelly Russell (Capt.) (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
9. Laura Stoughton (Calgary Irish) Calgary, AB
10. Julia Sugawara (Burnaby Lake) Surrey, BC
11. Jessica Dovanne (Velox Valkyries) Victoria, BC
12. Mandy Marchak (Capilano) Winnipeg, MB
13. Brittany Waters (Meraloma) Vancouver, BC
14. Andrea Burk (Capilano North) Vancouver, BC
15. Ghislaine Landry (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON
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16. Jessica Belchos (Markham Irish) Innisfil, ON
17. Brandi Van Eeuwen (Cowichan) Duncan, BC
18. Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
19. Shannon Kane (Capilano) Victoria, BC
20. Arielle Dubissette-Borrice (Toronto Nomads) Ajax, ON
21. Julianne Zussman (Town of Mount Royal RFC) Montreal, PQ
22. Marie Bosco (Ottawa Irish) Ottawa, ON
Staff:
Head Coach: John Tait
Assistant Coach: Sandro Fiorino
Team Manager: Penny Delaney
Press Officer: Jeff Hull
Athletic Therapist: Jason White
Athletic Therapist: Darren Wharrie
South Africa
1. Nedene Botha
2. Denita Wentzel
3. Cebisa Kula
4. Dolly Mavumengwana
5. Nolusindiso Booi
6. Lamla Momoti
7. Mandisa Williams (Capt.)
8. Namhla Siyolo
9. Fundiswa Plaatjie
10. Zenay Jorsaan
11. Natasha Hofmeester
12. Daphne Scheepers
13. Ziyanda Tywaleni
14. Phumeza Gadu
15. Pulane Motloung
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16. Pulane Motloung
17. Laurian Johannes
18. Onicca Moaga
19. Nomathamsanqa Faleni
20. Nwabisa Ngxatu
21. Janine Felix
22. Yolanda Meiring
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 19:43 |
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USA Women So Close to England Win |
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National Teams -
USA Women
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A heartbreaker of a match evolved during the Women's Nations Cup this evening, and it's the USA that's left lamenting. After overtaking England 8-5 early in the second half (thanks to a Vix Folayan try), surrending the lead shortly afterward (10-8), Pam Kosanke slotted the go-ahead penalty for the 11-10 edge.
From there, the USA just needed to hold on for about 10 minutes. The Eagle defense had done a good job of slowing down the ball and stealing possession at the breakdown, frustrating England's attempts at quick ball. They were able to steal a couple of lineouts and drive the Roses' mauls back behind the gainline. On several occasions, the Eagles made a static puncher pay for their flat feet, and the defense worked at a pretty high rate.
The Roses had their chances throughout the match, as fullback Danielle Waterman carved up some open space and vice captain Maggie Alphonsi broke through the line at pace. But flankers Lynelle Kugler and Shaina Turley, and the back three were able to halt a few tries from being realized.
It wasn't all USA aggression, however, that allowed the Eagles to take the lead late into the game. Both teams were heavily penalized at the breakdown, and it's a miracle that no one was yellow carded. Kosanke was better on the day hitting penalties, while England captain Katy McLean missed all of her conversion and penalty attempts.
It's uncertain how England's final try evolved, as the Rugby Canada feed dropped as the Roses were attacking inside USA's 22 meter. USA WNT coach Pete Steinberg said that the referee added an extra six minutes of play, and the go-ahead points occured on the final play of the game. England won 15-11.
Even though the USA was so close to pulling off a fantastic upset victory, the performance was incredibly inspiring for viewers, who saw the Americans follow through on their goals, namely, an intense defense. It's one of the closest games that the Eagles have played against England, and they should be incredibly proud of their effort.
More detail to come as the players will shortly be released for interview.
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 21:35 |
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Magrini Reflects on USA's Narrow Defeat |
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National Teams -
USA Women
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Sometimes a loss is as a good as win. That's the case in the USA Women's 15-11 defeat to England this evening during the Women's Nations Cup. Although the sting of surrendering the lead on the last play of the game will linger for some time, the Eagles are pleased with their performance against the #2 team in the world.
"We're feeling good," USA captain Kim Magrini said an hour after the match. "We recovering from a physically and mentally difficult game, but this was a fantastic step in the direction we want to go, both in this tournament and our four-year World Cup cycle. I'm really proud of the team."
It was apparent that the USA was going to win this match with in-your-face defense, then hope that the back three could retaliate England's tactical kicking with some opportunistic counters. While the latter could use some work, wing Vix Folayan did make England pay for an ill-advised cross-kick deep in its zone, when the Roses also had advantage. She fielded the ball cleanly and showcased her incredible pace down the line, not to be deterred from the corner of the try zone. That five-pointer gave the USA their first lead of the game.
"We wanted to physically take it to them, to pressure and go forward on defense," Magrini said of the game plan. "England doesn't like it when we're that physical, and we knew that was an area we could dominate. We had individuals making great tackles and the team there to support them. We got even more than we asked for and set the tone."
Focusing on defense proved to be a smart tactic, because even though the Eagles were able to stand up some goal-line drives and turnover the ball in the breakdown, the USA didn't have the majority of possession. There were some offensive miscues, a dropped pass here or not-rolling-away penalty there, that cost the Eagles. That said, this squad has only had six days total (which includes a players camp earlier this summer) to become familiar with each other. None of the backline players have played beside each other on the 15s team.
A highlight of the match were flankers Lynelle Kugler and Shaina Turley, who were continually catching England forwards behind the gainline and smothering potential breakaways with excellent cover tackles.
"Lynelle is wonderful," Magrini said of her National U23 and World Cup teammate. "She belongs there; she brings a physical presence that we need."
The game that evolved was what the players needed, especially for those like Kugler, Magrini and six other teammates who remember the last time they saw England (39-10 loss at the Rugby World Cup).
"I try to come into games with a new plate, but you still have a reaction to the past," Magrini said. "Every time you play England, it's always a good, hard game, but we're usually on the wrong end of the outcome. Having been through that and played them four times - we didn't just stick with them for 30 minutes, or pressure them here or there; we competed with them - and that's different. We realized that at the half, and that gives you a different attitude toward the second half. We were there and beating them in areas of the game, and reflecting on that is really exciting. It's something new that we can build upon for the next three games and the long run."
So sometimes a loss is as a good as a win, because as far as this tournament is concerned, there now a sense of unfinished business from both England and USA, which could mean a very exciting rematch (to get ahead of oneself). The game was for the USA's taking, but a series of five-meter scrums to England into injury time finally broke the Eagles' backs, and a last-play, dive-over try snatched one of the greatest upsets the Eagles would have enjoyed in recent history.
And although Magrini admitted to "a sour taste in your mouth, having to end a game like that," she also retained perspective. "You can't dwell on outcomes," the captain advised. "We're picking apart what went well, looking at challenges ahead and how we can improve, but this is just the beginning. We're not supposed to be at peak performance right now."
Keeping that in mind, this evening's near-win against England was a confidence-boosting first step for the Eagles, and one only hopes it continues against Canada on Friday.
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 19:00 |
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USA Women Keep England Close at HT |
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National Teams -
USA Women
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At the half, the USA Women trail England 5-3 during the teams' first Nations Cup match.
The Eagles have held up their end of the bargain, promising stiff defense and following through. Although the percentage of first-up tackles could improve, the Eagles have been bursting off the line and pressuring England to kick behind the defense.
While the American back three haven't dropped any of the several clearing kicks that England's Katy McLean has sent into USA territory, the Eagles also haven't made the best decisions in the counterattack. One such misstep helped set up England's try in the second quarter. With several players in position for a kick, Vix Folayan's return landed in the arms of fullback Danielle Waterman, who sidestepped her way deep into USA territory. Quick ball from the ruck allowed McLean to outrace Lynelle Kugler to the try line for the 5-0 lead.
The USA was able to put some points on the board before half, when the Eagles stole an England lineout and then drew a penalty. Inside center Pam Kosanke hit a great sideline kick to pull within two, 5-3.
England had a couple of occasions to widen the lead, but fullback Sam Pankey did a good job coraling and stalling the poaching English defenders on a kick ahead, and the USA defense turned over the ball when England looked ready to punch the ball over.
The USA hasn't had a successful lineout yet but has stolen a couple of England's. The Eagle offense, however, has missed a couple of opportunities, whether through an errant pass or penalty.
Stay tuned for more detail.
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