Canada may have scored 17 unanswered points in a devastating opening 24 minute-burst, but for the players on the pitch it was their work without the ball that set up Friday night’s historic semi-final win over New Zealand.
“The defensive focus was huge this week,” try-scorer, kicker and all-round superstar second-row Sophie de Goede said after the match.
“Our attack has been firing all tournament so we put trust in our ability to fire in attack, but we knew we needed to do a big job on defence, keeping getting out and putting pressure on them and I think that’s why you saw that result.”
Any coach will swiftly identify discipline as a critical cog in a successful defence. And the women in red will no doubt have had their top dog Kevin Rouet purring, as they finished the first half without conceding a single penalty – before ending the match with just four to their names, compared to 10 conceded by the two-time defending champions.
“Honestly, it was huge,” full-back Julia Schell said of the first-half effort. “I obviously have such a great view of how our front-line defends, and it’s so impressive seeing when they pick their moments to go for the ball. The decision-making, especially around the breakdown today, was amazing.”
That gave the platform for the likes of fellow back-three flier, Asia Hogan-Rochester to do what they do best.
“As a winger, I see a lot of the field and everything that’s happening in the middle of the field, and every time I looked up, there was so much space ahead of me,” the Paris 2024 Olympic sevens silver medallist said.
“When we scored twice within the first 10 minutes, I think it really set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Sat in the changing room 24-7 ahead and with a first final in 11 years so close, the instructions were simple.
“At half-time, the message was to just keep it ‘Canadian’,” Hogan-Rochester said. “That basically means just continuing to be brave, continuing to play with the flair that we have, and sticking to our plan.”
They did just that and now this tight-knit team is standing on the precipice of becoming the first Canadians to claim a Rugby World Cup title. All despite the fact the nation does not yet boast a domestic women’s set-up to rival those at the very top, and even launched a pre-tournament mission to fundraise one million Canadian dollars.
“We’ve defied the odds over and over again and that has a way of bringing you together, propelling you forward and fostering that knowledge in the group that we can overcome anything,” de Goede said. “I think you saw that today against the six-time champion Black Ferns team and I am very proud that we were able to do that.”
But they are not done inspiring those back home just yet.
“We have one more job left to do for you guys,” de Goede said to all those supporting the Canadian dream. “We are going to do everything we can to prepare this week to make you all proud back home. Words can’t express how much we appreciate your support.”