VANCOUVER — Canada's women's rugby team appeared poised to do the impossible Saturday — beat England.
Midway through the second half of their WXV matchup, Canada's Alex Tessier slipped through England's line, darted up the field and slid in to touch. She then sent a kick soaring through the uprights to put Canada up 12-7.
The lead didn't last, but the experience will.
England — who sit atop the world rankings — came back to defeat the Canadians 21-12 in the international tournament's finale, and win its second straight title.
The game will provide crucial lessons for Canada as it prepares for next year's World Cup in England, said captain Tyson Beukeboom.
“I think the biggest takeaway is that we can compete with the top team in the world. I think we really challenged them. I think there was moments where they were very, very worried," she said. "Today, it wasn't our day. But the plan is it will be when it counts the most.”
England went undefeated across the tournament and now have 20 straight victories. The squad has not lost since falling to New Zealand in the World Cup final back in November 2022.
The world No. 2 Canadians finished with a 2-1-0 record after earlier wins over fourth-ranked France and No. 6 Ireland.
For head coach Kevin Rouet, the three-week-long tournament showed the strengths of his team.
“We learned we have depth in our squad. That’s the beauty at the moment," he said.
“We just need more time. And when we get these times, I think we're going to go the right direction.”
Time together has been hard to come by for the Canadians.
While they've spent about five weeks together preparing for and playing in WXV this fall, the group won't reunite for about six months, Rouet said. In the meantime, players will return to their professional clubs.
"That's the tough part of being Canada, doing Canada rugby. We can't see each other every day. We don't have this luxury," the coach said. "So we know we have to be on point, every day matters for us. So the more they were going to be together, it's going to be great.”
England is a fully professional side and has spent about 11 weeks together for WXV.
Winning the title again is great, said captain Marlie Packer, but it's simply a step in the team's journey.
“Our ambition is to win that World Cup and beyond, to leave a legacy and do it for the girls," she said. "And look, there's a lot of rugby to play from here until then. And for us as a group, it's about growing and keeping attacking in everything we do.”
Canada opened the scoring in the fourth minute Saturday after Justine Pelletier picked the ball out of a pile ahead of the goal line. She was taken down, but found room to turn and touch, giving the home side an early 5-0 lead.
The Red Roses were quick to respond with a drive up the field.
Alex Matthews collected the ball out of the scrum and sprinted up to the line, where Canada held her off. But the visitors regrouped and Maud Muir powered through traffic for a try. Helena Rowland hit the conversion and England went up 7-5 in the 10th minute.
The two sides then settled in for defensive battle.
A strong defence was part of Canada's game plan, said Tessier.
“I think we just stayed connected, we were composed and connected, and we knew that, like if we applied pressure, they would give the ball back to us," the centre said.
“I think the look in their eyes, sometimes at times they were looking for solutions. I think that's a small win for us.”
England held a 7-5 advantage heading into halftime, but trouble brewed for the Red Roses early in the second frame.
Ellie Killdune was sent to the box in the 44th minute after Canada's Pamphinette Buisa was taken out as she sprinted down the field. The Canadians struggled at first to make use of the advantage, but continued grinding.
Tessier put Canada ahead with a try and a conversion in the 51st minute, but Bern restored England's lead in the 67th minute, breaking a Canadian tackle on the goal line and stretching over to touch. Rowland's conversion was good and the Red Roses went up 14-12.
Aldcroft sealed the victory with a try in the 81st minute and Rowland put a final kick through the uprights before the horn sounded.
“I think we won ugly tonight, and sometimes you have to do that," said England coach John Mitchell. "That was a proper test match, and that's great for us.”
Earlier Saturday, New Zealand toppled France 39-14. Friday's match saw Ireland hand the eighth-ranked U.S. a 26-14 loss.
This year's WXV held a few upsets, including Ireland edging No. 3 New Zealand 29-27 in the first weekend of play.
The results show how women's rugby is growing across the globe, Mitchell said. While England may still sit atop the standings, other nations are catching up quickly.
“It might not be closing mathematically, but it's certainly closing in terms of the way people are playing and the way people are being coached," he said. "So they're all getting better. I think, for us, our challenge is to get better, too.”
Now in its second year, the WXV is a three-tiered tournament, with teams in the top division coming from the top three finishers in the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and Women's Six Nations Championship (England, France and Ireland).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press