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Canada closed out their International Women’s Rugby Series with a dominant 45-5 win over Australia on Saturday. The seven-try performance gives Canada a boost in their last hit-out before the World Cup kicks off on August 9. Competitive matches against the top two seeds, England and New Zealand, will see Canada enter the flagship tournament as the third-ranked team in the world and a side very much capable of challenging for the biggest prize on offer.
Fullback Julianne Zussman led the way with two tries. Five players landed singles with Mary-Jane Kirby, Frédérique Rajotte, Emily Belchos, Brianna Miller, and Kelly Russell all touching down. Magali Harvey’s converted five of the scores while Hilisha Samoa collected the only points for Australia.
The Wallaroos were overwhelmed in the scrum and struggled with ball handling en route to a 26-0 deficit at halftime. Replacement prop Samoa finally got Australia on the board as she dove over for an early second-half score but that would be all her team could muster against a resolute Canadian defense.
Canada now returns home to recover with a final World Cup squad to be named next month.
SCORING
AUSTRALIA 5
Tries – H. Samoa
Yellow cards – C. Campbell
CANADA 45
Tries – M. Kirby, J. Zussman 2, F. Rajotte, E. Belchos, B. Miller, K. Russell
Cons – M. Harvey 5
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA
1 Violeta Tupuola, 2 Cheyenne Campbell (capt.), 3 Evelyn Horomia, 4 Rebecca Clough, 5 Millie Boyle, 6 Kiri Lingman, 7 Chloe Butler, 8 Victoria Latu, 9 Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10 Fenella Hake, 11 Natasha Haines, 12 Kayla Sauvao, 13 Sarah Riordan, 14 Nareta Marsters, 15 Samantha Treherne
Replacements: 16 Liz Patu, 17 Hilisha Samoa, 18 Hana Ngaha, 19 Alisha Hewett, 20 Grace Hamilton, 21 Katrina Barker, 22 Huia Swannell, 23 Ashleigh Hewson
CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen, 2 Mary-Jane Kirby, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Kayla Mack, 5 Laura Russell, 6 Jacey Grusnick, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Kelly Russell (capt.), 9 Lori Josephson, 10 Emily Belchos, 11 Frédérique Rajotte, 12 Amanda Thornborough, 13 Brittany Waters, 14 Magali Harvey, 15 Julianne Zussman
Replacements: 16 Brittany Kassil, 17 Olivia DeMerchant, 18 Tyson Beukeboom, 19 Cindy Nelles, 20 Barb Mervin, 21 Chelsea Guthrie, 22 Alex Tessier, 23 Brianna Miller
