RWC 2025 Semi Final: Canada vs New Zealand – ARN Guide

A spot in the World Cup Final is up for grabs on Friday when Canada takes on the defending champion New Zealand Black Ferns. What might once have been considered a challenge too great for the Maple Leafs to overcome is now a very realistic proposition. Whatever happens at Ashton Gate, fans are sure to be treated by the highest level of rugby the tournament has to offer.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 2 (90.13 points)
2025-09-06 – Scotland 19, Canada 40 (Exeter)
2025-08-30 – Wales 0, Canada 42 (Manchester)
2025-08-23 – Canada 65, Fiji 7 (York)
2025-08-09 – Ireland 26, Canada 47 (Belfast)
2025-08-01 – Canada 42, USA 10 (Ottawa)

 Current World Ranking: 3 (88.76 points)
2025-09-13 – New Zealand 46, South Africa 17 (Exeter)
2025-09-07 – New Zealand 40, Ireland 0 (Brighton)
2025-08-31 – New Zealand 62, Japan 19 (Exeter)
2025-08-24 – New Zealand 54, Spain 8 (York)
2025-07-12 – New Zealand 37, Australia 12 (Wellington)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

	IN	OUT
	none	none

	IN	OUT
3	Tanya Kalounivale	Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
7	Kennedy Tukuafu	Jorja Miller
9	Risi Pouri-Lane	Maia Joseph
12	Sylvia Brunt	Theresa Setefano

NOTES

• New Zealand has dominated the head-to-head matchup, winning the first 17 contests… but that streak ended in 2024 when Canada won in Christchurch and the two sides were dead even at the same venue in May during the Pacific Four
• this will be the first time in World Cup competition that Canada will be ranked higher than New Zealand… the Black Ferns in each of 1991, 2006, and 2017
• there are no changes to the Canadian lineup this week with an identical match day 23 to the one that defeated Australia in last week’s quarter final
• the Black Ferns have been hit by injury to star flanker Jorja Miller, having previously lost midfielder Amy du Plessis during the pool stage… also out is reserve lock Laura Bayfield
• Kennedy Tukuafu takes the place of Miller while Sylvia Brunt is recalled in the midfield… other changes see Tanya Kalounivale back in at tighthead prop and Risi Pouri-Lane starting at scrumhalf
• New Zealand’s co-captain and star flyhalf Ruahei Demant will be celebrating her 50th test appearance on Friday… becoming just the third player to reach that milestone with the Black Ferns… the other two are former teammates Fiao’o Fa’amausili (57 caps) and Kendra Cocksedge (68 caps)
• the Black Ferns feature the tournament’s leading point scorer in winger Braxton Sorensen-Magee, who also leads in tries scored… fullback Renee Holmes is second in points
• third on the list of points scored is Sophie de Goede… the Canadian star leads the tournament in ball carries, offloads, conversions kicked, and lineout wins

QUOTES

Kévin Rouet (Head Coach)

“We have shown over the past two years that we are one of the best teams in the world, and our last two results against New Zealand support that. We have every reason to believe that we can win this game. On Friday, we take another step toward the ultimate goal we have been building toward over our first four games and the last three years. It will be a short week of preparation, but the team will be ready.”

Allan Bunting (Head Coach)

“We are looking forward to this weekend and the challenge ahead, we are a different team, our game is in a different place and we have experience in pinnacle events under pressure.”

PREDICTION

Mild temperatures and calm skies should set the stage for an all-time classic contest. While New Zealand are perhaps not quite at the levels we have seen in the past, the only gray mark on their record this year was the draw to the Maple Leafs in May. The loss of Miller though is significant, and the psychological advantage once held over the Canadians is gone. It’s been a superb showing from Kévin Rouet’s side so far, with many calling them the form team of the tournament. Giving the Black Ferns the title of ‘underdogs’ seems inappropriate, and indeed the bookies are giving them the benefit of the doubt. On this occasion we’ll opt for a different assessment. Canada are slight favorites in Bristol.

TEAMS

CANADA
1 McKinley Hunt, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Sophie de Goede, 5 Courtney O’Donnell, 6 Caroline Crossley, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Fabiola Forteza, 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Taylor Perry, 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester, 12 Alex Tessier (capt.), 13 Florence Symonds, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Julia Schell

Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Laetitia Royer, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa

NEW ZEALAND
1 Chryss Viliko, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Tanya Kalounivale, 4 Maia Roos, 5 Alana Bremner, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Kennedy Tukuafu (capt.), 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9 Risi Pouri-Lane, 10 Ruahei Demant, 11 Portia Woodman, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 13 Stacey Waaka, 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 15 Renee Holmes

Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Kate Henwood, 18 Amy Rule, 19 Chelsea Bremner, 20 Layla Sae, 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Theresa Setefano, 23 Ayesha Leti-I’iga

MATCH INFO

Date: Friday, September 19
Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kickoff: 19:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 14:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 64°F (18°C), wind S 6-8mph (9-13km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN 1 (Canada), Paramount+ (USA), RugbyPass TV

OFFICIALS

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistants: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (19): New Zealand 17, Canada 1, Draw 1
2025-05-17 – New Zealand 27, Canada 27 (Christchurch)
2024-05-19 – New Zealand 19, Canada 22 (Christchurch)
2023-07-08 – Canada 21, New Zealand 52 (Ottawa)
2022-06-12 – New Zealand 28, Canada 0 (Auckland)
2019-06-28 – Canada 20, New Zealand 35 (Chula Vista)
2017-08-17 – Canada 5, New Zealand 48 (Dublin)
2017-06-09 – New Zealand 28, Canada 16 (Wellington)
2016-11-23 – Canada 10, New Zealand 20 (Dublin)
2015-06-27 – Canada 22, New Zealand 40 (Calgary)
2014-06-14 – New Zealand 33, Canada 21 (Whakatane)