Gary Heatly at Sandy Park
Scotland 19 Canada 40
Scotland have finished up as runners-up in Pool B and will face Pool A winners England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup last eight next Sunday in Bristol after defeat to Canada on Saturday.
The second in the world Canadians won the group decider 40-19 at Exeter’s Sandy Park and while sixth in the standings Scotland pushed them at times the victors were just slicker and more clinical when they needed to be.
The game got off to a tight start, but a couple of handling errors and a couple of kicks that went straight out on the full stopped the Scots gaining any momentum.
In the 10th minute, Canada looked like they were going to take the lead, but centre Florence Symonds could not take what would have the scoring pass.
Two minutes later they did take the lead though when loosehead prop McKinley Hunt went over for a try from short range. Sophie de Goede, the second-row, converted and it was 7-0 to Canada.
Scotland bounced back well with some nice attacking phases and they won a penalty which stand-off Helen Nelson kicked to touch in the Canada 22.
They then had a couple of chances and winger Rhona Lloyd probably should have scored out wide, but the pass did not come quickly enough from full-back Chloe Rollie and it also went forward.
Tighthead prop Lisa Cockburn and Nelson then clashed heads with the latter going off for an HIA with Evie Wills coming on for a World Cup debut.
The Scottish attacking did continue and, in the 23rd minute after 50-cap second-row Sarah Bonar had gone close and patience was shown, back-row Rachel McLachlan and Rollie put Lloyd in at the corner. Centre Lisa Thomson could not convert and it was 7-5.
Cockburn was then forced off belatedly for an HIA with Molly Poolman coming on for a World Cup debut. Nelson then returned to proceedings.
Just after the half hour mark, Canada looked sure to score their second try, but great defence on the five metre line by Scotland saw their opposition knock it on.
However, the referee and the TMO looked at it again and No.8 Evie Gallagher was yellow carded for illegal play at the breakdown.
From the resultant scrum, Canada were awarded a penalty try.
Two minutes later, after a mistake at the restart by Scotland, they bagged their third try after some nice hands, hooker Emily Tuttosi scoring this one. It was not converted and it was 19-5.
It was then confirmed that Cockburn would not return after failing her HIA.
Scotland then held out with 14 players until half-time and it was 19-5 at the break.
They were back up to 15 after the interval and winger Francesca McGhie had a great early break to try and spark something before a poor penalty kick by Nelson did not make touch.
In the 44th minute, McGhie then had another good break before a high tackle by opposite number Paige Farries, but again the penalty opportunity was not used as well as it could have been.
Gallagher then ran a great line to get Scotland right back into things in the 52nd minute, the Bristol Bear showing excellent pace to run in from 30 metres. Nelson converted and it was 19-12.
Elis Martin then came on for Lana Skeldon at hooker and the game was in the balance.
Canada then got a crucial fourth try, the bonus point one, as a good lineout drive then saw Tuttosi burst through for her second try. De Goede converted and it was 26-12.
On the hour mark a long lineout over the top then found Nelson and she weaved in for a try, but it was quickly ruled out by the referee and the TMO for the stand-off being offside.
Brittany Kassil, the replacement front-row, then scored Canada’s sixth try to kill the game off with de Goede converting for 33-12.
There was still time for McGhie to score her sixth try of the competition and the Scots did not give up, but sub Olivia DeMerchant finished things off for Canada with skipper Alex Tessier converting that try.
The game finished 40-19 and Scotland will now dust themselves down ahead of the knock-out stages.
- England beat Australia on Saturday evening while USA and Fiji also had wins on the day. It means Scotland will face England at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol next Sunday, September 14 at 4pm in the quarter-finals and it will be live on BBC One.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Lisa Cockburn, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
Canada: Julia Schell; Paige Farries, Florence Symonds, Alex Tessier (C), Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom, Fabiola Forteza, Karen Paquin, Gabrielle Senft. Subs: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia DeMerchant, Laetitia Royer, Courtney O’Donnell, Caroline Crossley, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.
Scorers:
Scotland: Tries: Lloyd, Gallagher, McGhie. Conversion: Nelson 2.
Canada: Tries: Hunt, penalty try (seven points), Tuttosi 2, Kassil, DeMerchant. Conversions: De Goede 3, Tessier.
Yellow cards: Gallagher (Scotland).
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron.
Player of the match: Emily Tuttosi (Canada).
Scotland-Canada is pictured
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.