Huge Scotland effort as Canada win Pool B

Canada scored six tries to Scotland’s three, in a performance underpinned by huge efforts from captain Rachel Malcolm, Evie Gallagher, and Sarah Bonar who, on her 50th cap, led Scotland out of the tunnel.

Lisa Thomson kicked off at Sandy Park in Exeter and had the first touch for Scotland too, when she counter attacked from a Canadian clearance after the opening few phases. A physical opening exchange saw Canada nearly go in for the first try after nine minutes, but the final pass couldn’t be held by Florence Symonds and Scotland escaped.

The pick and drives quickly came after Canada won the resulting lineout on the 22. They showed good patience and eventually prop McKinley Hunt powered over from short range. Sophie de Goede showed little trouble in adding the extras. (Canada 7 – 0 Scotland, 11 mins)

Scotland showed good mettle though as they racked up phases from the restart. Winning three penalties on the trot, the away side bravely opted for lineouts camped on the Canadian try line. It looked to be third time lucky too as Bonar broke through only to be brought down a metre out. They won a fourth penalty and, opting to tap this time, worked the Canadian defence side to side. After several phases from the forwards, they went wide and Rollie got the final pass away to Rhona Lloyd, who dived over in the corner to open the scoring for Scotland. Thomson couldn’t add the extras from the touchline. (Canada 7 – 5 Scotland, 23 mins)

Canada battled back and a period of stoic Scottish defence resulted in a brilliant jackal penalty from Evie Gallagher and Thomson cleared the lines. Winning their own lineout in Scottish territory, Canada broke into the 22 and won a penalty from an offside Scot. A series of try-saving tackles held off the hosts on the cusp of the try line, before a Canadian knock on was celebrated wildly on the half hour mark by those wearing blue.

The TMO called on the referee though, and Gallagher was found to be off her feet at the breakdown on the tryline. She received a yellow card, and the decision was reversed. Canada opted for a scrum and got a huge shove on. Scotland dragged the scrum down and referee Barrett-Theron had no choice but to give a penalty try. (Canada 14 – 5 Scotland, 31 mins)

Thomson’s restart was too long and went out on the full. Off the back of the scrum on halfway, Canada went blindside with a player advantage and reached all the way to the 22. Leia Brebner-Holden made three desperate tackles in a row, but the speed of the recycling was too fast, and Emily Tuttosi crashed over for Canada’s third try. De Goede couldn’t add the conversion this time. (Canada 19 – 5 Scotland, 34 mins)

Canada pressurised fullback Chloe Rollie, turning her around to collect a kick, and forced her into a rushed offload to Thomson, which was knocked on inside the Scottish 22. The scrum was good for the home side, but they couldn’t break through – throwing a forward pass with two minutes on the clock in the first half, and Scotland went into the break 14 points down.

Half time: Canada 19 – 5 Scotland

A dart from Fran McGhie on halfway saw the away side earn the first line break of the half and ultimately, Scotland earned a penalty, but Nelson couldn’t find touch. Canada broke downfield with the resulting counter attack, but they couldn’t regather their own kick and knocked on.

Following a scrum on the Canadian 40m line, Evie Gallagher broke the line on the edge of the Canadian 22, skipped one, then two tackles, and scampered away to score Scotland’s second try of the match. Nelson nailed the conversion too, and Scotland were just a score behind the home side. (Canada 19 – 12 Scotland, 52 mins)

Canada bit back quickly, and won a penalty for a side entry – allowing the team in white to set their camp on the Scottish 5m line. The maul went down quickly and Tuttosi came off the back, running in untouched to nick the home side’s fourth (and bonus point) try of the afternoon. De Goede nailed the extras this time from wide left. (Canada 26 – 12 Scotland, 57 mins)

Rollie won a penalty after putting fullback Julia Schell under pressure when returning a Scottish kick. She was caught holding on and Nelson kicked to 10 metres from the Canadian line, with a quarter left to play. The throw was long and into the grateful arms on Nelson, who blew through three would-be tacklers, weaving inside and out – and scored Scotland’s third try of the afternoon.

Referee Barrett-Theron was called over to look at the big screen though, and Nelson was found to be offside when the lineout was thrown, and the try scrapped.

Canada made the most of that momentum shift and won a penalty just inside Scottish territory. The resulting kick to touch was a peach. Once more the drive came and after six phases, replacement prop Brittany Kassil bundled over for the fifth Canadian try. De Goede nailed the extras. (Canada 33 – 12 Scotland, 65 mins)

Canada won a scrum penalty with 12 minutes on the clock and Alex Tessier again nailed the kick to the corner, but the set piece was fumbled, and Scotland tried their hand at an attack from their try line. McGhie and Rollie, then Lloyd made scything breaks through the tiring Canadian defence. A third break, from Lloyd, saw the Scots inside the 22, but her pass to Rollie was just short and knocked on. Under penalty advantage, Scotland breached the 22 once more and McGhie picked a brilliant line to receive a pop pass from Mattinson and dove over for Scotland’s third try of the match – her sixth of the tournament. Nelson added the extras from under the posts. (Canada 33 – 19 Scotland, 75 mins)

A clever kick over the top saw Scotland desperately scramble the ball into touch, but the home side made the most of the lineout, flicking the ball to Olivia DeMerchant, who scampered over from close range to push the scoreline out once more. Tessier added the extras with a minute on the clock. (Canada 40 – 19 Scotland, 79 mins)

Tessier ended the match by booting the ball into the stands after the siren sounded.

Full time: Canada 40 – 19 Scotland

Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie (Toulon Provence Méditerranée), 14. Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), 13. Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), 12. Lisa Thomson, 11. Francesca McGhie (both Trailfinders Women); 10. Helen Nelson (vice-captain), 9. Leia Brebner-Holden (both Loughborough Lightning); 1. Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks), 2. Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), 3. Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester Hartpury), 4. Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women), 5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) (Trailfinders Women), 7. Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), 8. Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears).

Replacements: 16. Elis Martin (for Skeldon, 52 mins), 17. Anne Young (both Loughborough Lightning) (for Bartlett, 63 mins) 18. Molly Poolman (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby) (for Cockburn, HIA, 23 mins), 19. Jade Konkel (Harlequins) (for Bonar, 57 mins), 20. Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks) (for Wassell, 66 mins), 21. Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) (for McLachlan, 57 mins), 22. Caity Mattinson (Trailfinders Women) (for Brebner-Holden, 57 mins), 23. Evie Wills (Sale Sharks) (for Nelson, HIA, 18 mins).

Canada: 15. Julia Schell, 14. Paige Farries, 13. Florence Symonds, 12. Alex Tessier, 11. Asia Hogan-Rochester; 10. Taylor Perry, 9. Justine Pelletier. 1. McKinley Hunt, 2. Emily Tuttosi, 3. DaLeaka Menin, 4. Sophie de Goede, 5. Tyson Beukeboom, 6. Fabiola Forteza, 7. Karen Paquin, 8. Gabrielle Senft.

Replacements: 16. Gillian Boag, 17. Brittany Kassil, 18. Olivia DeMerchant, 19. Laetitia Royer, Courtney O’Donnell, Caroline Crossley, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

Match Officials:
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
AR1: Ella Goldsmith (ARU)
AR2: Maria Heitor (POR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (ARU)

Mastercard player of the match: Emily Tuttosi (CAN).

Crowd: 15,600