Women’s Rugby World Cup: Wins for France and Scotland in Pool C

from Scrumqueens:

Scotland 32 Sweden 5

By Kate Clements

Scotland will be relieved to have secured their opening win in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. They started positively with an early break through the middle from Erin Kerr, which looked like a certain try, but for a dropped pass. Shortly after a Scotland maul from the lineout lead to the opening try from Donna Kennedy.

Kerr and Millard made up for their previous missed opportunity with a carbon copy break from the fly half who drew in the full back before passing to Millard who touched down. Nicola Halfpenny converted.

Scotland continued to have the best of the scoring opportunities. An almost certain try from right wing Katy Green was well held up by Swedish full back Jessica Melin. It was however, a short stay of execution as Donna Kennedy scored from the resulting scrum; an area in which Scotland were showing dominance.

Sweden’s one attacking period of the first half came at the very end when they persistently threatened the Scottish line demonstrating some of the skills that are making them a potent threat.

Fly half Ulrika Anderssonn-Hall and right wing Charlotta Westin-Vines proved to be particularly handy. However, the Scottish defence and their ability to turn over the Swedish ruck meant the score remained 20-0 at half time.

Scotland started the second half with seemingly greater confidence. Kerr, who was an attacking threat all game, once again set up a try, which was well finished by Green, giving Scotland the much needed bonus point.

The next try came from a Kerr chip that was gathered by Millard who sprinted in under the posts. The try was converted by Halfpenny.

A long attacking period followed for Sweden in which they continually threatened the Scottish line, eventually crossing after a great break from the centre pairing that resulted in a well deserved try for Johanna Norberg.

The momentum remained with Sweden who had a further try attempt denied when the ball was held up.

France  23   Canada 8

This was always going to be a battle between two very evenly matched sides but France made the better start with some scything runs very early on. It took a really good hit from Canada’s Mandy Marchak on her opposite number Sandrine Agricole  to stop a try after just two minutes but France persisted to push their way through and they were rewarded when Lucille Godiveau crashed over out side after some fine buildup play.

Anna Schnell and Auriele Bailon then traded penalties but it was all France up front as their organised pack made really good headway. Canada looked rattled by the early pressure and they fell further behind when a try from Cyrielle Bouisset came after a series of attacks in their 22.

It was a stop start game not helped by referee Dana Teagarden’s blowing what seemed like every set-piece and breakdown but Canada pulled themselves together and launched an attack on the France tryline,

After they were held up over the line French Sandrine Agricole was binned and the Canadians made the right call opting for a scrum when they were awarded a penalty with their outstanding number 8 Kelly Russell crashing over to bring them back into the match.

The extra player seemed to give Canada a bit more belief as they finished the half on the attack.

After the break though France started strongly again with an early try from flanker Amandine Vaupre after Canada simply failed to clear their lines.

Canada were well in the match but the penalty count against them was on the rise and their hands let them down frustratingly at crucial moments. The game was scrappy with Teagarden just refusing to let anything go and it was hugely trying for both players and fans to have the game stopped so often.

Canada were battling though and should have scored after dominating possession for a ten minute period only for a dropped ball with the line at their mercy to end the attack. Russell was impressing as her side tried to get back into the match but the clock was against them as the French senses that victory was in their sights.

France then made sure of the win with a bonus point try from Godiveau as they secured their semi-final spot and made Canada sweat it out for the remaining matches.

Agonisingly Canada then had to watch Australia rack up a cricket score against South Africa and see their own semi-final hopes go out the window.