Canada runs in eight tries in 50-20 rugby win over Springbok women in Pretoria
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team Dominates South Africa in 50-20 Victory
In an impressive display of skill and determination, Florence Symonds and Alysha Corrigan led Canada to a resounding 50-20 victory over South Africa in women’s rugby play on Saturday. Despite the comfortable margin of victory, the match was not without its challenges for the Canadian team. The second half saw the Springboks score 17 points, and Canada had to contend with several injuries to key players.
Symonds, who was named player of the match, praised her team’s effort in the face of adversity. “I think we put in a big shift there,” she said. “I think we were down to 14 players at one point, so we were thrown that challenge. I’m just really proud of the team.”
In addition to Symonds and Corrigan’s tries, DaLeaka Menin, Fancy Bermudez, Laetitia Royer, and Caroline Crossley also found the try line for Canada. Julia Schell kicked five conversions to contribute to the team’s commanding lead.
The victory was momentarily overshadowed by injuries, with Bermudez being taken off the field on a cart early in the second half. However, Rugby Canada later confirmed that Bermudez had rejoined the team after being medically cleared. Despite the setbacks, Canada maintained their composure and finished the match strongly.
The physicality of the Springboks was evident throughout the game, with Jakkie Cilliers, Byrhandre Dolf, and Sizophila Solontsi scoring tries for South Africa. Cilliers also added a penalty and conversion to their tally.
The match, which took place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, served as a curtain-raiser for the men’s test match between South Africa and Italy. The Canadian women’s team showed their dominance early on, with Menin scoring a try in the sixth minute to set the tone for the rest of the game.
Canada’s head coach praised the team’s performance, highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity. “I’m incredibly proud of the effort the players put in today,” he said. “To come away with a win against a tough South African side is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.”
The two teams are set to meet again next Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. This match will serve as another opportunity for Canada to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which is set to kick off on August 22 in England.
Following the South Africa tour, Canada will face the United States and Ireland before heading to the World Cup. The team is scheduled to play Fiji, Wales, and Scotland in the group stage of the tournament.
With this impressive victory over South Africa, Canada has improved to a record of 13-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. The team’s strong performance bodes well for their upcoming challenges and solidifies their position as a force to be reckoned with in women’s rugby.
