Scintillating semi-finals decide World Cup finalists
Exeter Chiefs Women were celebrating this weekend as their international team-mates progressed to the final of the Rugby World Cup.
Five Chiefs Women were involved in the semi-finals held at Ashton Gate, both proving scintillating fixtures.
New Zealand v Canada
If the Canadian media had been slow to follow the progress of their national rugby team, then Friday’s fixture must have made them sit up and take notice. Their relentless appetite for making offensive yards, most notably their speedy arrivals at the breakdown, saw them score four tries in the first half. Chiefs front-row pairing DaLeaka Menin and Emily Tuttosi were willing contributors to this style of play! Menin became Canada's second most capped played in the process and Tuttosi collected her 40th cap.
Chiefs centre and Canada captain Alex Tessier made it five tries just three minutes into the second half. The Black Ferns tried to put up a fight, but the gap was too much to breach with Canada also impressive in defence.
This means Canada are through to their first final since 2014 and the six-time champions, the Black Ferns, will have to fight it out for third place.
Tessier said: “"That was crazy, a lot of tempo and a lot of rugby. It's fun to play rugby and we showed what can be inspiring rugby.
"A lot of grit, a lot of resilience, a lot of hard work. It's not just one game; it's three years of hard work and hustle. Thanks to everyone for their support."
She added: “We are going to be ready for next weekend, we are super excited, that was a huge boost in confidence today and we are going to be ready for next Saturday."
England v France
The second fixture at Bristol was no less enthralling. The Red Roses went into the game as favourites but struggled to get past France in the opening half.
Les Bleus were desperate to avoid playing in their eighth match for third place and although they were depleted in numbers due to bans and injury, they gave England fans a scare in the first half. Full-back Ellie Kildunne was the sole scorer before the break with Nassira Konde answering her to make it 7-5 at half-time.
The Red Roses’ forwards exerted their dominance in the second half though with hooker Amy Cockayne going over the line from a driving maul and lock Abby Ward also scoring from short range. Kildunne added her second and centre Meg Jones had the final word in the 79th minute. Chiefs’ back-row Maddie Feaunati came on in the 66th minute for Morwenna Talling.
The was the first time the Red Roses had been properly tested in this tournament, and they found a way to win. Next stop, a sold-out final at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham!
Head coach John Mitchell said: “"Two really good sides in the final, number one in the world and number two, and they both deserve to be there. It's awesome for the game."
Captain Alex Matthew said: “"I could never have imagined it would come to this. Even just walking off the pitch, everyone stayed in the stands to cheer us off, which never used to happen. To be able to have spread this World Cup amongst the North, Midlands and South-West and it be sold out is just amazing. We want to share rugby with the whole country."