Canada overpowers New Zealand, ending their World Cup winning streak, and progresses to the final round.
The 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final saw a historic moment as Canada defeated New Zealand with a thrilling score of 34-19. This was New Zealand's first World Cup semi-final defeat since 1991, according to their captain, Kennedy Tukuafu.
Canada took the match by the scruff of the neck with a devastating first-half display. Justine Pelletier, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds, and Sophie de Goede scored tries for Canada in the first half, with de Goede also adding a penalty to put them more than two converted tries clear.
Alex Tessier scored a try for Canada three minutes after the restart, followed by another in the second half. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u scored a try for New Zealand after a spell of pressure, with Tanya Kalounivale crossing the line in the 28th minute. Sorensen-McGee scored a try for New Zealand from a chip kick, but it wasn't enough to prevent Canada's victory.
Kevin Rouet, Canada's coach, praised his team's performance, saying they need to finish the job and be ready for the final in eight days. Tukuafu, on the other hand, acknowledged the growth of the women's game and expressed pride in being part of this legacy.
It's worth noting that Canada is ranked second in the world, one place above New Zealand. This semi-final victory marks Canada's second appearance in the Women's World Cup final. The identity of the coach who led the victorious Canadian team was not explicitly named in the provided search results; however, as of 2025, the head coach of Canada's women's rugby team is Kevin Rouet, who has been leading the squad in recent World Cup competitions.
New Zealand produced a spirited fightback in the second half, but it was not enough to overturn Canada's lead. The final score was Canada 34, New Zealand 19, setting the stage for an exciting final match in the Women's Rugby World Cup.
