Canada runs in eight tries in 50-20 rugby win over Springbok women in Pretoria
Despite the comfortable victory margin, it did not all go the second-ranked Canadians' way. The second half saw the 12th-ranked Springboks score 17 points and Canada lose several players to injury.
'I think we put in a big shift there,' said Symonds, named player of the match. '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.'
The two teams meet again next Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. The Canadian women will then have just two more outings before the Rugby World Cup kicks off Aug. 22 in England.
DaLeaka Menin, Fancy Bermudez, Laetitia Royer and Caroline Crossley also scored tries for Canada, which led 26-3 at halftime. Julia Schell kicked five conversions.
The win will likely come at a cost, however.
There was a lengthy injury delay early in the second half when Bermudez was taken off the field on a cart after an apparent leg injury. Olivia Apps shifted to the wing in place of Bermudez, with Justine Pelletier taking over at scrum half, before she herself hobbled off in the 60th minute.
Jakkie Cilliers, Byrhandré Dolf and Sizophila Solontsi scored tries for South Africa. Cilliers also booted a penalty and conversion.
The game at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the 51,762-capacity stadium that is home to the Vodacom Bulls, was a curtain-raiser for the men's test match between the top-ranked Springboks and No. 10 Italy.
Injured South African men's captain Siya Kolisi delivered the pre-game team talk to the Springbok women.
It was 17 C in the early-afternoon sunshine at kickoff and Canada started brightly, with Menin powering her way over from close range in the sixth minute to cap a 12-phase attack for a converted try.
The physicality of the Springboks was demonstrated in the 12th minute when Solontsi, a flanker, sent captain Alex Tessier flying backwards as the Canadian captain attempted an open-field tackle. Soon after South Africa showed another side of its game, winning a scrum penalty that led to a penalty kick cutting the lead to 7-3 in the 14th minute.
An overlap in the Canadian backline after a scrum led to a Bermudez try in the 17th minute to up the lead to 12-3. Schell's conversion attempt hit the goalpost.
Unforced errors ended several subsequent Canadian attacks while South Africa conceded a string of penalties. Canada upped its lead to 19-3 in the 29th minute when Bermudez cut through the Springbok defence before feeding Symonds, who outpaced a Springbok chaser for a converted try.
Royer scored Canada's fourth try in the 34th minute after South Africa fell asleep at the breakdown. Another Symonds try in the 38th minute was called off upon video review for a knock-on in the buildup.
South Africa conceded eight penalties in the first half.
Cilliers scored the Springboks' first try in the 44th minute, after Solontsi broke several tackles to spark the attack. But Canada answered immediately, with Symonds ripping the ball free from a Springbok on the ensuing kickoff and Corrigan getting to the loose ball first for a try and a 31-10 lead.
Canada added another Corrigan try in the 57th minute with South Africa answering with tries by Dolfi (62nd minute) and Sizophila Solontsi (69th) to cut the lead to 38-20
Symonds scored her second try in the 79th minute and Crossley, a member of the Canadian seven squad who started in the second row, added an intercept try in the 80th minute.
Canadian hooker Holly Phillips made her debut off the bench in the 53rd minute. Forwards Gillian Boag and McKinley Hunt earned their 30th cap.
Star forward Sophie de Goede, Canada's captain when healthy, was not in Saturday's matchday squad. Returning from a knee injury, de Goede is expected to see action in the Springboks rematch.
The game was the fifth meeting between the two sides and the first on South Africa soil.
Canada thumped South Africa 66-7 the last time they met, in March 2023 in Madrid. The Canadians also won in three meetings at the Nations Cup: 53-15 in 2013 in Colorado and 52-17 and 35-17 in 2011 and 2009 in Oakville, Ont.
After the South Africa tour, Canada plays the ninth-ranked United States on Aug. 1 in Ottawa and No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadian women open the World Cup in England against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 10 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter.
South Africa will play out of Group D with No. 4 France, No. 8 Italy and No. 28 Brazil.
Canada improved to 13-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to No. 3 New Zealand.
—-
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Meyers, Riders return from bye week as CFL's only remaining unbeaten team
And then there was one. Receiver Dohnte Meyers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders returned from their bye week Monday as the CFL's lone undefeated team. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last week with a 37-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Saskatchewan (4-0) doesn't have the luxury of easing back into its season. It hosts Calgary (3-1) on Thursday night. 'It's always focus once you step into the building for a work week, especially when it's a West opponent,' Meyers said. 'Whoever we line up against we've got to let them know it's Riders football that they're playing.' The five-foot-11, 186-pound Meyers has emerged as a starter this season, his second with Saskatchewan. He has 15 catches for 208 yards and team-high two touchdowns. And he's shown versatility, opening 2025 at wide receiver before being shifted to slotback for Saskatchewan's last two contests with injuries to Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker. Meyers has no concerns about the Riders struggling to reclaim their mojo after a week off. 'I feel like we have a lot of veterans on our team — from the coaching staff to players — who've been on championship teams,' he said. 'This isn't their first rodeo. 'They have a lot of years and experience so they understand what it takes to be a professional and the frame of mind and competition level that need to be going on in practice.' Meyers had 24 receptions for 349 yards and a TD last season over four contests. After hauling in an 18-yard Trevor Harris scoring strike, Meyers suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Riders' 26-21 Labour Day loss to Winnipeg. 'Dohnte is a gifted, young player with immense talent whose 2024 campaign ended much sooner than anticipated,' said Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes, Meyers' Florida-based agent. 'But he's off to a fast and productive start this season, which speaks to his high character and work ethic. 'I have no doubt Dohnte will emerge as a dominant force in this league.' Meyers' rise with Saskatchewan has been a patient one. He signed with the Riders in October 2023 and began last season on the practice roster before being added to the active roster for the club's 22-22 tie with Ottawa on Aug. 8. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native, who turned 25 on Sunday, had eight catches for 101 yards in that contest, his CFL debut. 'That (four games in '24) was pivotal for me, especially as a professional athlete and younger player,' he said. 'Although you practise all year long, game experience is when the bullets are live and there's nothing quite like it. 'Although I got hurt, I was able to build off all of those experiences coming into this year. It allowed me to have a clearer focus in the off-season regarding what to expect and get ready for while having something in my game to critique. It allows you to hit this year with a full head of steam, get back stronger and be a better version of yourself.' The '24 season also allowed Meyers to immerse himself into Canadian football. 'The waggle, spacing, the time clock and time management are all things you've got to get acclimated to,' he said. 'You just get more used to it and I kind of felt that sense of being more settled coming in. 'The waggle was something I focused on this off-season, same with playing on the wider field and spacing. I think that's helped me transition into this year much more efficiently.' Harris guided Saskatchewan to its first three wins before missing its 37-18 win over B.C. on June 28 with a head ailment. Backup Jake Maier threw for 170 yards and a TD in the contest while running back A.J. Ouellette ran for 139 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. 'There are no plays off in this offence because we (receivers) are involved in the running game,' Meyers said. 'The thing with A.J. is he's so explosive, it can be an inside run that breaks outside and back inside and A.J. could jump over somebody, it's crazy. 'That's what makes things so deadly. We've got Trevor back there, we have A.J. and there's so many other guys who're explosive that you just don't know what can happen on any given play.' Harris is expected to return under centre Thursday night. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
8 hours ago
Mulder lets 'legend' Lara keep record 400 so SA can begin bowling out Zimbabwe twice
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe -- Wiaan Mulder sacrificed a shot at one of cricket's most hallowed records to start mopping up Zimbabwe in the second test at Queens Sports Club on Monday. The first-time captain of South Africa was on 367, just 33 runs away from tying the highest individual test score, Brian Lara's 400 not out 21 years ago, when he stopped his epic innings and declared at lunch with South Africa on 626-5. He then chipped in with two wickets in consecutive overs and a catch to bowl out Zimbabwe for 170, enforced the follow-on, and had Zimbabwe 51-1 in the second innings at stumps. Already 1-0 up in the short series, South Africa was 405 runs ahead and gearing toward wrapping up another three-day win on Tuesday. 'First, I thought we have enough and we need to bowl,' Mulder said. "Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, he got 400 against England and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. If I get the chance again I'd probably do the same thing. 'I was speaking to Shuks (Proteas coach Shukri Conrad) and he kind of said to me as well, 'Let the legends keep the really big scores,' and you never know what my fate is or what is destined for me. But Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.' Mulder achieved the fifth highest test score, and the highest by a South African. He started day two on 264 and the second new ball only eight overs old. But he picked up where he left off on Sunday, plundering the Zimbabwe bowlers. When he became the second South African to the 300 landmark, guiding Tanaka Chivanga's yorker to fine leg for a single, he took off his helmet, smiled and raised his bat to bathe in the applause. 'I never even dreamt of getting a double hundred never mind a triple hundred but it's super special,' Mulder said. 'The most important thing is it put the team in a good position to hopefully win the test.' His 297 balls to the milestone were the second fastest to 300 after India's Virender Sehwag took 278 balls versus South Africa in 2008. Mulder became the highest-scoring South African in tests when he eclipsed Hashim Amla's 311 not out against England in 2012. He raced from 300 to 350 in 27 balls, and gave his dressing room a salute. He went from 300 to 367 in 37 balls then hardly faced another ball. Kyle Verreynne had the strike for most of the last four overs to lunch and was 42 not out. Mulder's 334-ball knock in just under seven hours included 49 boundaries and four sixes. The only higher scores in test history were Lara's unbeaten 400 and 375, Matthew Hayden's 380 and Mahela Jayawardene's 374. In the morning session, Mulder scored 103 of South Africa's 161 runs, which came at an average 6.1 per over. The only wicket to fall was Dewald Brevis, 15 overnight, for 30, giving Zimbabwe debutant Kundai Matigimu a second wicket. After South Africa rested on its sixth highest total in history, and highest in nine years, Zimbabwe's first bat lasted only 43 overs. Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, making his test debut at age 31, took 4-42 to leave Zimbabwe's Sean Williams stranded on 83. Williams had been ill and didn't field in the morning. He didn't bat until Zimbabwe was 56-5 and he zoomed to 50 in 32 balls, the fastest test 50 in the team's history. No. 11 batter Chivanga seemed to give Williams every chance to achieve back-to-back centuries in the series, by lasting for more than six overs. Williams, given life by a no-ball on 79, hit 83 off 55 balls. Corbin Bosch got the only second-innings wicket, and Zimbabwe reached stumps with Takudzwanashe Kaitano on 34 and Nick Welch on 6.
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Seven uncapped players in Canada rugby coach Steve Meehan's first squad selection
Canada rugby coach Steve Meehan, in his first squad selection, has named seven uncapped players in his 33-man roster for July test matches against Belgium and Spain. The 24th-ranked Canadians face No. 23 Belgium on Saturday and No. 16 Spain on July 18, with both games at Edmonton's Clarke stadium. The Belgians are coming off a 36-17 loss Saturday to the 15th-ranked United States in Charlotte, N.C. The Americans host Spain on Saturday, also in Charlotte. Canada's 33-man roster includes 21 players with Major League Rugby teams — 14 in the forwards and seven in the backs. The uncapped players in the squad are hooker Austin Creighton, prop Emerson Prior, fly half/fullback Brendan Black, fly half Jamie Armstrong, centre Kyle Tremblay, fly half/centre Maddox MacLean and scrum half Stephen Webb. Black and Armstrong have both represented Canada in sevens. MacLean spent time with the Queensland Reds U-19 side in Australia. The roster announcement comes after a weeklong training camp involving 42 players at the University of Alberta. Meehan had originally chosen 59 players for his extended roster. 'We had a very competitive training camp, which I was pleased to see,' Meehan said in a statement. 'The coaching staff has been impressed by the players' work ethic, and ability to learn and adapt in high pressure moments. They have continually pushed each other to be better and are eager to continue doing so throughout our time in Edmonton together.' Appointed in December, the 59-year-old Australian officially started the job in April. He succeeds Kingsley Jones, who stepped down in December after seven years at the helm. The Canadian men have not played since a pair of losses in Bucharest in November to No. 21 Romania (35-27) and No. 20 Chile (44-14). Backrower Lucas Rumball captains a side that features eight members of the New England Free Jacks team that edged his Chicago Hounds in the MLR Eastern Conference final. New England went on to defeat the Houston SaberCats 28-22 on June 28 for its third straight title. The Free Jacks on the Canada roster are Andrew Quattrin, Cole Keith, Foster Dewitt, Kyle Steeves, Piers Von Dadelszen, Ben Lesage, Isaac Olsen and Josiah Morra. Veteran forward Evan Olmstead, now playing in France for SU Agen in the French second tier, returns to the squad for the first time since the 2019 World Cup. The Edmonton tests are a warmup for the Pacific Nations Cup, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup. Canada opens Pacific Nations Cup play Aug. 25 against No. 12 Japan on Aug. 25 in Vancouver before facing the U.S. on Aug 31 in Carson, Calif. The six-country tournament also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 13 Samoa and No. 19 Tonga, who will play in a separate pool. Each team will play two pool games before taking part in a final placement match. The top three teams will book their ticket to the 2027 World Cup in Australia. But given Fiji and Japan have already qualified through their performance at the last World Cup, a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it. Should Canada fail to qualify via the Pacific Nations Cup, it will still have two more chances to make the World Cup field, via a playoff with the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship runner-up and, finally, a four-team repechage tournament. Canada failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, the first time it has missed the sport's showcase, after losing two-legged qualifying series to the U.S. (59-50 on aggregate) and Chile (54-46). CANADA'S RUGBY SQUAD Forwards Andrew Quattrin, Holland Landing, Ont., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Austin Creighton, Edmonton, James Bay AA; Calixto Martinez, White Rock, B.C., Old Glory DC (MLR); Callum Botchar, Vancouver, NOLA Gold (MLR); Cole Keith, Sussex N.B., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Donald Carson, Tsawwassen, B.C., Britannia Lions; Emerson Prior, Brockville, Ont., Utah Warriors (MLR); Evan Olmstead, Vancouver, B.C., SU Agen (France); Foster Dewitt, Courtenay, B.C., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B.C., Capilano RFC; Kyle Steeves, Winnipeg, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Lucas Rumball (capt.), Toronto, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Mason Flesch Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., RFC LA (MLR); Matt Oworu, Calgary, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Piers Von Dadelszen, Vancouver, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Siôn Parry, Cardiff, Wales, Ebbw Vale RFC; Tyler Matchem, Pictou County, N.S., NOLA Gold (MLR). Backs Ben LeSage, Calgary, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Brenden Black, Oakville, Ont., University of Guelph; Brock Gallagher, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Cooper Coats, Halifax, NOLA Gold (MLR); Isaac Olson, Vernon, B.C., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Jamie Armstrong, Ottawa, University of Ottawa; Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Josiah Morra, Toronto, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Kyle Tremblay, White Rock, B.C., Pacific Pride; Maddox MacLean, Brisbane, Australia, Souths Rugby Club Brisbane (Australia); Noah Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Dungannon RFC (Northern Ireland); Stephen Webb, Toronto, UBC; Talon McMullin,(White Rock, B.C., UBC. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
