Canada opened the 2017 WomenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby World Cup with a strong showing, rolling over Hong Kong with a 98-0 win.
Hong Kong, competing in their first World Cup, was no match for the Canadian squad, who scored 16 tries.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really proud of the team and the effort they put in,B次元官网网址� said captain Kelly Russell in a statement. B次元官网网址淭here are some things to fix going forward, but weB次元官网网址檒l get there.B次元官网网址�
By halftime they were toting a 46-point lead.
Third in the World Rugby rankings and coach by Francois Ratier, the Canadians rolled out the bench during the second half but still added another 52 points to the scoreboard.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to get all of our girls out on the pitch because we want these girls to come up and bring up the pace when they step on and thatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what they did,B次元官网网址� Russell said. B次元官网网址淎cross the board anyone of those girls can be in that starting lineup. ItB次元官网网址檚 just starters and finishers.B次元官网网址�
WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game was the first international test match between the two nations. Hong Kong is ranked 23rd in the world.
B次元官网网址淐redit to Hong Kong,B次元官网网址� Russell said. B次元官网网址淭hey were really good in the rucks. They gave it to us a couple times and thatB次元官网网址檚 something weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to clean up going forward.B次元官网网址�
Magali Harvey put up five tries and Russell had a hat trick. Elissa Alarie, Amanda Thornborough and Andrea Burk tallied two tries apiece while Alex Tessier and Brittany Waters each crossed the line once.
But Harvey didnB次元官网网址檛 stop there. She was named player of the match after scoring 41 total points with eight conversions. Second half replacement Brianna Miller also slotted a conversion.
The Canadian women will face off against Wales on Sunday before taking on the number one ranked B次元官网网址� and four-time World Cup champions B次元官网网址� New Zealand on Aug. 17 in their final match of pool play.
With their debut this year, Hong Kong is the 19th nation to compete in the WomenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby World Cup. Canada is one of only four nations to have participated in all seven editions of the international tournament.
