Julia Schell scores six tries as Canada thrash Fiji in Women’s Rugby World Cup

Canada are quietly going about their business as the dark horses of this Rugby World Cup with eyes firmly on the hosts, England, and the defending champions, New Zealand. The team may benefit from flying under the radar with less pressure on their shoulders but it does not make them any less a contender for the trophy. The clinical nature of their opener against Fiji announced their arrival in England in style, particularly through the full-back Julia Schell who was spectacular in the second half as she scored six tries in 21 minutes.

Schell’s performance may have inspired girls to pick up a rugby ball but she is used to trying to make change. She grew up playing ice hockey and petitioned at elementary school for women to be able to do open-ice hitting as it was banned. “My petition said ‘girls should be able to hit’ but it was fitting how I ended up in rugby where it is the same for men and women,” Schell said post-match. “To score six tries feels good. I was joking with the fans, one said just before the first one ‘200 bucks for a try’ so I have to find him!”

The fact Canada are being overlooked by many does not correlate to recent results, with wins against Australia and the USA and a draw against the Black Ferns at Pacific Four. They are also ranked as the No 2 side in the world so the 11-try result was not surprising in the hugely physical battle between the two nations which also saw replacement Fiji prop Bulou Vasuturaga shown a red card for a high tackle after a bunker review.

Fiji, who are led by the former Wales coach Ioan Cunningham, fronted up in defence but the women in red were the first to score through Sophie De Goede and then Gillian Boag. Just as momentum was swinging firmly in the Canadians’ direction they were hit with a yellow card, which was referred to the bunker but remained a yellow, after the fly-half Taylor Perry made a high tackle.

Canada only increased their lead though with a try from Caroline Crossley and they added another once back to 15 through Alysha Corrigan. Fiji finished the half strongly but were unable to execute promising attacks, with their brightest sparks Mereoni Nakesa and captain Alfreda Fisher.

The best try of the match opened the second half and it was free-flowing Fijian fluency which rendered the biggest cheer of the afternoon when replacement winger Kolora Lomani went over. Canada responded perfectly with Schell’s six tries and they came after the Canada head coach, Kévin Rouet, had a word with her. “I said to her at half-time: ‘Julia, you need to win your one-v-ones’ and she was like: ‘I am going to prove you wrong’ and she did.”

Fiji’s afternoon got worse with Vasuturaga’s trip to the sin-bin upgraded to a red card and Karen Paquin rounded off the scoring in a dominant outing.

Rivals would have been watching from their respective camps knowing they cannot underestimate Canada’s challenge for this World Cup.