Winner of Canada vs France Takes Third In World Rugby Rankings
Winner of Canada vs France Takes Third In World Rugby Rankings
France vs Canada 2019 Super Series
The winner of this match secures the spot as the third-ranked team in the world.
Canada came into the Super Series with a narrow lead on France for third. The French were idle in week one of the Series as they watched Canada fall to New Zealand. According to the World Rugby Rankings algorithm, Canada's loss dropped them to fourth by a tenth of a point.
Both teams have named their lineups for the game, which kicks off 5:15 PM PT at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
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(Shown worldwide except in New Zealand)
France
The French were the team scheduled for a bye on the first round of matches at the 2019 Super Series. Which means they will be wheeling out a totally fresh lineup to face Canada.
France has a lot to prove here coming off a disappointing final match of the 2019 Women's Six Nations. France looked to repeat as Six Nations champs until they were defeated by the Grand Slam champions England. Les Bleus seemed to be on their way to a smooth second-place finish until they came out flat against Italy falling victim to upset.
We'll see what advantages France gained in watching Canada face New Zealand in the first round.
Ahead of the match excitement was building around the possible pairing of the Menager twins on the French starting roster, but just yesterday Romane Menager withdrew from the Super Series due to injury. A difficult pill to swallow for the French to lose a one time World Rugby Player of The Year nominee before playing a single match.
The stalwart. in the lineup, Safi N'Diaye. One of the most physically imposing players in the sport, me or women. Nobody dominates the gainline like N'Diaye, the Canadians will have their hands ful with the lock for Les Bleus.
PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS |
1. Lise Arricastre | Lons Rugby Feminin Bearn Pyrenees | 66 |
2. Agathe Sochat | Montpellier RC | 14 |
3. Clara Joyeux | Blagnac Rugby Feminin | 7 |
4. Safi N’Diaye | Montpellier RC | 68 |
5. Audrey Forlani | Blagnac Rugby Feminin | 42 |
6. Gaëlle Hermet (C) | Stade Toulousain Rugby | 20 |
7. Coumba Diallo | Stade Francais Paris | 38 |
8. Fiona Lecat | Stade Toulousain Rugby | 5 |
9. Laure Sansus | Stade Toulousain Rugby | 6 |
10. EmmaCoudert | ASM Romagnat Rugby Feminin | 7 |
11. Marine Menager | Montpellier RC | 32 |
12. MorganePeryonnet | Montpellier RC | 1 |
13. Maelle Filopon | Stade Toulousain Rugby | 3 |
14. Cyrielle Banet | Montpellier RC | 9 |
15. Elise Pignot | ASM Romagnat Rugby Feminin | 2 |
RESERVES | ||
16. LaureTouye | Blagnac Rugby Feminin | 5 |
17. Celia Domain | Blagnac Rugby Feminin | 0 |
18. Annaelle Deshaye | AS Rouen Universite Club | 10 |
19. Madoussou Fall | AC Bobigny 93 Rugby | 0 |
20. Celine Ferer | AS Bayonnaise | 33 |
21. Pauline Bourbon | AS Bayonnaise | 19 |
22. Camille Cabalou | Stade Toulousain Rugby | 12 |
23. Jessy Tremoulere | Stade Rennais Rugby | 49 |
Canada
The Maple Leafs are coming off a close loss to the top team in the world, New Zealand. Coach Sandro Fiorino made a total of 11 changes to the starting roster. The only players wearing the same number as Friday's match with the Black Ferns are the two props and wing #14 Paige Ferries.
After making her first cap for Canada, Sophia De Goede did enough to stay in the starting lineup. Against France De Goede will play No. 8 rather than lock, the position her father played for the Canadian national team.
Elissa Alarie was electric on the wing for Canada. Her perfectly timed switch resulted in a try for Canada to even the scoreboard early in the match with New Zealand. Alarie was moved to fullback for this match, but she still remains a player to watch out for.
The biggest snub to this lineup to face France is certainly Brianna Miller. The scrumhalf kept the scoreboard ticking over with her boot, but Fiorino decided to back Lori Josephson against France.
PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS |
1. Olivia DeMerchant | (Fredericton Loyalists) Mapledale, NB | 36 |
2. Gillian Boag | (Capilano/UBC) Calgary, AB | 3 |
3. DaLeaka Menin | (Calgary Hornets) Vulcan, AB | 23 |
4. Tyson Beukeboom | (Cowichan Piggies) Uxbridge, ON | 35 |
5. Jacey Grusnick | Barrhaven Scottish (Alliston, ON) | 36 |
6. Janna Slevinsky | (Kingston Panthers) St. Albert, AB | 7 |
7. Fabiola Forteza | (Club de Rugby de Quebec) Quebec City, QC | 1 |
8. Sophia De Goede | (Castaway Wanderers/Queens University) Victoria, BC | 1 |
9. Lori Josephson | (Guelph Redcoats) Beaverton, ON | 8 |
10. Taylor Black | (Oakville Crusaders) Oakville, ON | 0 |
11. Sabrina Poulin | (Town of Mount Royal Rugby) - St-Georges de Beauce, QC | 2 |
12. Alex Tessier | (SABRFC) Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC | 1 |
13. Amanda Thornborough | (Westshore RFC) Brandon, MB | 28 |
14. Paige Farries | (Westshore RFC) Red Deer, AB | 5 |
15. Elissa Alarie (C) | (Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue RFC/Westshore RFC) Trois Rivieres | 27 |
RESERVES | ||
16. Ngalula Fuamba | (TMRRFC) Notre-Dame-de-L'ÃŽle-Perrot | 4 |
17. Laura Russell | (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON | 45 |
18. Maude Laliberte | (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC | 2 |
19. Courtney Holtkamp | (Red Deer Titans) Rimbey, AB | 5 |
20. Sara Svoboda | (Belleville Bulldogs/Toronto Saracens) Belleville, ON | 0 |
21. MP Fauteux | (Abénakis de Sherbrooke) Sherbrooke QC | 0 |
22. Brianna Milller | (Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue) Point-Claire, QC | 1 |
23. Alysha Corrigan | (CRFC) Charlottetown, PEI | 1 |