Canadian rugby 7s women to play for 3rd in Vancouver after semifinal loss to New Zealand

25.02.2024 - 23:09 cbc.ca

The Canadian women's rugby sevens squad will play for third place in the HSBC SVNS tournament at B.C. Place after dropping a 15-7 semifinal decision New Zealand on Sunday.

Canada head coach Jack Hanratty felt his young side held its own against an experienced Black Ferns squad. "I thought we matched them physically," he said from Vancouver. "We have to look at instead of chasing a game, how we can dictate the tempo." The Black Ferns started quickly, hemming Canada in and looking for turnovers from rucks.

Michaela Blyde scored twice in the first half to send New Zealand out to an early lead before Krissy Scurfield ran nearly the length of the field to put Canada on the board.

But New Zealand put the game away early in the second half with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scoring the try. The experience of playing a historically dominant rugby sevens squad in the later stages of a tournament is good preparation for Canada ahead of the Olympic Games, Hanratty added. "If we're going to be Olympic medal contenders this year, if we lose a semifinal we can't lay down the chips, we have to make sure we bounce back," he said.

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Australia have overtaken New Zealand to take the second spot in the World Test Championships ranking following the 2-0 series win over their Trans-Tasman rivals in Christchurch on Monday. The win in the second Test helped Australia collect 12 points on their road to defending the World Test Championship mace. Australia have improved their percentage points from 59.09 to 62.50 after 12 matches. New Zealand have dropped from 60 percentage points to 50 to be third on the list. They have played six games.

Alex Carey's 98 Drags Australia Home In New Zealand Test Thriller

An unbeaten 98 from Alex Carey and a formidable partnership with Mitchell Marsh rescued Australia from a dire position to set up a three-wicket victory in a tense second Test against New Zealand on Monday. Carey and Marsh put on a vital 140-run partnership at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the tourists having had their backs to the wall at 80-5 in their chase of 279. At 220-5, the Test took another turn when Ben Sears claimed Marsh and Mitchell Starc in successive deliveries, leaving Australia needing a further 59 runs with three wickets remaining.

New Zealand vs Australia 2nd Test Day 2 Live Score Updates

New Zealand vs Australia 2nd Test Day 2 Live Updates: Overnight batters Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon will aim to take Australian innings forward when they resume at 124 for 4 on Saturday. A five-wicket haul by paceman Josh Hazlewood ensured Australia had the upper hand on a wicket-laden opening day of the second Test. Fourteen wickets fell on Day 1 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Manus Labuschagne was unbeaten on 45, including eight fours, with night-watchman Nathan Lyon on one. (Live Scorecard)

New Zealand vs Australia 2nd Test Day 1 Live Score Updates

New Zealand vs Australia 2nd Test Day 1 Live Updates: Australia have confirmed they will take an unchanged playing eleven into the second and final Test against New Zealand that commences on Friday, while the Kiwis have revealed that uncapped pace bowler Ben Sears will make his Test debut. The reigning ICC World Test Championship winners Aussies have resisted the urge to change a winning formula and will use the same XI in Christchurch that clinched a commanding 172-run victory over New Zealand in the opening Test in Wellington. While hosts New Zealand did not divulge their final XI for the second Test, skipper Tim Southee did announce that right-arm quick Ben Sears will debut in place of injured pacer Will O'Rourke. (Live Scorecard)

Hurricanes apologise to New Zealand govt for 'redneck' haka jibe

The Hurricanes rugby side said on Wednesday they have apologised to the New Zealand government after their women's team used a traditional haka dance to slam the government as a "redneck" coalition.

Unrest In New Zealand Cricket Team? Ex-Star Says Pacer Was 'Forced' To Retire

New Zealand's former star batter Ross Taylor has suggested that fast bowler Neil Wagner's retirement was "forced", hinting at the possibility of unrest in the Kiwi camp. Told that he would not be picked in the XI in the series against Australia, Wagner recently announced his retirement during an emotional press conference before the start of the first Test. The 37-year-old Wagner, however, did take the field during the first Test as a substitute fielder and carried the drinks on occasions. "I think it all makes sense a little bit now. There's no sugarcoating it. I think it's a forced retirement. If you listen to Wagner's press conference, he was retiring, but it was after this last Test match. So he did make himself available," Taylor said while speaking on ESPN's Around the Wicket podcast.