SUVA, Fiji — Canada plays its final test match ahead of next month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup when it faces Fiji on Friday at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Third-placed Canada are on their way to New Zealand, where they open their Pool B match against Japan No. 13 on 9 October (New Zealand time) before facing Italy No. 5th and sixth place US

Fiji, ranked 21 in the world, are in Pool C with top-ranked England, No. 4 France, and No. 11 South Africa.

Canada coach Kevin Rouet called the Fiji test “our last chance to give valuable playing time to the wider squad and very important as our final preparation before the start of the Rugby World Cup.”

Veteran forward Tyson Beukeboom will earn his 50th cap if he comes off the bench.

Canadian women could move up to 2nd place with a win over Fiji combined with New Zealand’s loss to Japan by more than 15 points, an unlikely scenario if the truth is told considering Black Ferns is No. 2 in the world. Canada will fall to fourth if they lose to Fiji with France at the fore.

Fiji will enter the top 20 for the first time since the rankings were introduced in February 2016 if they avoid defeat against Canada.

The Canadian women came from a home win over Italy, 34-24 in July at Langford, BC, and No. 9 Wales, 31-3 in August in Halifax.

Fiji is 3-2-0 in this year’s test match, losing to No. 13 Japan (28-14) and No. 7 Australia (36-19). His three wins include a 152-0 win over No. 49 Papua New Guinea at the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in July in New Zealand, the highest score in the women’s test match.

The 12-team World Cup, which runs until November 2 in Auckland and Whangarei, was originally scheduled for 2021 but has been postponed due to the pandemic.

Chloe Daniels replaces Marie Thibault in an injury-related move at the end of Canada’s 32-women’s World Cup roster.

Canadian Register for the Fiji Test

Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ontario., Guelph Redcoats; Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Calgary Hornets/Exeter Chiefs (UK); DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Calgary Hornets/Exeter Chiefs (UK); Courtney Holtkamp, ​​Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans; McKinley Hunt, King City, Ontario., Aurora Barbarians/Exeter Chiefs (UK); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec/Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais (France); Sophie de Goede (capt.), Victoria, Castaway Wanderers RFC; Brianna Miller, Pointe-Claire, Que., Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC; Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ontario., Guelph Redcoats/Castaway Wanderers; Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, CRFC/Saracens; Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ontario., Toronto Scotland; Anais Holly, Montreal, City of Mont-Royal RFC; Maddy Grant, Cornwall, Ontario., University of Ottawa; Elissa Alaria, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Westshore RFC.

Replacement

Gillian Boag, Calgary, Capilano RFC; Mikiela Nelson, North Vancouver, UBC Rugby/Capilano Rugby; Alex Ellis, Ottawa, Barrhaven Scotland/Saracens (England); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ontario., Cowichan RFC; Emma Taylor, Scotland, NS, HRFC; Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Castaway Wanderers/Exeter Chiefs (UK); Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC; Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Oakville Crusaders.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published on 22 September 2022