Canada surged ahead 17-0 within the first 25 minutes. Despite some moments of optimism for the Black Ferns afterwards, Canada was thoroughly deserving of their victory.
The opening minutes were frantic, with both teams trying to find space across the entire width of the field.
The Black Ferns' defence cracked in the sixth minute when Renee Holmes kicked the ball out. A chip kick from Taylor Perry was caught by Alexandra Tessier, who transferred it to halfback Justine Pelletier on her inside.
Pelletier, playing in her 42nd Test, proved to be a menace with her quick distribution and probing runs that caught the Black Ferns defenders off guard around the ruck. She was named Player of the Match.
Classy Tessier, in her 65th Test, was equally dangerous. In the 11th minute, she executed a spiral pass to Asia Hogan-Rochester, who fended off Holmes to score a try.
Canada scored again in the 24th minute. Lock Sophie De Goode made a turnover. Canada executed a maul and received a penalty before several pick-and-goes created a bundle of space for centre Florence Symonds.
From the restart, Black Ferns centre Stacey Waaka, as she often does for the Black Ferns Sevens, leapt to snatch the kickoff. Georgia Ponsonby steamed ahead, and prop Tanya Kalounivale crashed over for her third try in 25 Tests.
The Black Ferns struggled for scoring opportunities, missing two chances. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u intercepted and linked with Risi Pouri-Lane inside the 22, but Alana Bremner was unable to collect the next pass on the wing. A break by Kaipo Olsen-Baker also went unrewarded.
Crucially Canada scored two tries, ten minutes on either side of halftime. In the 36th minute, Pelletier broke through to send De Goode on a 20-metre stampede. Just three minutes after halftime, Canada mauled powerfully, and Tessier, showcasing footwork that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would admire, opened up the defence.
At this point, the Black Ferns found themselves in a precarious position, trailing 31-7. However, inspirational co-captain Ruahei Demant sparked a brief resurgence. She made a deft chip ahead that Sorensen-McGee gathered, and after another kick from Demant, the Black Ferns won the lineout. Mikaele-Tu’u then peeled away and charged over for a try.
In the 65th minute, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, playing in her milestone 30th Test match, made a strong surge. Demant then employed her kicking skills again, crossing to an unmarked Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
Canada regrouped by utilising their scrum, lineout, and maul—statistically the best in the tournament—to earn a penalty, which De Goode successfully converted.
Demant became just the third Black Fern to play 50 Test matches, joining hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili and halfback Kendra Cocksedge. In her 50th Test match, Fa'amausili scored a try in a 48-5 victory against Canada in the group stage of the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Cocksedge captained the Black Ferns in their 16-25 defeat to France in the 2019 Super Series in San Diego.
Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron from South Africa officiated her 49th Test match and holds the record for refereeing 12 Rugby World Cup matches. Under her officiating, the Black Ferns have a record of 6 wins and 5 losses, while Canada has an 8-3 record.
Overall, the Black Ferns have achieved 114 wins, two draws, and 23 losses out of 139 Test matches. Their Rugby World Cup record stands at 40 wins and only three losses, with an impressive 18-match winning streak in World Cup matches, which ended in Bristol.
A statue of prominent politician and philosopher Edmund Burke stands in central Bristol. Burke once said, "Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair." Bring on 2029!
Black Ferns: 19 (Tanya Kalounivale, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Braxton Sorensen-McGee tries; Renee Holmes con, Sorensen-McGee con) Canada: 34 (Justine Pelletier, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier, Sophie de Goede tries; De Goede 3 cons, pen) HT: 24-7