New Zealand and Canada couldn’t be split, sharing honours 27-27 in a pulsating spectacle at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.
With two minutes remaining the Black Ferns were down 27-22 but strung togteher 22 attritional phases, probing from side to side, up the middle, anywhere there was a possible chink in the Candian armour. Eventually, the red wall cracked when Sylvia Brunt crashed over for her 10th, and most vital, Test try.
Ruahei Demant, who in the 68th minute slotted a clutch penalty to tie the scores, was unable to nudge the hosts ahead from the edge of the sideline and a packed grandstand.
A draw was a fitting outcome in a gladiatorial contest. Canada threatened to snatch an epic victory four minutes earlier when replacement outside back Shoshanah Seumanutafa wriggled, bounced, and stretched over the line despite a desperate intervention from Mererangi Paul.
However, the Black Ferns summoned something special with Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Ayesha Leti-I’iga making the most headway. Leti-I’iga produced another masterclass with two tries, three clean breaks, and nine carries for 73 metres gained.
The progression of the score is the quickest way to surmise the evenness of proceedings. New Zealand struck first with Braxton Sorensen-McGee capitalising on a Chryss Viliko charge down. Canada responded to make it 7-7. Then it went 12-7, 12-12, 19-12, 19-17, 19-22, 22-22, 27-22, and finally 27-27. The Black Ferns led twice, Canada enjoyed ascendancy for the first time in the 65th with an Alysha Corrigan try. A shallow clearance by the Black Ferns was punished in Sevens-like style by Canada. Four quick passes opened up the openside, and it was Goodnight Irene. Corrigan was electric for Canada with an additional two linebreaks. Olivia Apps made a huge impact from the bench.
Splitting the sides was difficult on the stats sheet, too. Canada outscored the Black Ferns five tries to four, while the Black Ferns will rue a less reliable lineout, inferior discipline, and 13 penalties to seven. Canada missed 44 tackles compared to the Black Ferns' 22, but Courtney O’Donnell (20 tackles) and Karen Paquin (16 tackles) were two of the most resolute tacklers on the field. New Zealand surrendered 19 turnovers compared to Canada’s 12.
Alana Bremner topped the tackle count for the Black Ferns with 14. Brunt and Kennedy Tukuafu had a dozen each.
The Black Ferns previous draw was 8-8 against England in London in 2011.
New Zealand leads the Pacific Four standings on points difference, with the USA to play. Canada tussles with Australia as they seek to defend their title.