Canada's Fancy Bermudez, centre, celebrates with her teammates, after scoring a try against France during WXV 1 women's rugby union action in Vancouver on Sept. 29.ETHAN CAIRNS/The Canadian Press
Canada’s women’s 15s rugby squad opened its WXV 1 tournament with a dominant 46-24 victory over France on Sunday.
Fancy Bermudez and Laetitia Royer each scored a pair of tries for the world No. 3 Canadians, while Paige Farries, Emily Tuttosi and Asia Hogan-Rochester each contributed one apiece.
Alex Tessier booted four conversions and a penalty kick for the home nation, who are playing host to the international tournament for the first time.
Fourth-ranked France got tries from Mélissande Llorens, Marine Ménager, Pauline Bourdon and Nassira Konde, and two conversions from Chloé Jacquet.
Earlier on Sunday, No. 1 England thumped the eighth-ranked U.S. 61-21 in the first game of the tournament. No. 2 New Zealand is set to battle No. 7 Ireland in the final game of the opening day’s action.
Play will continue in Langley, B.C., next weekend before returning to BC Place on Oct. 11 and 12.
Canada wasted little time in establishing itself against France on Sunday.
Four minutes in, Shoshanah Seumanutafa escaped a tackle and dished off to Farries, who took a few steps and stretched over the goal line for the first try of the afternoon. Tessier booted the convert and the home side took an early 7-0 lead.
France replied with a big push up the pitch and Canada held them off until the eighth minute when Jacquet tossed the ball to Llorens at the far sideline. Llorens dove in to get France on the board and Jacquet added a convert to tie the game at 7-7.
The two nations traded chances until Bermudez scored in the 22nd minute. The Canadian right wing collected a pass and slipped through a pair of French defenders before diving over the goal line to touch. Tessier added two points and Canada went up 14-7.
A Canadian defensive lapse proved costly in the 26th minute. Standing at the touchline for a throw in, French fly-half Lina Queyroi spotted Menager unmarked and sent her the ball. The right wing sprinted down the field, pursued by Seumanutafa, and touched before the Canadian could haul her down. Jacquet’s successful convert tied the game once again at 14-14.
Some persistent offence paid off for Canada six minutes later following a line out. Steps from the French goal line, Team Canada ground away before Royer grabbed the ball and jumped over the pile for a try, boosting the advantage to 19-14.
The lead increased to 10 points ahead of the half after the squad worked the ball down the line to Bermudez, who broke a tackle and dashed in for her second try of the afternoon.
After controlling 52 per cent of the possession across the first half, Canada took a 24-14 cushion into the locker room.
Canada returns to action Saturday when it takes on Ireland in Langley. It will close the tournament by battling England back in Vancouver on Oct. 12.
Now in its second year, the WXV is a three-tiered tournament, with teams in the top division coming from the top three finishers in the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and Women’s Six Nations Championship (England, France and Ireland).