Canada head coach Kevin Rouet has promised a thriller in tonight's World Cup semi-final against New Zealand – and is backing his side to pull off an upset at Ashton Gate (7pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The rivals are the chief threat to England’s hopes of winning the tournament but the Black Ferns enter the match as favourites as they look to take a step closer to being crowned global champions for the seventh time.
"Both teams are fun to watch play – fast, unpredictable, athletic people," Rouet said.
"It’s not exactly the same, but both teams want to play positive rugby. I like those kinds of teams, I like the way we play, I like the way New Zealand play, so I think it will be a good game.
"We’ve scored a lot of points in this World Cup and we’re here to win, so we’re just going to go up with a lot of confidence. No one is unbeatable and we’re here to showcase our rugby.
"I said to the girls: the past three years, we can be proud of being consistent and that’s something hard for us to achieve. We are not number one in the rankings, we are number two but that’s good.
"We are here to win but no one can remove what we have done over the past three years, no matter the end of this adventure."
New Zealand assistant coach Tony Christie believes his side have developed the ability to win using a number of different approaches.
"We’ve always been a team that’s been fast, physical and unpredictable, but what we’re seeing now is our ability to play multiple styles, our ability to go through teams, go over teams and go around," he said.
"We’re really proud with their adjustments we’ve made in our game areas for this weekend.
"We’re very confident in our ability, so it doesn’t really matter whether we have a favourites tag or underdogs. We prepare the same."
New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Stacey Waaka, Sylvia Brunt, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe; Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Risi Pouri-Lane; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale; Maia Roos, Alana Bremner; Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt), Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Replacements: Atlanta Lolohea, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Chelsea Bremner, Layla Sa'e, Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano, Ayesha Leti-I'iga.
Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier, Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, Daleaka Menin; Sophie de Goede, Courtney O'Donnell; Caroline Crossley, Karen Paquin, Fabiola Forteza.
Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia Demerchant, Tyson Beukeboom, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumenutafa.
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Watch New Zealand v Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
