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68 min: Scrum right in front of Australia’s posts. They get the ball and Caitlyn Halse kicks it clear. Canada win the lineout – yet more pressure.
67 min: Canada come away with the ball from their scrum. It’s Tyson Beukeboom who’s pushing the Australia defence now. This is ominous … But there’s a knock-on. Yet more changes for both teams.
66 min: Sophie de Goede off for Laetitia Royer. What a game she has had! Chapeau.
65 min: Maya Stewart is almost in again, but Canada’s defence is solid: Hogan-Rochester one of the few who can keep pace with the Australia wing. Canada are back on the attack now.
63 min: Faitala Moleka piles into Canada’s red wall, Australia are putting a real effort in here. But they are yet to trouble the scorers in this half. Olivia Apps, one of Canada’s arrivals, keeps them out for now.
Updated at 12.30 EDT
61 min: Australia’s chance to spread play, they do so really well but Asia Hogan-Rochester puts in a wonderful – very possibly try-saving – tackle on Maya Stewart. The Australia wing gets a bit of treatment on her ankle after that.
60 min: A chance for Canada to spread the play, but they look a bit more disjointed than the first half, making a few handling errors. The rain or just not quite switched on? Australia’s lineout in Canada’s territory.
In highly important news: a wonderful rainbow above Ashton Gate!
57 min: De Goede – her again – wins the lineout, Canada force the ball forwards. But it’s Australia’s turn to grab it back! No lack of Wallaroos effort, though the slippery ball goes down.
Plenty of changes now, Canada rotating their lineup (and, let’s be honest, possibly resting a few players before a very likely semi-final).
56 min: Plenty of Australia possession, they had multiple phases, but it’s Sophie de Goede who cunningly swoops to snatch the ball. That was a triumph of smarts over effort.
54 min: Australia go close! They are pushing and pushing the Canada defence. Ashley Marsters, on off the bench, with a powerful run. Can they find the breakthrough?
53 min: Australia scrum in Canada’s 22. It collapses – no surprise, really, the ground must be drenched.
51 min: It is HAMMERING it down as Ashton Gate. Torrential stuff! Australia have the ball in Canada’s half as the rain pours down.
ShareTRY! Canada 38-5 Australia (Forteza)
Fabiola Forteza launches herself over but that move started with Australia’s errant lineout. It was a poor error that allowed Canada in. They’ve undone what was a reasonably positive start to this second half!
48 min: Canada get their first real attack under way of this half; they snaffle an Australia lineout!
46 min: Julia Schell tries a no-look pass – cheeky – but it doesn’t quite come off. It’s raining now after the clear skies of the first half. Will that have an impact on Canada’s passing play?
45 min: Australia’s lineout but the throw is not straight. Another nagging error. A few changes, Bridie O’Gorman and Tabua Tuinakauvadra come on for Australia. It’s Canada’s scrum.
44 min: Australia are in Canada’s half, showing a bit more grit and intensity in the early minutes. Another Wallaroos scrum in their opponent’s half.
42 min: Ilona Maher, previously of the Bristol Bears, is watching from the stands and gets a hearty cheer from the fans as the USA megastar is shown on the big screen. On the pitch, it’s Australia’s scrum.
Updated at 12.06 EDT
41 min: Canada fumble a lineout and Australia are shouting and hollering. It’s clear they are playing for pride and determined to give this a go.
ShareSecond half
Alex Tessier kicks the ball into Australia territory and we’re off!
So what can Australia do differently in the second half? They have some attacking talent, but – to state the obvious – it’s about getting the ball, keeping it and giving those young stars some space to work. More composure is required.
The bad news? Canada have a really strong bench so when the changes come, it might only benefit the side with the 26-point lead.
Caroline Crossley and Sophie de Goede have really impressed in that half. It’s the speed with which Canada play and move the ball that Australia have struggled with. The Wallaroos have put in a real defensive effort at times, but that’s not enough if you can’t alleviate the pressure. Canada just kept coming on.
ShareHALF-TIME: Canada 31-5 Australia
Canada are dominant. Powerful, scintillating with ball in the hand at times and solid in defence aside from one blip.
ShareTRY! Canada 31-5 Australia (Hunt)
A bit of forward gumption! It started on the Australia 22 but Canada just bulldozed onwards and McKinley Hunt goes over. De Goede kicks the extras. This has been a destructive half from the pre-match favourites.
Updated at 11.47 EDT
36 min: Another scrum and Australia come away with the ball but they just cannot seem to escape their own 22. Saying that; Caitlyn Halse with a fine kick to relieve some pressure.
35 min: DaLeaka Menin tries to power through two Australia players but cannot quite take the ball with her. Crunch. That was a mighty clash.
33 min: A scrum in Australia territory. They manage to get the ball and kick it clear – but it’s with Canada and they’re coming right back at their opponents! It’s pretty relentless right now.
ShareNo try!
Julia Schell joins the party … or so we thought. Canada pass it back into open space, send it to the right wing and Schell flies over. Hang on; we have a TMO review for a Florence Symonds knock-on in the buildup. The try is disallowed.
31 min: Australia with some pretty heroic defending to keep Canada out in the last five minutes, they’re actually doing pretty well when it looked like they could be blown away entirely in this first half. Two players down so we have a brief pause in play.
30 min: Canada win their lineout and drive for the line. They’re looking for try number five …
29 min: Emily Chancellor does really well to grab possession back, that was a great bit of defence on her own tryline. Australia keep out Canada this time.
28 min: Canada keeping Australia at arm’s length since Desiree Miller’s early breakthrough. And now they’re back on the attack, looking to stretch play again.