Expansive attacking rugby? Tick. Pick and go tries? Tick. Impressive defence and holding up tries? Tick. Canada’s performance underlined why they are among the tournament favourites and had everything to set up a tasty semi-final against New Zealand, the defending champions, on Friday.

The wing Alysha Corrigan was a bright spark, scoring twice, as was Karen Paquin, while the ever-dependable Sophie de Goede, who was playing in her seventh game back after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, had one of her best matches for the side she used to captain.

The loss for Australia not only sent them home but it brought a close to the head coach Jo Yapp’s reign, who had two years in charge and it is not yet known where she will next coach. Australia will be the hosts of the next World Cup and Yapp said investment will be key for the team to progress for that tournament.

“Canada has a lot of players who play in the PWR [Premiership Women’s Rugby] and that puts them in a really good place,” she said. “The players need more games, at the moment these girls are playing more Test matches this year than they are club games and they are learning through Test matches. What they need to be doing is learning through Super W [Australia’s league] and that is really important to be able to expand that competition.”

Pyrotechnics welcomed the teams off of the bus as well as drums and enthusiastic crowds bobbing and weaving to get a glimpse of the players. Supporters in the stands were interviewed pre-match and some had travelled from Vancouver to support their team and they were rewarded with a dominant and stylish win.

Quick GuideCanada 46-5 Australia teams and scorersShow

Canada Schell; Corrigan, Symonds (Seumanutafa 69), Tessier, Hogan-Rochester; Perry, Pelletier (Apps 61); Hunt (Kassil 47), Tuttosi (Boag 59), Menin (DeMerchant 59), De Goede (Royer 66), O’Donnell (Beukeboom 52), Crossley, Paquin, Forteza (Senft 66). Tries Hogan-Rochester, Corrigan 2, De Goede, Hunt, Forteza, Paquin. Cons De Goede 4. Pen Tessier.

Australia Halse; Stewart, Friedrichs, Smith (Pomare 66), Miller; Moleka, Wood (Hinds 57); Kavoa (Pohiva 69), Talakai (Amosa 22), Karpani (O’Gorman 46), Leaney, Leonard (Fernandez 69), Duck, Chancellor (Marsters 50), Palu (Tuinakauvadra 46). Try Miller.

Referee Hollie Davidson (Sco). Attendance 16,571

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Australia could not live up to their brilliant start against England last week, keeping the Red Roses from scoring until the 33rd minute, as poor defence gave Canada space and Asia Hogan-Rochester sniped to go over. But Australia were quick to respond with a sumptuous effort from Desiree Miller, who scored her sixth of the tournament. In an utterly enthralling opening 10 minutes Canada thought they had edged ahead once more but it was ruled out because of a knock-on.

Alysha Corrigan scores Canada’s second try against Australia. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

A superb finish from Corrigan gave Canada the lead and it was as though every Canadian player could read their teammates’ minds with countless fluid moves unfolding and Australia unable to answer the questions being asked of them. As a result tries came from De Goede, Corrigan and McKinley Hunt to put Canada 31-5 up at the break.

A big cheer rang around Ashton Gate as the former Bristol Bears player Ilona Maher was shown on the screen watching from the stands just before the rain started to fall. The weather did not take the shine off Canada’s afternoon with a powerful finish from Fabiola Forteza, a try by Paquin and a penalty kick from the captain, Alex Tessier, finishing off a one-sided affair.

The Canada head coach, Kévin Rouet, said the game was the best he had seen so far from his team at this competition. He added: “The first 40 minutes was a good performance and we managed the game in the second half so we slowed down a little bit. I am very proud of the first half and I think we put the game away after 40 minutes so after that it was just management.”

Canada were formidable and they have more than enough fire power and tactical nous to book a spot in the final but the Black Ferns will be tipped to march on to Twickenham. One thing is for certain, the entire world of rugby will be watching.