‘The belief is there’ - Canada aiming to knock off Black Ferns

Black Ferns v Canada - Rugby World Cup semi-final

Kick-off: 6am Saturday 20 September NZT

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Live blog updates on RNZ Sport

Statistically, it's hard to split the Black Ferns and Canada so far at this World Cup. Allan Bunting's side is averaging a shade over 50 points per game, while Kevin Rouet's Canadians are right behind them on 48. That may suggest a high scoring game when they meet at Ashton Gate in Bristol this weekend in their World Cup semi-final, but Rouet isn't so sure.

"It could be, hopefully. I think (both teams) take risks, in the way they play the game. So it could be. It could be for sure. But I also if defense is good on both side, I could see this game could go one way or the other way," said Rouet after he named an unchanged Canandian team to the one that thumped Australia in their quarterfinal last weekend.

Rouet acknowledged the "positive energy" that the team was feeling after their last two results against the Black Ferns were an historic win last year, followed by a draw in May.

"We chat about it, for sure. Some of them on the team the last two years have already won and got a draw," said Rouet.

"So I think they have a positive energy. Some of them were out there (in New Zealand) for the last World Cup, the inertia is positive, the belief is there. But we are very mindful of New Zealand at World Cup time…they show up."

His side will be once again captained by second five Alex Tessier, who said that her side is driven to become the first Canadian team to win a major tournament and reap the benefits of doing so.

"I think we've been constant in terms of winning games and stuff, but we haven't we haven't yet won a major title yet. I think maybe like the I think inevitably the, the exposure and the recognition will come after winning major tournaments. So I think they'll, that'll be huge for rugby in Canada," she said.

Tessier forms part of an intriguing backline match up with the Black Ferns, where she pairs up in the midfield with Florence Symonds. They are up against Sylvia Brunt and Stacey Waaka, with a formidable back three of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Renee Holmes outside them.

"Obviously the centre combination is dynamic," said Rouet.

"I think it's going to be a very, very much collective job to stop them. They have an electric back three on the field."

However, there is serious hope that this Canadian side will be able to match their 2014 counterparts and reach the World Cup final, then go one better and win it. While his group of current players have been touted as Canadian rugby's golden generation, Rouet was quick to pay tribute to the players that came before them.

"We've had amazing rugby players (for a) long time, amazing athletes. It's just sometimes they need to be more exposed to rugby games to just grow in confidence. I think that's what we've been able to do over the past three years, we've played more international game than ever before, (the players) play in England, France abroad. So they just get more access to the rugby games, make them whether as a collective and less under pressure when they come to us as a staff, as a coach, because they know the game better."

The other semi-final sees tournament favourites England take on France on Sunday morning, with the winners advancing to the final at a sold-out Twickenham next weekend.

Team lists

Canada: 1. McKinley Hunt, 2. Emily Tuttosi, 3. DaLeaka Menin, 4. Sophie de Goede, 5. Courtney O'Donnell, 6. Caroline Crossley, 7. Karen Paquin, 8. Fabiola Forteza, 9. Justine Pelletier, 10. Taylor Perry, 11. Asia Hogan-Rochester, 12. Alexandra Tessier, 13. Florence Symonds, 14. Alysha Corrigan, 15. Julia Schell

Bench: 16. Gillian Boag, 17. Brittany Kassil, 18. Olivia DeMerchant, 19. Tyson Beukeboom, 20. Laetitia Royer, 21. Gabrielle Senft, 22. Olivia Apps, 23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa

Black Ferns: 1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Tanya Kalounivale, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Alana Bremner, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (cc), 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, 10. Ruahei Demant (cc), 11. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt, 13. Stacey Waaka, 14. Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 15. Renee Holmes

Bench: 16. Atlanta Lolohea, 17. Kate Henwood, 18. Amy Rule, 19. Chelsea Bremner, 20. Layla Sae, 21. Maia Joseph, 22. Theresa Setefano, 23. Ayesha Leti-I'iga