The culminating moment has arrived: a sold-out Twickenham, the two best teams will face each other in an 80-minute battle where only one will emerge victorious. Only one will be on the podium on Saturday night, while the other will watch from a few meters away, wondering what could have been.
England and Canada have faced each other in a final before, in the 2014 edition in Ireland, where the Red Roses won the tournament for the last time. Canada, for its part, has never won the competition. Will history repeat itself or will there be a rematch in London?
Here are the key points before Saturday’s main event.
England: Favorites, but by how much?
Although England is the favorite, the difference is not abysmal. The English women have a lot to lose. With a streak of 32 unbeaten matches, a world record, they are the best team on the planet, without debate. They have the necessary tools to win this tournament and the support of their fans. The Red Roses have fulfilled what was required during the tournament and have the advantage of a very close semi-final that will prepare them for Saturday.
They have a world-class team, including Megan Jones and Ellie Kildunne in the backs. However, it will be their forwards who will decide the course of the match. Their maul is astonishingly destructive, and they possess the two best front rows in world rugby. If the match turns into a game of attrition, England will win.Mitchell: England is drawn to victory. England coach John Mitchell discusses the challenges of being the favorite in the Rugby World Cup final against Canada.However, both semi-finals, Canada’s victory over New Zealand and England’s close match against France, have tempered the idea that England will win easily. The best thing for everyone, regardless of the result, is a close match. Everything will depend on how England handles the expectation. Kildunne said after the semi-final that they have been preparing for this moment for three years. Now it comes down to 80 minutes. The week must be perfect and the players cannot let the occasion get the better of them. It’s easier said than done, but if England can do it, they should lift the trophy.
How can Canada surprise?
Sophie de Goede has proven to be a problem for opposing players throughout the tournament.Canada is a brilliant rugby team. Their semi-final triumph over the Black Ferns was one of the most remarkable performances we have seen in recent times. It was a phenomenal performance, with breakneck ruck speed, staunch defense, imaginative attack, and a variety of kicking. In addition, they have the best player in the tournament, Sophie de Goede: the second-row kicker who can also force turnovers and run away from defenders.
In short, this match will be close. Their coach, Kèvin Rouet, offers a player-led environment and the team has thrived. Let’s not forget: all this comes after a trip funded in part by the public, where they raised nearly 1 million Canadian dollars to aid their progress in England, under a campaign titled: “Win the 2025 Rugby World Cup”. They are one step away from a dream ending.
Canada needs to do what they did against the Black Ferns, but with a whole new intensity. New Zealand couldn’t handle their defense and ruck speed, but Canada will need to be faster and more physical against the Red Roses. They need to silence the crowd as best they can. The start is also vital. Despite conceding an early try, France’s resilience in the first half was very important. If Canada can replicate that and get some individual moments from De Goede, fullback Julia Schell or scrum-half Justine Pelletier, then the game will be on.
What would winning mean for each team?
England’s hooker, Amy Cokayne, is one of the best in the world.Throughout the World Cup, England has been talking about going match by match, amidst widespread expectation. They are fully aware of their status as tournament favorites and the pressure that entails. There is also the added weight of the importance of legacy and what a triumph could do for women’s rugby in the country. So there is a lot at stake, but England has shown calm at all times and, if they can stick to their processes, a phrase frequently used by John Mitchell, they should be fine.
In short, this will mean a lot: they will be able to breathe with the pressure off them, bury some previous demons and also rest knowing that they succeeded in their pre-tournament goal.
For Canada, given the title of their crowdfunding campaign, this would be an amazing achievement. They are the second-best team in the world according to the official ranking, so this would be a surprise. But, since they have partially funded their campaign in England, this would be an incredible moment for the game in that part of the world. Canada has never won the tournament before. The closest they came was reaching the 2014 final, where they faced England.
They have the players, but stopping England is the toughest task in the sport.
It would mean a lot to both teams for very different reasons. It’s the tournament the Red Roses have been destined to win since England was announced as the host. There’s also the fact that they’ve been in six consecutive finals with only one victory. A significant amount of money has been invested, with good reason, in the women’s program, and a victory would demonstrate to other nations that that’s what it takes to claim the biggest prizes.
