Canada look to rebound against England

Canada will look to shake off their only loss of the year against England on Saturday, but will have to do so at the most daunting of locations – the fortress of Twickenham. The match will be played immediately following the England men’s game against Argentina, setting the stage for a massive day of rugby in London and the perfect test of nerves ahead of the 2017 Women’s World Cup coming in August.

While they did not get the result they wanted on Wednesday against New Zealand, Canada gave the world’s top team a fright as the 20-10 score reflected the closeness of the match. Mistakes were made that cost them points both in attack and defense and the game tape would have revealed the goals for Saturday’s contest. Accuracy in the lineout will be one, securing possession at the breakdown another.

François Ratier has kept the faith with the majority of his starters set to play their third game in eight days having started the tour with a big win over Ireland last Saturday. Only two changes have been made as Tyson Beukeboom runs out at lock in place of Kayla Mack, and Brittany Waters is rewarded with a start on the wing after making an impact off the bench in Dublin. One positional switch sees captain Kelly Russell swap spots on the back row with Jasey Grusnick.

Elissa Alarie moves to the bench where she replaces Brianna Miller as backup scrumhalf. Further changes on the bench see the return of Gillian Boag as reserve hooker, while Mackenzie Higgs and Frédérique Rajotte cover across the backline.

England are themselves coming off a 25-20 loss to the Black Ferns a week ago and will be out for revenge after the humiliating 52-17 thrashing at the hands of Canada during the Super Series in Salt Lake City less than five months ago. To achieve that coach Simon Middleton has named a team overflowing with experience that includes world record cap winner Rochelle Clark at loosehead prop. Tamara Taylor is set to win her 98th cap in the second row, and 2016 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Sarah Hunter leads the side out from her usual no8 position.

The backs are no less intimidating with La Toya Mason once again at scrumhalf and the electric Danielle Waterman at fullback. In the midfield are two staples of the team in Richael Burford and Great Britain Olympic 7s captain Emily Scarratt.

Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, noon Eastern, with a live stream available on TSN Go.

 

ENGLAND
1 Rochelle Clark, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Tamara Taylor, 5 Harriet Millar-Mills, 6 Alex Matthews, 7 Izzy Noel-Smith, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 La Toya Mason, 10 Emily Scott, 11 Kay Wilson, 12 Rachael Burford, 13 Emily Scarratt, 14 Lydia Thompson, 15 Danielle Waterman

16 Emma Croker, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Poppy Cleall, 20 Marlie Packer, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Megan Jones, 23 Claire Allan

 

CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen, 2 Laura Russell, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Latoya Blackwood, 6 Kelly Russell (capt.), 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Jacey Grusnick, 9 Chelsea Guthrie, 10 Emily Belchos, 11 Magali Harvey, 12 Andrea Burk, 13 Alex Tessier, 14 Brittany Waters, 15 Julianne Zussman

16 Gillian Boag, 17 Demi Stamatakis, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Kayla Mack, 20 Barbara Mervin, 21 Elissa Alarie, 22 Mackenzie Higgs, 23 Frédérique Rajotte

 

Referee: Alhambra Nievas (FER)
Assistants: Claire Hodnett (RFU) & tba