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As one World Cup cycle ends a new one begins when Canada face England at Allianz Park in London on Friday. It’s the first of three matches over eight days between the two sides that will culminate with a grand finale at Twickenham next Saturday. Following Ireland’s showpiece event only one side remains a World Cup finalist, Canada’s plans ultimately derailed by eventual champions New Zealand en route to a fifth place finish overall.
Simon Middleton remains in charge of the Red Roses and as expected it’s a new-look side with seven uncapped players named in the match day 23, two in the starting lineup. Wingers Jess Breach and Abby Dow have the honor of starting their international careers alongside world class fullback Danielle Waterman who wins her 75th cap. Midfielder Rachael Burford is just behind on 72 caps while flyhalf Katy Mclean will run out with 91 tests already on the books.
Mclean and Burford are the only backs to start the World Cup Final but there are five forwards who remain. Vickii Cornborough and Amy Cokayne reunite in the front row with Abbie Scott packing down at lock. Rowena Burnfield is recalled after a two year absence and Poppy Cleall joins finalists Sarah Hunter and Marlie Packer in an impressive loose forward trio. Hunter will captain the side from the unusual position of blindside flank in what will be her 99th international.
There are two test centurions on the bench in Rochelle Clark and Tamara Taylor along with five new names. Hannah Botterman, Shaunagh brown, Caity Mattinson, Zoe Harrison, and Ellie Kildunne are all set to make their first appearance in a senior England jersey.
Canada have a new coach in Sandro Fiorino and six new caps in the run-on side, while the entire bench is yet to win a single test cap. World Cup forwards Brittany Kassil, Laura Russell, Olivia DeMerchant, Tyson Beukeboom, and Cindy Nelles are joined by newcomers Ngalula Fuamba, Emily Nicholl, and Sara Svoboda in the starting pack. Russell leads the side in the absence of sister Kelly, who represented the Barbarians in Ireland, while Kassil makes her first test start.
Jess Neilson and Anais Holly also make their run-on debuts in a backline that contains only two World Cup returnees in scrumhalf Brianna Miller and flyhalf Emily Belchos, the latter moving to the midfield to accommodate Neilson. HSBC Sevens Series reps Nadia Popov and Emma Jada earn their first 15-a-side caps, the latter slotted in the midfield after featuring as an outside back for the Maple Leafs development side. Red Deer native Paige Farries makes her test debut on the wing.
Fiorino has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench. Emily Barber, Alex Ellis, and Veronica Harrigan cover the front row while McKinley Hunt, Janna Slevinsky, and Courtney Holtkamp are lock and loose forward options. Justine Pelletier is the backup scrumhalf with Sam Alli covering the midfield.
It’s not just an inexperienced side but also a youthful one. Nicholl, Harrigan, and Hunt all represented the national u20 side earlier this year while Holtkamp’s talent and physicality has seen her jump straight from the u18 program.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm local time, 2:30pm Eastern. A live stream will be available from England Rugby.
ENGLAND
1 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Heather Kerr, 4 Abbie Scott, 5 Rowena Burnfield, 6 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Poppy Cleall, 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Katy Mclean, 11 Jess Breach, 12 Amber Reed, 13 Rachael Burford, 14 Abby Dow, 15 Danielle Waterman
Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Rochelle Clark, 18 Hannah Botterman, 19 Tamara Taylor, 20 Shaunagh Brown, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Ellie Kildunne
CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Laura Russell (capt.), 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Ngalula Fuamba, 6 Emily Nicholl, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Jess Neilson, 11 Nadia Popov, 12 Emily Belchos, 13 Emma Jada, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Anaïs Holly
Replacements: 16 Emily Barber, 17 Alex Ellis, 18 Veronica Harrigan, 19 McKinley Hunt, 20 Janna Slevinsky, 21 Courtney Holtkamp, 22 Justine Pelletier, 23 Sam Alli
Date: Friday, November 17
Venue: Allianz Park, London
Kickoff: 19:30 local (14:30 ET, 11:30 PT)
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (FER)
Assistants: Tim Baker (HKRFU) & Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Broadcasts: Live Stream, Facebook
