Match Preview – England vs Canada

Canada’s Senior Women’s team starts their four-match UK tour in Doncaster on Sunday where they face off against England at Castle Park. The two sides have been regular foes in recent years, with the Red Roses sweeping their three-game series a year ago.

It’s a more settled look to the Canadian lineup this time around, with five World Cup forwards featuring in a strong forward pack including outstanding front row trio DaLeaka Menin, Laura Russell, and DaLeaka Menin. Russell follows in the footsteps of sister Kelly to captain the side with Tyson Beukeboom adding experience in the second row and Cindy Nelles named at her preferred position of No8.

There is a test debut for Maple Leafs standout Gabrielle Senft on the flank, one of three new caps in the run-on side. Courtney Holtkamp is named at lock after featuring on the side of the scrum both for the u20s in the summer and in her own senior debut a year ago.

The backline, remarkably, originates entirely from Québec. Anais Holly is given the pivotal No10 shirt with two newcomers in the three-quarter line – left winger Sabrina Poulin and outside center Marie Thibault. Former World Rugby Player of the Year Magali Harvey returns on the right wing.

Four players are set to earn their first caps from the bench. Mackenzie Carson continues her conversion to hooker from flyhalf, with prop Maude Laliberté, flyhalf Taylor Black, and outside back Irene Patrinos all set to make the step up to test rugby.

They face an England side that shows comprehensive changes to the lineup that overwhelmed a shorthanded USA. Six come up front with new props in Vickii Cornborough and Hannah Botterman, a new lock in Catherine O’Donnell, and an entirely new back row trio.

It’s the loose forwards who are most formidable, boasting an impressive 187 combined caps – 106 coming from recalled captain Sarah Hunter. Poppy Cleall packs down on the blindside flank with Saracens clubmate Marlie Packer lining up at her favored openside position.

New centurion Katy Daley-McLean gets a rest with Zoe Harrison running out at flyhalf. The 79-cap veteran Rachael Burford returns at inside center with Lucy Attwood set to play just her second test outside her. Millie Wood replaces Lydia Thompson on the right wing.

Earning a win against the World Cup finalists would be a perfect start to the tour for the Canadians, but doing so against a side with such vast experience at key positions will be difficult. Having trained and played together recently also favors England, though a much closer game than the one-sided results of a year ago can be expected.

Kick-off is set for 2pm local, 9am Eastern time. A live stream will be available on the England Rugby Facebook page, with FloRugby showing the game for those in the USA.

ENGLAND
1 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Lark Davies, 3 Hannah Botterman, 4 Catherine O’Donnell, 5 Abbie Scott, 6 Poppy Cleall, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Kelly Smith, 12 Rachael Burford, 13 Lucy Attwood, 14 Millie Wood, 15 Sarah McKenna

Replacements: 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Ellena Perry, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Zoe Aldcroft, 20 Jo Brown, 21 Claudia MacDonald, 22 Katy Daley-Mclean, 23 Carys Williams

CANADA
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Laura Russell (capt.), 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Courtney Holtkamp, 6 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Janna Slevinsky, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Brianna Miller, 10 Anaïs Holly, 11 Sabrina Poulin, 12 Alex Tessier, 13 Marie Thibault, 14 Magali Harvey, 15 Elissa Alarie

Replacements: 16 Mackenzie Carson, 17 Veronica Harrigan, 18 Maude Laliberté, 19 Ngalula Fuamba, 20 Sara Svoboda, 21 Lori Josephson, 22 Taylor Black, 23 Irene Patrinos

Date: Sunday, November 18
Kick-off: 14:00 local (06:00 Pacific, 09:00 Eastern)
Venue: Castle Park, Doncaster
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
Assistants: Laure Pettingale (RFU) & Katherine Ritchie (RFU)
TMO: Éric Gauzins (FFR)
Broadcasts: FloRugby, Facebook