More team nerves?
Rugby Canada
Despite the regretted absence of their captain Sophie De Goede, this is still a very strong Canadian squad. In her place Tyson Beukeboom takes charge. She is already the nation’s most capped player.
The Squad:
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis (Stade Français Paris), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Goats), *Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans Rugby), DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs), Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs), Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais), Gabrielle Senft (Saracens), Gillian Boag (Gloucester-Hartpury), Julia Omokhuale (Leicester Tigers), Karen Paquin (Club de rugby de Québec), Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat), McKinley Hunt (Saracens), Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish), *Rori Wood (College Rifles), Sara Cline (Leprechaun Tigers), Tyson Beukeboom (Trailfinders Women)
Backs
Alexandra Tessier (Exeter Chiefs), Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown RFC), *Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto Nomads), Claire Gallagher (Leicester Tigers), Fancy Bermudez (Saracens), Julia Schell (Trailfinders Women), Justine Pelletier (Stade Bordelais), Mahalia Robinson (Town of Mount Royal RFC), Olivia Apps (Lindsay RFC), Paige Farries (Saracens), Sara Kaljuvee (Westshore RFC), Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Counties Manukau), Taylor Perry (Exeter Chiefs)
*uncapped
This is the preferred 17/13 split.
There’s no denying the significance if De Goede’s injury – yet another ACL – but it’s been known about for eleven weeks. Everything else points towards success for the Maple Leafs. They lie so close to the Black Ferns in world rankings (89.32 and 89.13) that a second place is a reachable target. They will be seeking an even better position in this WXV1, in front of a home audience.
Two of the new caps, Asia Hogan-Rochester and Caroline Crossley, plus Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry all won silver medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. So Kévin Rouet has been able and willing to make extensive use of this 7s source.
Another pleasing name to be listed is Karen Paquin. She hasn’t appeared in this team since the last World Cup. She is the sort of rapid, physical back-rower opponents prefer not to face; seven years ago in New Zealand she caused England painful problems.
Canada are the one squad to combine players from the two strongest leagues (Elite 1 and the PWR, one (Shoshanah Seumanutafa) operating in New Zealand, plus others based at home. They are the only one of the two WXV1 nations handicapped by vast size (the other the USA) to have overcome their logistical problems to produce fine results.
A schedule of only three matches ensures tightly packed table postions, but Canada finished second to England last year and out-performed the Wallaroos, if not by much.
A crucial test for them will be the opening match against France. They beat them 29-20 last year, as les Bleues failed to follow up a famous victory over the Black Ferns. But time doesn’t stand still, and the French may yet find the form they are capable of.
The Maple Leafs will hope to see off newcomers Ireland, then they meet the Red Roses, which the organisers have cunningly placed as the final fling of this tournament.
As a salutary reminder, Canada lost only 19-26 to England at the last RWC.
Venues
A big unknown is the size of crowds likely to turn out at the two Vancouver venues, BC Place and the Langley Centre. The BC is a quite vast covered arena (54,500) in the centre of the city. The Langley is a more modern structure (2009) and more modest in size (5,276), a few miles to the south-east.
The BC brings to mind the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, used last year. It has a capacity a little below 31,000 and is also a roofed arena. The smallness of the gate for the England game brought comments from many quarters. We can only hope for larger attendances this year
