A look at the final, before and during
The Top Tier
Regular readers will know I had severe doubts about filling that third and top tier of the stadium.
It’s a huge tribute to the organisers that their ambition was proved fully justified. Indeed, we knew back on 19 August that every seat had been claimed. (By the way, it’s a long way up there; opera-glasses recommended).
The match-up was less predictable, though not if we were happy to accept world ramkings. Canada had put the Black Ferns to the sword in their semi – a game that history may well tell us was the greatest of the tournament.
Unlike the Maple Leafs England had not been all-convincing against France. With so many players aboard with unhappy memories of one and even two losing finals, could they cast off dull care?
Both head coaches opted for unchanged sides; continuity was the key. The Red Roses had the historic advantage: they hadn’t lost to their opponents since 2016. Would their nerve hold?
The build-up
There’s a famous shot of the England team returning through the triumphal arch from their 2014 win in Paris. But in 2025 the numbers had swollen almost to bursting point. Many fans were unable to catch a glance of their heroes, so dense were the crowds.
For the second time National Rail was pleased to have rebuilt Twickenham Station for a women’s game. The excitement was palpable.
The game in brief
Canada had been intent on victory from the start of preparations. They opened the scoring with another cut-throat move completed by Asia Hogan-Rochester on the left. The crowd grew thoughtful.
But for the first time in the tournament Canada came up against an implacable defence. Time and again they were clasped in double tackles or thrust rearwards.
Ellie Kildunne offered the crowd what they had been hoping for, a quick response; dancing feet and opposing arms grasping thin air let her dot down under the posts. That put the home team ahead 7-5. From there the outcome was secure, despite Canadian efforts to alter history.
In the long term it’s noteworthy that the English backs couldn’t contrive another try; the pack did the scoring as well as the heaving.
But the group as a whole couldn’t care less, nor could most of the crowd. Eleven years of pain were behind them.
The ungenerous pointed to the vast difference in backing the two sides had. The one, offered millions of ££ by their union; the other having to top up what their union had been able to afford through crowd funding.
The Canadians’ performance all through the six weeks was a massive tribute to them and their staff.
I’ll leave thoughts on possible outcomes for a last instalment of this series.
But for the moment it was glory, delight and relief for the hosts. They basked in national headlines and the adoration of their fans.
Result: England 33 Canada 13
