Canada stick with same line-up for Women's Rugby World Cup final / Photo: © AFP/File
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Canada stick with same line-up for Women's Rugby World Cup final
Canada coach Kevin Rouet has named an unchanged side for the Women's Rugby World Cup final against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
It is the third game in a row he has stuck with the same matchday 23 as Canada, beaten in the 2014 final by England, seek to be crowned world champions for the first time.
The Maple Leafs produced the performance of the tournament so far in defeating reigning champions New Zealand 34-19 in the semi-finals.
Canada's line-up named on Thursday includes World Rugby women's 15s player of the year nominee Sophie de Goede, their goal-kicking lock.
There are two survivors from Canada's defeat by England in the 2014 final. Karen Paquin starts at openside flanker and Tyson Beukeboom is on the replacements bench.
The Maple Leafs, who lost 26-19 to the Red Roses in the semi-finals of the last World Cup, face an England side on a record 32-match unbeaten run.
Rouet said Canada had previously not been ready for "high-pressure games" but were now better prepared.
Canada are semi-professional and had to crowd-fund nearly a third of the budget for their World Cup campaign whereas England are the best-resourced team in women's rugby.
But Rouet is undaunted.
"We focus on ourselves but also show a couple of weaknesses that England have and hopefully during the game we're going to be able to put the pressure on that and force them to potentially go to their plan B or whatever they need to do to win this game," he said.
A capacity crowd of about 82,000 is expected at Twickenham, with most of the crowd cheering for the home side.
"Most of the stadium will be against us and it makes us smile already," said Rouet. "We want the energy of the stadium."
Canada (15-1)
Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier (capt), Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; Fabiola Forteza, Karen Paquin, Caroline Crossley; Courtney O'Donnell, Sophie de Goede; DaLeaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi, McKinley Hunt
Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia DeMerchant, Tyson Beukeboom, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumanutafa
Coach: Kevin Rouet (FRA)
T.Bondarenko--BTB
