The big one. Canada v England, Saturday, 4.00. BBC1

[Which Tyler]

Ref: Hollie Davidson
TJs: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Clara Munarini
TMO: Leo Colgan

Canada:
1. McKinley Hunt
2. Emily Tuttosi
3. DaLeaka Menin
4. Sophie de Goede
5. Courtney O'Donnell
6. Caroline Crossley
7. Karen Paquin
8. Fabiola Forteza

09. Justine Pelletier
10. Taylor Perry
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester
12. Alex Tessier
13. Florence Symonds
14. Alysha Corrigan
15. Julia Schell

16. Gillian Boag, 17. Brittany Kassil, 18. Olivia DeMerchant, 19. Tyson Beukeboom, 20. Laetitia Royer
21. Gabrielle Senft, 22. Olivia Apps, 23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa

England:
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Maud Muir
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Alex Matthews

09. Natasha Hunt
10. Zoe Harrison
11. Jess Breach
12. Tatyana Heard
13. Megan Jones
14. Abby Dow
15. Ellie Kildunne

16. Lark Atkin-Davies, 17. Kelsey Clifford, 18. Sarah Bern, 19. Rosie Galligan, 20. Maddie Feaunati
21. Lucy Packer, 22. Holly Aitchison, 23. Helena Rowland

 

[Ddanno]

So glad Botterman is fit.

My one teeny complaint is I think Packer is better than Hunt, but I can see why you'd want her coming off the bench to up the tempo at ~60m

 

[Reiser99]

Yeah, half backs really need to justify their selection. England know they can't start as slowly as they did last week. Need to kick more for territory and not throw wild passes in their own half.

 

[Which Tyler]

Canada are the form team at the moment, while England have the higher ceiling - but are playing way further from it (and haven't been challenged to find any further gears).

Canada are the team that worried me the most pre-tournament - they've got the tight game to defend our rolling maul, and the vision/speed to get around our narrow defence. We'll have to see something from England that we haven't seen so far (but know is in there somewhere) to come out on top.

That said, England will have the home crowd... and the pressure of expectation.
Canada will only really have positive motivations - a last chance for many of their players, and "you've seen what we can do, now fund us" to their union, and technically, the underdogs (based purely on world ranking).

I think Canada get on top fairly early, and England will adapt and finish stronger - but will it be enough?

 

[Saintjay]

Potential for England coming out like a deer in headlights, playing not to lose zero risk rugby.

Whilst Canada have the momentum and more likely nothing to lose vibes.

England should win but equally wouldn't be surprised if Canada do. I really think it will be simply who best handles the pressure on the day wins.

 

[Which Tyler]

England should win but equally wouldn't be surprised if Canada do. I really think it will be simply who best handles the pressure on the day wins.

Agreed. England are set up specifically to deal with the pressure:
Big pack who absolutely knows how to roll a maul off a lineout.
Back row that can contest everything.
Calm, organising inside backs (we won't talk about the SF).
Back 4 who can produce a moment of magic if given half a chance.

Canada... shouldn't be feeling all that much in the way of pressure. They're the underdogs, they're the "amateurs" taking on the pro.s, they've the perfect game to counter England, they've got nothing left to prove. Shouldn't even be a particularly hostile crowd - partisan, but not hostile.

 

[9215.]

I think Canada get on top fairly early, and England will adapt and finish stronger - but will it be enough?

Agreed, I’m pretty confident Canada will win the first half and England the second and it’ll come down to who wins their half by more, but I’m backing England to do it because they really need to.

 

[Ddanno]

I'm really ******* nervous about this. We should have the game and firepower but battle hardened we ain't.

We looked surprised when Aus and France turned up to play. Canada aren't going to let the pressure off and they'll punish us so much more.

 

[9215.]

My detailed prediction is Canada score early and go in ahead at halftime. England don’t take the lead until 65 minutes but go on to win by two scores.

 

[Ddanno]

God that lineout was bad.

 

[Ddanno]

AHHHH ELLIE

 

[AlRums]

Two good tries

 

[Which Tyler]

Even Brian's being shite in commentary.
All about Ellie's upper body strength, when she didn't use any of it at all, her upper body wasn't where anyone expected it to be (and the defence was busy drifting to cover the 3 on 2 that Brian didn't see).

The rugby though, is excellent all round

 

[Ddanno]

DEFENDERS BEATEN: ******* ALL OF 'EM

 

[Ddanno]

Are we still ******* up restarts

 

[Which Tyler]

Are we still ******* up restarts

It's just a national trait - our version of "which France will turn up"

 

[AlRums]

Contested and not remotely straight

 

[AlRums]

"rugby version of a group hug" what is that commentator on?

 

[McTallshort]

No try

 

[Reiser99]

No clear grounding, take the penalty.