World Cup Final: Team News

Both sides have made two changes to their starting line-ups from their semi final wins.

England coach Gary Street has recalled Lichfield scrum-half Natasha Hunt and Wasps flanker Marlie Packer to the starting line-up. Hunt, who replaces La Toya Mason, started against Samoa and Canada and has scored two tries in this tournament. Packer, who gets the nod ahead of Alexandra Matthews and Heather Fisher, leads England’s top try tally, alongside wing Kay Wilson, with four tries in two games against Spain and Ireland.

Canada coach Francois Ratier has moved Elissa Alarie to scrum half, after she replaced the injured Stephanie Bernier mid-way through the French game, while Jessica Dovanne replaces Brittany Waters on wing

England prop Rochelle Clark, meanwhile, is set to win her 95th cap and also feature in her third consecutive Rugby World Cup final. Fullback Danielle Waterman, who is also set for a third WRWC final appearance, will win her 60th cap.

Street, whose side defeated Ireland 40-7 to reach Sunday’s final, said: “It was immensely tough to select this team. We have 26 players fit and everyone is in a really good place freshness wise so it was a very tough call. We have had 27 players part of this World Cup experience and with one game to go it is always going to be very tough on those not selected.

“Marlie has been a great impact player this tournament. She is fresh having only played 20 minutes over the last two games so we are expecting her to add a lot of energy into our backrow. Natasha has also had a fantastic tournament and is also fresh from the semi-final having only just come on in the second half. She adds a real pace to our game which I think is going to be hugely important.”

Street added: “Playing Canada in the pool stages, although it was very tough, was as it turned out, very useful. They really brought their A game to that match and we didn’t perform as we wanted to. However, the errors that we made then we have learned from and we showed that in our performance against Ireland.

“Rugby World Cup finals are obviously very special but we are genuinely just thinking about playing Canada as just another game. We have to. In 2010 we felt a real weight of expectation going into the final and we have learned a lot from that experience.”

Ratier said: “We know that England is a very strong team and they showed that in the Semi-Finals against Ireland on Wednesday."

“Sunday is an incredible opportunity for us to show how far Canadian Women’s Rugby has come and that we belong in the Finals of the World Cup. Our athletes have spent years preparing for this moment and we’re all looking forward to the challenge.”

England:Danielle Waterman (Bristol), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Rachael Burford (Thurrock), Kay Wilson (Bristol) ,Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) C, Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Rochelle Clark (Worcester), Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), Marlie Packer (Wasps), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) VC

Replacements:Emma Croker (Richmond), Laura Keates (Worcester), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), La Toya Mason (Wasps), Ceri Large (Worcester), Claire Allan (Richmond)

Canada:Julianne Zussman, (Town of Mount Royal RFC), Magali Harvey, (Club de Rugby Quebec), Mandy Marchak, (Capilano RFC), Andrea Burk, (Capilano RFC), Jessica Dovanne, (Velox RFC), Emily Belchos, (Markham Irish RFC), Elissa Alarie, (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Rugby Club), Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, (Club de Rugby Quebec), Kim Donaldson, (Burnaby Lake Rugby Club), Hilary Leith, (Capilano RFC), Latoya Blackwood, (St. Anne de Bellevue), Maria Samson, (Calgary Hornets), Jacey Murphy, (Aurora Barbarians), Karen Paquin, (Club de Rugby Quebec) ,Kelly Russell, Captain (Toronto Nomads)

Replacements:Laura Russell, (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, Olivia DeMerchant, (Woodstock Wildmen), Mary-Jane Kirby, (Highland RFC) Brampton, Tyson Beukeboom, (Aurora Barbarians), Kayla Mack, (Wild Oats RFC), Julia Sugawara, (Burnaby Lake RFC) Surrey, Brittany Waters, (Meraloma Athletic Club)