Wednesday's Ruck & Maul

(Rugby Canada)

NOMINEE FOR WORLD RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

This thought would not even enter into Sophie deGoede's head this week as she prepares for the RWC Final against the host country England, on Saturday. Canada are the underdogs, yet, from a friend on location, "they are quietly and fiercely confident." The last time these two teams met in October last year, it was close. The Ruggernut made the following observation in a post match blog; I enjoyed the key post-game statements from the Canadian captain and coach. Alex Tessier was very assertive when insisting a couple of times, “we had them”, at the same time admitting second-half mistakes were the cause for the score line. Coach Rouet, in his customary, understated fashion, offered it was good that “we stayed with them”, despite not “having our best game”. I believe that these assessments were verified by the faces of the England ladies at game’s end, with almost unanimous looks of relief.