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So what are the things that will tip this match one way or the other?
Canada have an all-action, fast rucking and short carrying game that they alloy with nimble hands out wide. England were regularly caught on the outside by France in the semi and this Canadian style is tailor made to exploit a narrow defence. The Maple Leaf women also have an excellent kicking game, with plenty in the team who can hoof it, which is a point of difference in the women’s game.
England have a collection of replacements like no other team. It was notable how much the hammer came down on France in the second half last week after the Red Roses bench emptied. Also, while they may not be playing as brilliantly as previously, England still score a lot of points, which begs the obvious question can Canada score enough to overcome them? Experience would suggest opposition will need at least 35 points to be in with a chance. The Red Roses have a kicking game of their own as well, with Harrison and Hunt particularly good at hanging up contestable bombs for their incredible back three of Dow, Breach & Kildunne to chase.
And speaking of Ellie Kildunne… England have Ellie Kildunne.
Updated at 09.07 EDT
A sensible question from Anna Watson on email, “What time does it actually start please?”
It’s 4pm, UK time, Anna.
Who will be keeping the teams in line today?
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Clara Munarini (Italy)
Television Match Official (TMO): Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Pre-match reading
Get in touch with all your thoughts and predictions, or maybe you’d like to share a humiliating school sport story so I’m not the only one. Whatever you choose, you can do it on the email
ShareTeams
It’s as you were for both squads, with John Mitchell and Kevin Rouet each retaining the same 23 from the semi-final victories.
England
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir; Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward; Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland
Canada
Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alex Tessier, Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin; Sophie de Goede (c), Courtney O’Donnell; Caroline Crossley, Karen Paquin, Fabiola Forteza
Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia DeMerchant, Tyson Beukeboom, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft, Olivia Apps, Shoshanah Seumanutafa
SharePreamble
So here we are, the final of the Rugby World Cup 2025 as favourites from way back England face Canada, the second best team in the world.
Sequential rankings can be deceptive. For example, at the age of eleven I came fourth in a butterfly stroke swimming race at an interschools gala. Not bad on the face of it, but dig a little deeper and the truth is there were only four kids in the race, I hadn’t actually swam the stroke before, and I climbed out of the pool after one length of the designated two I was so far behind.
This is not to say that Canada are the land borne equivalent of my incompetent thrashing about in municipal chlorinated water, but there is a gulf to consider between the sides today; one that is reflective of the sport as a whole.
England have spent at least five years as the best team on the planet. This is no accident as they are well funded by their Union at international level, have a thriving domestic competition and a profile within the sport that cuts through to other fanbases. Canada meanwhile, despite their rare talent, had to crowdfund their appearance at the tournament. These relative places on the spectrum of women’s rugby sustainability and profile mirror their displays coming into this final.
Pressure makes diamonds, they say, but that’s usually nonsense in a non-geological context. In a human setting pressure creates anxiety, and England’s performances under the weight of expectation in their home tournament have become increasingly tight, albeit physically dominant. Canada have nothing to lose and are playing with a bruising freedom that raises pulses and smiles all round. This makes for a tantalising final.
But the Red Roses are not here to win friends, they want to win the trophy that for all their obvious brilliance has eluded them since 2014; to be the Best Team In The World™ without the asterisk. One more match to go.