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<\/p>\nA tall man with a Canadian accent and a Dutch name sits in a Breton cafe, one mile from the home of English rugby. The subject of his T-shirt is his daughter. On Saturday, Sophie de Goede will represent the Maple Leafs against the Red Roses at Twickenham, when Canada meet England in the women\u2019s Rugby World Cup final.<\/p>\n
Hans de Goede was Canada\u2019s captain at the inaugural men\u2019s Rugby World Cup in 1987 and he is not the only former national leader opposite me. Stephanie White, his wife, played at the first two women\u2019s World Cups, in 1991 and 1994. Their daughter, Sophie, is not Canada\u2019s captain any more, but she is the star of the only team standing between England and a world title. An hour before Mum and Dad sat down with The Times their daughter was named on the three-woman shortlist for world XVs player of the year.<\/p>\n
De Goede\u2019s second such nomination is just reward for a barnstorming tournament. She has previously been in World Rugby dream teams as a No8 and flanker, and now she is operating in the second row. In basketball \u2014 the other sport at which she excelled at school and university \u2014 they might call her a \u201cfive-tool\u201d player. In rugby, she has a tool that forwards are not expected to have.<\/p>\n
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De Goede\u2019s kicking prowess can be attributed to her multi-sport youth as a footballer and rugby half back<\/p>\n
ASHLEY WESTERN\/COLORSPORT\/SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n
As Canada\u2019s goalkicker De Goede is the second-highest points-scorer at this World Cup. It is a remnant of a multi-sport youth as a footballer and a rugby half back. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe said in the back row your lungs get tired, you\u2019re running so much, but in the second row your legs are tired, and she\u2019s kicking,\u201d Stephanie, 64, says. \u201cIt\u2019s a whole different thing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hans, 72, adds: \u201cIt seems to be working for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was not a problem Hans had to consider as a lock, although his second-row partner, Ro Hindson, occasionally lined up long-range efforts, like Allan Martin did for Wales. The De Goedes emigrated from Amsterdam in the 1950s, to escape postwar struggles. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was still really rough,\u201d Hans says. \u201cThere would be brawls in the street out the front of their store and Mom said, \u2018We need to get out of here.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
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Elgan with De Goede\u2019s parents and No1 fans: Stephanie, centre, and Hans, right<\/p>\n
Hans gave up basketball at school because it clashed with his job as a theatre doorman, switching to rugby. He made his debut for Canada in 1974 and won 24 caps in 13 years. The outlier in his club career is the 1978-79 season, which he spent at Cardiff, before returning home to work as a carpenter. <\/p>\n
Being recognised on the streets of the Welsh capital was an alien sensation for a Canadian rugby player, who often exists in near anonymity at home. It was also in Wales that Stephanie competed at the 1991 World Cup, on small fields away from the spotlight. She saw a poster for Calgary Renegades in a record shop and wanted to prove to her rugby-playing brother that she was tough enough, and retired with 17 caps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember getting a tour of the Arms Park and not being allowed to walk on that hallowed grass,\u201d she says. In contrast, her daughter is on the cusp of a World Cup final at a sold-out Twickenham. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe stayed in dorms, like college dorms. The girls were staying last week in Bristol at the Marriott Royal. Beautiful hotel.\u201d Hans adds: \u201cSophie\u2019s never slept in such a big bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
In distinctly North American fashion, Hans describes it as \u201cneat\u201d for Canada to play in front of 82,000 people: \u201cThey\u2019ll be stargazing for a few minutes when they run out there.\u201d <\/p>\n
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De Goede, 26, has been in World Rugby dream teams as a No8 and flanker, but is now operating in the second row<\/p>\n
JACK THOMAS \u2013 WORLD RUGBY\/WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
The Red Roses attract bigger audiences, but neither side have played in front of this many people on such an occasion. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a post about the underdogs and Canadians took real exception to that. Why are we underdogs?\u201d Stephanie says. <\/p>\n
Hans interjects: \u201cThe dark horses. That didn\u2019t go over very well.\u201d <\/p>\n
Back to Stephanie: \u201cPeople weren\u2019t happy with that, like, \u2018Wait a second.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
The last time Canada faced England, at WXV in October, England won 21-12, but were behind in the final quarter. That was without De Goede, who was recovering from an ACL tear that kept her out of action for more than 12 months, missing the Paris Olympics. <\/p>\n
After a post-World Cup break, despite Hans\u2019s remark that he would love her to take up a contract in Bordeaux so he can visit, De Goede will return to action with Saracens.<\/p>\n
In England she is an influential figure. The De Goedes have followed Canada to every World Cup venue and have witnessed her status. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe other day in York, or Manchester \u2014 maybe it was Exeter? \u2014 this lady was sitting beside my friend,\u201d Stephanie says. \u201cShe was there with her daughter and my friend was like, \u2018This is Sophie\u2019s mom.\u2019 And she just looks at me and said, \u2018Can I give you a hug?\u2019 She said,: \u2018Do you know your daughter is inspiring my daughter, her friends?\u2019 And this was an English lady, just saying how cool is it. Big, strong, smart women.\u201d<\/p>\n
You have to approach the proud parents for comment on Sophie de Goede because the 26-year-old is not the type to screech about her own output on social media. She is more in tune with the traditional way of focusing on the field and the collective, though Stephanie says she is aware of advice to be louder online.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a hard time getting replies to our messages,\u201d Hans jokes of her phone usage.<\/p>\n