Canada prepares for its biggest game so far this year when the women clash with England in the group stage of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
Both teams decimated Samoa and Canada also defeated Spain 31-7 in its first game of the World Cup in Marcoussis, France. The winner of the pool advances directly to the semi-finals. The winners of each of the three pools advance while the fourth finallist is the team with the highest points out of the remaining teams. If that isn't Canada, the best they can do is fifth.
Canada and England are undefeated in Pool A.
U.K. newspaper The Telegraph touted Canada as “genuine contenders.” Canada decisively won a two-game CanAm series against the U.S. this spring and has finished fourth at the World Cup three times since 1998. The sevens team is ranked third in the world.
Canada plays a must-win game against England, a historically strong squad that was crowned the best in the world 10 years ago and won the Six Nations from 2006 to 2012. An experienced team, England’s 12 players have more than 50 appearances for their national side.
“It’s going to be a great game against England on Saturday,” said Brittany Waters,31, a Meraloma Athletic Club member and York House alumnae, in a Rugby Canada release. “We improved on our first game and if we can continue to be strong in the breakdown against England, we can be successful.”
Waters scored two tries as Canada handed Samoa a crushing 42-7 defeat on Aug. 5. She did not dress for the game against Spain.
Canada’s game against England will air on TSN2 at 6:30 a.m. PST on Aug. 9.
This story was updated Aug. 8 to accurately report how Canada could advance to the semi-finals.
