Canada’s women’s team has named its match-day roster for the third and final meeting with England this autumn, the series finale at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa on Friday night. The squad follows a record-breaking crowd of 18,621 in Toronto, where Canada beat reigning world champions England.
Head Coach Kevin Rouet said the team must build on that performance. “It felt amazing to get the win last week but that game still left us with a lot to work on and improve if we want to get another win on Friday in Ottawa,” said Rouet. “It’s the final week of tour for us and we want to finish strong, so practice this week has been all about adjusting and correcting parts of our game while making sure players can rest and recover to be ready for another big match.”
Key changes to the starting line-up
The most notable change sees Taylor Perry return to her familiar fly-half position. Shoshanah Seumanutafa earns a start at inside centre after scoring the go-ahead try in Canada’s win over England last week.
Gabrielle Senft moves into the starting fifteen, which gives Caroline Crossley the opportunity to come off the bench. Crossley will look to make her first appearance in a 15s jersey for Canada since last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Rugby Rematch Tour
Friday’s match in Ottawa is the second of two games in Canada this October against the reigning World Cup champions. The Rugby Rematch Tour, presented by Canadian Tire, marks the first time the team has played on home soil since placing second at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Rouet praised the support the team receives in Ottawa. “The players really like playing in Ottawa,” added Rouet. “We have had some great crowds each time we’ve played here over the last couple of years. Really looking forward to another game in Canada with our fans supporting us and giving us that extra push at key points in the game. It makes such a big difference.”
Where to watch
Coverage of Canada’s Rugby Rematch Tour match against England will be available on TSN2 and the TSN app from 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET.
Canada’s match-day roster vs England (Ottawa)
- Mikiela Nelson (Vancouver, BC), Capilano RFC (15 caps)
- Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON), Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds / Toronto Scottish (7 caps)
- DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB), Exeter Chiefs / Calgary Hornets (76 caps)
- Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC), Saracens / Castaway Wanderers (47 caps)
- Laetitia Royer (Loretteville, QC), St-Anne-de-Bellevue / Concordia University (29 caps)
- Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK), Stade Bordelais / Castaway Wanderers (47 caps)
- Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB), Saracens / Calgary Irish Rugby Club (13 caps)
- Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON), Queen’s University / Oakville Crusaders (6 caps)
- Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON), Saracens / Lindsay RFC (29 caps)
- Taylor Perry (Oakville, ON), Oakville Crusaders (30 caps)
- Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON), Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC (15 caps)
- Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC), Counties Manukau (29 caps)
- Florence Symonds (Vancouver, BC), Loughborough Lightning / UBC Thunderbirds (22 caps)
- Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI), Saracens / CRFC (27 caps)
- Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC), UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC (3 caps)
Finishers
- Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB), Calgary Hornets (46 caps)
- Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON), Ontario West / Guelph Goats (58 caps)
- Brooke Rempel (Ariss, ON), Loughborough Lightning / Ontario West / Brantford Harlequins (5 caps)
- Fabiola Forteza (Quebec City, QC), Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (46 caps)
- Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC), Loughborough Lightning / Ottawa Irish (25 caps)
- Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC), Castaway Wanderers (13 caps)
- Justine Pelletier (Rivière-du-Loup, QC), Stade Bordelais / Club de rugby de Québec (50 caps)
- Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC), Exeter Chiefs / Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (72 caps)