England seek to win WXV title with 'exciting rugby'

Fly-half Holly Aitchison has been a key player in England's improvements in attack

WXV - Canada v England

Venue: BC Place, Vancouver Date: Saturday, 12 October Kick-off: 19:00 local (03:00 BST on Sunday) Coverage: Watch live on BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer

Although high scores under former head coach Simon Middleton were not uncommon, the majority of England's tries used to come from a dominant maul and forward-oriented attack.

John Mitchell’s goal when he took over at the end of 2023 was to get his team playing a more entertaining style of rugby and his talented back three running with the ball more often.

After an initial adjustment period during the Six Nations, everything clicked last Sunday as Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne scored a combined seven tries in an exhilarating 49-31 WXV1 victory over world champions New Zealand.

That extended the Six Nations champions' winning run to 19 matches and moved Mitchell's side to within one victory of retaining their WXV1 title.

It also underlined why the Red Roses are ranked number one in the world and considered firm favourites to lift the World Cup next September.

On Saturday in Vancouver (03:00 BST on Sunday live on BBC iPlayer) they will be looking to "captivate" fans when they meet WXV1 hosts Canada in a winner-takes-all match.

"There was a time when we had the rolling maul and often that is not the most entertaining thing to watch," fly-half Holly Aitchison said.

"It is still a massive strength of our game that we can go to, but I am really proud of how we have adopted this new style and have a really exciting brand of rugby, especially in the lead-up to the World Cup to captivate that audience.

"It is fun, entertaining and good for the viewer and us to play in. It is fast and exciting and where rugby needs to get to in order to give the brand the space it needs and attract an exciting market for people who want to watch the game.

"That fills seats essentially."

'Canada have always been threats'

Much of the build-up to both of England's recent games against New Zealand was as if it was a dry run for next year's World Cup final at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

New Zealand have beaten England in back-to-back world finals, but the Red Roses showed their current dominance over them by comfortably winning both of their most recent matches.

Now it seems WXV1 hosts Canada, who ran England close in their World Cup semi-final in 2022, are ready to step into New Zealand's shoes as the main challenger.

Despite their amateur status, they defeated New Zealand to win the Pacific Four Series earlier this year before recording big WXV victories over France and Ireland to set up a title showdown with England.

They are ranked number two in the world and are on a six-game winning run of their own.

So is Saturday's decider the actual dress rehearsal for the World Cup final?

Canada will need to produce a near-perfect performance to end England's winning run but their confidence is building.

Lock Tyson Beukeboom, who played in Canada's World Cup final loss to England in 2014, this week challenged her side to win next year's World Cup.

"Canada have always been knocking at that door," said England captain Marlie Packer, who also played in the 2014 final.

"If you look 10 years ago they were in that World Cup final, they have always been threats."

Seven players in the hosts' starting XV play their club rugby in England, with four more named as replacements.

Prop McKinley Hunt and number eight Gabrielle Senft play for Packers' Saracens, but unlike the England captain - who is centrally contracted with her union - spend most of their time apart from the national side.

"They do a lot of training off their own back because they are very driven and athletic individuals," Packer added.

"Some of them are great rugby players and you put that with confidence then that is the Canada side we are seeing at the moment.

"They don't play together as much as us or the other home nations, so that gives us an advantage in the type of game we want to play."

England defeated Canada 45-12 at last year's WXV1 tournament

Head-to-head stats

• England have won 32 of their previous 36 Test matches against Canada, including 12 straight wins.

• Canada have won six successive Tests, their longest streak of victories since 2022, when defeat by the Red Roses at the World Cup semi-finals ended their eight-match winning run.

• The Red Roses have won 49 of their last 50 Test matches, which includes 19 consecutive wins since defeat by New Zealand at the World Cup final in 2022.

• England have won all five of their WXV1 matches, while Canada have won four of their previous five, only being defeated by the Red Roses last year.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Westcombe-Evans, Rowland, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Aldcroft, Galligan, Feaunati, M Packer (capt), Matthews.

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Ward, Talling, L Packer, Harrison, Scarratt.

Canada: Schell; Hogan-Rochester, Seumanutafa, Tessier (capt), Farries; Gallagher, Pelletier; Hunt, Tuttosi, Menin, Holtkamp, Royer, Buisa, Forteza, Senft.

Replacements: Cline, Kassil, Ellis, Beukeboom, Omokhuale, Apps, Corrigan, Bermudez.