Canada name team for show down with the USA

Canada coach Kevin Rouet has made five personnel and two positional changes to his starting line-up for the third and final pool game of the World Cup against the USA at Waitakere Stadium on 23 October.

Brittany Kassil is promoted back into the starting line-up with Olivia DeMerchant dropping to the bench. McKinley Hunt earns a start for the first time in the tournament, partnering Courtney Holtkamp in the second row. RWC 2014 runner-up Karen Paquin comes in on the blindside in the only other change to the forwards.

With Brianna Miller ruled out of the rest of the tournament through injury, Justine Pelletier will start alongside Alex Tessier in a new-look half-back pairing. Tessier shifts in one position to start a test at fly-half for the first time since their 15-9 victory over USA in the World Rugby Pacific Four Series in November 2021.

Sara Kaljuvee moves to inside centre with Alysha Corrigan joining her in midfield for her first RWC start, whilst five players come on to the bench for this match including prop Mikiela Nelson, second-row Ngalula Fuamba, back row Gabrielle Senft and utility backs Anais Holly and Julia Schell.

The Pacific Four Series match with USA in Tauranga in June was Rouet’s first as head coach and Sophie de Goede’s debut as Canada captain, both securing a winning start with the 36-5 triumph.

Canada have won their last five meetings with neighbours USA since a 20-18 loss in July 2019. They have never won six in a row against the Women’s Eagles.

They have lost both of their Rugby World Cup meetings with USA – their semi-final 46-6 in Amsterdam in 1998 and their fifth-place play-off 23-20 in Guildford in 2010.

1. Brittany Kassil
2. Emily Tuttosi
3. DaLeaka Menin
4. Courtney Holtkamp
5. McKinley Hunt
6. Karen Paquin
7. Sara Svoboda
8. Sophie De Goede (captain)
9. Justine Pelletier
10. Alex Tessier
11. Paige Farries
12. Sara Kaljuvee
13. Alysha Corrigan
14. Maddy Grant
15. Elissa Alarie

16. Gillian Boag
17. Mikiela Nelson
18. Olivia DeMerchant
19. Ngalula Fuamba
20. Tyson Beukeboom
21. Gabrielle Senft
22. Anais Holly
23. Julia Schell