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Rouet makes six Canada changes for Wales clash in Manchester
By Joe Harvey
Canada head coach Kévin Rouet has made six changes to his starting line-up to take on Wales in his side’s second game of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
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Fresh from picking up a 65-7 win over Fiji at York Community Stadium, victory for the Canadians at Salford Community Stadium in the first kick-off of round two can secure World Rugby’s second ranked side in the world a place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
These changes include a start for veteran lock Tyson Beukeboom, who will earn her 80th cap for her country and tie with former men’s player Aaron Carpenter as the most-capped Canadian rugby player of all time. She will pack down with Sophie de Goede in the second row.
Along with Beukeboom’s starting spot, McKinley Hunt and Emily Tuttosi move into the front-row after they joined from the replacements a week ago. Brittany Kassil and Gillian Boag trade places with them on the bench.
DaLeaka Menin retains her place among the starters after her late call-up to the starting XV in York, while Olivia DeMerchant has recovered from her minor injury to join the game as a finisher.
Elsewhere in the pack Karen Paquin is handed a start in the back-row. The flanker, who took a two year hiatus from international rugby after the 2021 Rugby World Cup, is playing in the competition for a fourth time and was a try-scorer last time out.
Among the backs there is just one change. After she left the field with a knock Fancy Bermudez has been replaced on the left wing by Asia Hogan-Rochester. It is the Olympic silver medallist’s first appearance for her country since she sustained an injury against Australia in May.
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World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year nominee Alex Tessier continues to captain her side from inside centre and six-try full-back Julia Schell maintains her place.
After three try assists in the opening game – all of which came for Schell in the second half – livewire scrum-half Justine Pelletier has maintained her starting spot and will combine with fly-half Taylor Perry again.
Following their starts in York, Courtney O’Donnell and Fabiola Forteza are both named among the finishers, as is versatile playmaker Claire Gallagher who could join the fray for her World Cup debut.
“Our mindset coming into this World Cup was to take it game by game so now we are focused on Wales and preparing for how they will challenge us on the pitch,” Rouet said.
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“It was great to start with such a strong performance against Fiji last week but as a team we must shift our mindset to Wales. The squad is excited to get back out there a test ourselves again against another quality opponent.”
Canada take on a Wales side smarting from a 38-8 loss to Scotland in their opening game of the World Cup. They have also beaten Wales in each of their last seven outings by 15 points or more and have now won each of their last four Pool stage games in the tournament.
Canada Line-Up vs Wales
1. McKinley Hunt (33 caps)
2. Emily Tuttosi (36 caps)
3. DaLeaka Menin (64 caps)
4. Sophie de Goede (36 caps)
5. Tyson Beukeboom (79 caps)
6. Caroline Crossley (8 caps)
7. Karen Paquin (36 caps)
8. Gabrielle Senft (35 caps)
9. Justine Pelletier (38 caps)
10. Taylor Perry (18 caps)
11. Asia Hogan-Rochester (3 caps)
12. Alexandra Tessier (61 caps)
13. Florence Symonds (13 caps)
14. Alysha Corrigan (22 caps)
15. Julia Schell (27 caps)
Finishers
16. Gillian Boag (34 caps)
17. Brittany Kassil (48 caps)
18. Olivia DeMerchant (61 caps)
19. Courtney O’Donnell (48 caps)
20. Fabiola Forteza (36 caps)
21. Olivia Apps (20 caps)
22. Claire Gallagher (18 caps)
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa (19 caps)