‘Everything we do this year is to beat England’: Canada deliver on their promise

In September, Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps told RugbyPass that “everything we do this year is to beat England”. On Friday night Canada made good on that ambition by beating England 24–21 at BMO Field

Sometimes, that single-mindedness can be a team’s undoing. But not for Canada, who have not only avenged last season’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final defeat but also put the Red Roses in a position they had not occupied for four years: on the losing side.

The result ended England’s 41-match unbeaten run and kick-started the October leg of the WXV Global Series 2026 in spectacular fashion. In truth, there had been something special in the air since the two teams met in September, when Canada held the Red Roses to a 26–26 draw in the first of three rematches of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.

At the end of that contest, Canada’s players did not hide their anger at being told to kick the ball out of play at Sandy Park. Sophie de Goede said she had “wanted to go for the win” before confronting her head coach during their post-match press conference.

As soon as Canada arrived at BMO Field in Toronto, they were greeted by a wall of noise and red flare smoke. As Canada lock Laetitia Royer wrote in her column this week, the hosts were putting England in an “uncomfortable situation”.

That discomfort continued as the 18,621 supporters who had made their way to the venue set a new North American attendance record. The ground visibly trembled as fans waved towels in the air, providing a striking visual representation of the momentum behind the hosts.

Soon enough, attention will turn to next Friday’s game in Ottawa. John Mitchell’s team can now only draw their three-match series against Canada. If a meeting between the world’s first- and third-ranked teams was not already mouth-watering, it certainly is now.

“When you’ve done it once, you want to do it twice,” Canada head coach Kévin Rouet told Jax Talks Sports at full-time. “But to do it twice, you have to be serious. We have to enjoy this evening, but we have to go back to the grind tomorrow.”

Interestingly, Canada felt they had left points out on the pitch at full-time. In fairness, both teams could make that argument, having each coughed up possession 15 times. Canada also conceded 15 penalties. By those measures alone, it is hugely impressive that Rouet’s team got the job done.

A look at the statistics helps explain how Canada ultimately secured the win. The home side enjoyed 55% possession at BMO Field. They also carried the ball 36 more times than their opponents and gained more post-contact metres, with 173m to England’s 142m.

It was the line break statistics, however, that revealed the starkest difference between the two teams. Canada made 16 line breaks, while England managed just four. That ability to keep moving forward neatly encapsulated how the hosts got the job done, with their constant attacking pressure pushing the Red Roses’ defence to its limits.

Canada’s defensive resolve was equally impressive. Much of England’s possession came inside Canada’s 22m [46%] – Canada had to remain disciplined and recognise the right moments to contest possession and force turnovers. Royer’s first-half yellow card provided a stern test, but Canada held firm.

In the end, Canada won 10 turnovers. Savannah Bauder accounted for two, while eight other players won one each.

Alysha Corrigan made four of Canada’s line breaks, one of which culminated in a try for the winger. Having missed September’s fixtures through injury, she made an immediate impact on her return to Test rugby, having last played for Canada 13 months earlier.

Corrigan’s four line breaks were bettered by full-back Savannah Bauder, who breached England’s defensive line five times.

 

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Then there were the performances of some genuinely world-class players. De Goede, as ever, combined attacking brilliance with staunch defensive work. At full-time, the Canada captain had made 20 tackles and carried the ball 15 times. She was hard as nails.

Then there was DaLeaka Menin. Having been named Player of the Match when the two teams met in Exeter a month ago, she repeated the feat in Toronto with 15 carries, 12 tackles, three tackle breaks and a try. It was an extraordinary performance.

“We show resiliency in every facet off the field, so it’s got to translate on the field,” De Goede told RugbyPass TV. “I think we toughed it out in the latter moments there to show resiliency at the end of the game and find a way to win.”

At full-time, the emotion was plain to see. Canadian players shed tears of delight, huge grins plastered across their faces. Rouet, as you may have seen, was hoisted into the air by his team in celebration of his role in masterminding England’s first defeat since the Rugby World Cup 2021 [hosted in 2022] final.

Both sides now face a unique week of preparation. England must not only rebuild morale and return to winning ways but also prepare for a third North American clash against the USA Women’s Eagles in New Jersey. Canada, meanwhile, have one more hit out this year and another on home soil.

“I think what we’ve been trying to show the world finally came out a little bit today,” Menin said. “There are still moments we’ve got to clean up, and we made it hard for ourselves, but I’m just so proud of the outcome.”