The China Mail - England great Alphonsi expects Canada to shine in Women's Rugby World Cup final

Canada produced the performance of the tournament so far to beat double-defending champions New Zealand 34-19 in the semi-finals, while England struggled to overcome France 35-17.

England are bidding to win the tournament for the first time since 2014, when now-retired flanker Alphonsi was involved in a 21-9 defeat of Canada in the Paris final.

"New Zealand, the Black Ferns, have won the World Cup six times and yet they almost got just brushed aside by the way the Canadians were so fit, so athletic," Alphonsi told AFP on Friday.

"England will be up against it.

"Some might say 'Have Canada played their World Cup final'? But then again, they've won against New Zealand before, so they've got to be ready to go again.

"This Canadian side, half of them play in England, half of them play in France so they will know the English style well."

England have won their past 13 Tests against Canada and are on a world-record streak of 32 wins in a row.

Their lone defeat in 63 matches was an agonising 34-31 loss to New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final.

But Canada are unbeaten in international rugby union in 2025 and have lost just once in 19 matches, a 21-12 reverse against England at last year's WXV1 tournament

"Sophie de Goede, Justine Pelletier have all had a huge impact in certain games that Canada have played -- they could definitely punish you," said Alphonsi.

"You almost feel for the Canadians, they've got another level to go. But it's the same for England, they haven't played their best rugby (at the World Cup)."

England will again look to full-back Ellie Kildunne to spearhead their attack after the world player of the year scored two fine tries against France.

"Ellie Kildunne, she's such a natural," said Alphonsi. "She just plays like it's what she does every day. So I do think she'll love the occasion and love the moment."

The importance of Saturday's final being played out in front of a sold-out Twickenham crowd of around 82,000 -- which will be a new record for a women's 15-a-side match -- is not lost on Alphonsi.

"Our World Cup final in 2010 was at the Twickenham Stoop (the nearby home of London club Harlequins), 14,000 people were there then. And then you fast forward now -- 2025, 82,000, so different.

"But I'm just so pleased how far the game has come."

"There's been such good investment from (the UK) National Lottery that has put £6 billion ($8 billion) into grassroots' sports over the last 30 years, and £170 million of that has gone into women's and girls' rugby, so I'm just really proud to see how far it's come."

S.Davis--ThChM