Preview: Red Roses v Canada
Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' clash with Canada at The Stoop.
Red Roses preview
Fresh off back-to-back wins over the Black Ferns, the Red Roses meet Canada at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.
| Date | Sunday 14 November |
| Venue | The Twickenham Stoop |
| Coverage | Live on BBC Two |
| Kick off | 2:30pm |
Head coach Simon Middleton has made changes across the squad, and started two debutants, in Harlequins flyer Heather Cowell and Loughborough Lightning flanker Sadia Kabeya.
"Sadia is a Classic seven, fantastic around the field, a lot of energy and a very strong, aggressive ball carrier," said Middleton.
Last weekend's captain Poppy Cleall retains her spot at No. 8. Cleall is set to set to earn her 50th cap, alongside lock Abbie Ward. Sarah Hunter returns to captain the side from 6, and she's looking forward to seeing her Loughborough team mate Sadia in action.
"She's shone in a Loughborough shirt, he is an evasive runner, powerful, not small in size but punches about her weight for sure; I've been on the end of her tackles. She has great hands and can be a link player, carries hard and defends amazingly well."
Stats & Facts
This will be the 32nd time that England and Canada have met, the Red Roses have won 27 of their previous 31 clashes (D1, L3) with their only defeats coming in 2016 (52-17) and 2013 (27-13 & 29-25).
England have only faced France and Wales more often than they’ve crossed paths with Canada (32 times including this fixture).
This will be the Red Roses’ 19th fixture at the Twickenham Stoop, England have won 16 of their previous 18 games at the venue, only losing to New Zealand there (2010 and 2016).
England and Canada have met twice before at the Twickenham Stoop, the home side winning both clashes, most recently in November 2017 (also 2013).
Canada is the number three ranked side in women’s World Rugby (England #1, NZ #2), and are one of just four sides to reach the final of the Rugby World Cup, losing out to England in the 2014 showpiece event in France.
Views from camp
Vickii Cornborough on Canada: "They are a hugely physical side, they’ve got great engines and they’re great athletes so in terms of the tempo of the game and what kind of physical challenge they’re going to present to us, it will be a big challenge, and a different game to New Zealand."
Sarah McKenna on Canada: "They're a team that will challenge us in different ways, and we are excited about that prospect, having a side that is going to ask different questions."
Simon Middleton on Canada: "They look in great shape. They look very physical and direct, they are fast around the field so you have to work very hard to stay up with them. They present all sorts of problems because of their energy."
Teams
England
1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Abbie Ward, 6. Sarah Hunter (c), 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Poppy Cleall, 9. Claudia MacDonald, 10. Zoe Harrison, 11. Abby Dow, 12. Helena Rowland, 13. Lagi Tuima, 14. Heather Cowell, 15. Sarah McKenna.
Finishers
16. Lark Davies, 17. Vickii Cornborough, 18. Maud Muir, 19. Harriet Millar-Mills,
20. Alex Matthews, 21. Marlie Packer, 22. Leanne Infante, 23. Holly Aitchison.
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
England defeat Australia at Twickenham
Owen Farrell scored 17 points as England downed Australia 32-15 in their Autumn Nations Series clash at Twickenham.
The victory marked England's eighth consecutive win over the Wallabies - a record run.
Australia fly half James O'Connor put the visitors ahead inside the opening five minutes, thanks to a 40-metre penalty, but England hit back moments later with the first try of the game.
Owen Farrell provided quick ball to Marcus Smith, who fixed his opposite man before delaying his pass and allowing Freddie Steward to burst through a gap in the Australian defence. The full back weaved his way around the last defender, and crossed the whitewash for his first Test try.
Farrell's conversion, and a penalty in front of the sticks six minutes later, extended England's lead by seven points.
Not to be outdone, O'Connor kept Australia in sight with a further two penalties, but a close range Farrell effort on the 17-minute mark made it 13-9.
As half time approached hooker Jamie George made a break, cantering deep into Wallabies territory, only to be brought down short. The tackle made by Tom Wright, was a shoulder to the head, and the winger received a yellow card. Farrell was successful with the resulting penalty.
O'Connor had the final say of the half though, slotting his fourth penalty on the stroke of half time to make it 16-12 at the break.
The Wallabies started the second half much like they did the first, with an O'Connor penalty, which reduced the deficit to one point.
England entered a period of control, as forwards and backs seamlessly interlinked to cause the Australian defence problems. The pressure took its toll, Wallaby prop Angus Bell was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, and Farrell kicked his fourteenth point.
Approaching the hour mark both sides wrestled for possession and territory, with not much phase play strung together by either. Maro Itoje, making his 50th appearance, was at the heart of England's counter rucking.
Farrell extended his side's lead, claiming his fifth penalty of the Test, and seventeenth point, before leaving the field on the 67-minute mark.
With just 10 minutes to go and a score in it, errors began to appear on both sides of the ball, but it was England who capitalised on a Wallaby error first (crossing) enabling Marcus Smith to convert a simple penalty to make it 25-15.
Raffi Quirke came off the bench to make his England debut, replacing Ben Youngs, who was featuring in his 60th Twickenham Test - the most of any England player in history.
Australia showed signs of promise as the Test entered its final minutes, but Eddie Jones' men struck in the final play of the game, Sam Simmonds setting up Jamie Blamire for the game's second try. The hookers sixth try in four games. Smith's extras made the final score 32-15.
Teams
England
1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry, 9. Ben Youngs, 10. Marcus Smith, 11. Jonny May, 12. Owen Farrell (c), 13. Henry Slade, 14. Manu Tuilagi, 15. Freddie Steward.
Finishers
16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Trevor Davison, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Alex Dombrandt, 21. Sam Simmonds, 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Max Malins.
Australia
1. Angus Bell, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. James Slipper, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Rob Leota, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Nic White, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Kurtley Beale.
Replacements
16. Tolu Latu, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Oliver Hoskins, 19. Will Skelton, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23. Izaia Perese.
Fixtures & Results
England 69-3 Tonga
England 32-15 Australia
England v South Africa - Saturday 20 November (KO 3:15pm)
