Red Roses preview

Fresh off back-to-back wins over the Black Ferns, the Red Roses meet Canada at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.

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 32^nd 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’ 19^th 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."