World Cup Final: 4 Key Areas

Scrum

Both sides showed superbly in this area of the game in their respective semi-finals. Indeed it was Canada’s power at the scrum that set up the wonderful try finished by Magali Harvey, with their pack shunting the French back on their own put -in and taking them by surprise as they ran the ball from the turnover.

Throughout the tournament Canada’s set piece work has been first rate and they will take huge confidence especially from how they overpowered a massive French unit earlier this week. Against England in their pool game, they went well up front but England were outstanding themselves against Ireland as a pack so expect things to be much more even this time out.

England too had huge reward in the scrum in their semi final - pushing Ireland off their first three put-ins for starters - and Rocky Clark and Sophie Hemming made life incredibly tough for Ireland’s front row for the hour or so that they were on the field.

Getting the upper hand here is vital early in the game.

Kicking

England hold the advantage here with Emily Scarratt kicking beautifully so far this tournament, hardly putting a foot wrong every time she has stepped up to the tee.

In Katy Mclean England have probably the best kicker in the world from hand at flyhalf and she will need to be on the money on Sunday given the danger Canada have lurking in their back three.

Magali Harvey has shown that she can nail tough kicks but her strike rate is not as solid as Scarratt’s and you would back the former if this game is a nail biter.

Risky rugby

One of the reasons this Canadian team are such a pleasure to watch is because of their caution to the wind approach when it comes to attack .

The brilliant Harvey try from the semi final would probably not have been scored by any other team in the tournament.

With most of the crowd shouting “kick it” as Canada took the ball forward from behind their own try line, it’s fair to say that is indeed what most other teams would have done.  But while their approach to attacking in the most entertaining of manners is admirable and certainly pleasing on the eye, in a World Cup Final against the most experienced team in the tournament, it is much more of a gamble.

England playing as they did against Ireland in any case, are simply too good to not punish a side if they make any errors based on that approach and Canada need to be careful that their risk is not their undoing.

Experience

Twelve of the 26 England players at the tournament have already played in a World Cup Final - and five of them have played in two. That experience is hugely important.

There is nothing to surprise England and they are justifiably the favourites going into the game as a  result.

Canada do have big game experience though in the form of 7s - 5 players were in the squad who played in the Rugby World Cup Sevens final last summer in Moscow but probably nothing will compare to the noise and atmosphere they will experience on Sunday.

England hold the edge here - how they manage it will be another matter.