Sophie de Goede Returns as Canada Prepares to Face U.S. Before Rugby World Cup

The highly regarded star forward Sophie de Goede is set to make her return to the starting lineup as the second-ranked Canadian women’s rugby team prepares to host the 10th-ranked U.S. in Ottawa. This match is particularly significant as it is their last home game before they head off to compete in the Rugby World Cup, scheduled to take place from August 22 to September 27 in England.

Canada is coming off a strong series of victories, having defeated the 12th-ranked Springbok women with scores of 50-20 and 33-5 earlier this month in South Africa. During the July 12 match in Gqeberha, de Goede, who had been sidelined for 13 months due to a knee injury, made her much-anticipated appearance, coming off the bench late in the game. Unfortunately, injury woes continue to affect the team, as Rori Wood has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a torn ACL, and Laetitia Royer is also out for an extended period.

As part of the team adjustments, de Goede will play alongside veteran Tyson Beukeboom in the second row, instead of her usual position in the back row, due to the team’s limited depth in that area. Coach Kevin Rouet emphasized de Goede's exceptional skill set, remarking that she has the potential to excel in the second-row position.

Following the match against the U.S., the team will head to Toronto en route to Europe for one final preparation match against No. 5 Ireland in Dublin on August 9. This upcoming game represents the first opportunity for the public to see the squad since Rouet announced his 32-player World Cup roster, which features 21 returning players from the previous World Cup held in 2022.

In their past encounters, Canada has dominated their rivalry against the U.S., having won the last 10 matchups, and outscored them significantly since their last loss in July 2019. The U.S., coming off a close victory against Fiji, is expected to provide a tough challenge, with Tessier noting their physical style of play. However, the Canadian team plans to leverage their speed and structured tactics to control the game's rhythm.

Captain Alex Tessier, who is on the brink of her 60th cap, expects support from her family during the match at TD Place Stadium. The Canadian women's team has shown impressive form, posting a record of 14 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie in their recent outings, with most defeats coming from top-ranked England and New Zealand.

The lineup will also see Claire Gallagher starting at fly half and Pamphinette Buisa included among the substitutes, while winger Paige Farries makes her return to international rugby after a previous injury. The anticipation for this match is high as Canada seeks to solidify their team dynamics ahead of the World Cup.