Canada's Sophie de Goede carries the ball against the United States during the second half of a Pacific Four Series women's rugby match, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Star forward Sophie de Goede returns to the starting lineup Friday as the second-ranked Canadian women host the 10th-ranked U.S. in Ottawa in their final home game before leaving for the Rugby World Cup.

Canada is coming off 50-20 and 33-5 wins over the 12th-ranked Springbok women on July 5 and 12 in South Africa.

The July 12 victory in Gqeberha saw a de Goede cameo after a 13-month injury absence. The 26-year-old from Victoria came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining, her first action since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the U.S. on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif.

Canada lost Rori Wood to a torn ACL in the second South African game, ruling the front-rower out of the expanded 16-team World Cup, which runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 27 in England.

With Laetitia Royer nursing an injury that will likely keep her out until the third group game at the World Cup, de Goede will partner with veteran Tyson Beukeboom in the second row Friday instead of taking her normal spot in the back row.

"We lack depth in the second row and Sophie's an amazing player," said Canada coach Kevin Rouet.

"Sophie has the profile to be a great second-row," he added.

The Canadians will travel to Toronto after the U.S. game to leave Saturday for Europe and a final World Cup tune-up Aug. 9 against No. 5 Ireland in Dublin.

Friday's contest is the first since Rouet named his 32-woman World Cup roster. The squad includes 21 members from the last World Cup, including Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant and Karen Paquin, who will all be making their fourth appearance at the tournament.

The Canadians, who finished fourth at the last World Cup in November 2022, open World Cup play against No. 14 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 9 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter.

Having used all the players in his tour squad in the two South Africa tests, Rouet is looking for consistency in the final two prep games, trying to field his strongest team while keeping an eye on load management. Hooker Emily Tuttosi, for example, will not dress Friday but will play against Ireland.

Captain Alex Tessier, a veteran of two World Cups already, is in line to earn her 60th cap Friday. The talented centre/fly half took over as captain while de Goede was sidelined and continues to lead the team.

A native of Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., who plays her club rugby in England for Saracens, Tessier expects 10 family members to be in the stands at TD Place Stadium.

The Canada women drew a crowd of 10,092 when they played the New Zealand Black Ferns in July 2023 in Ottawa during the Pacific Four Series.

The Americans are coming off a 31-24 win over Fiji on July 19 in Washington, D.C., snapping a three-game losing streak to No. 3 New Zealand (79-14), No. 8 Australia (27-19) and Canada (26-14) at the Pacific Four Series in May.

The U.S. will play in Group A at the World Cup, drawn with No. 1 England, Australia and No. 15 Samoa.

Canada has won the last 10 meetings with the U.S., outscoring their North American rivals 337-117 since a 20-18 loss in July 2019 in Chula Vista.

Tessier expects the Americans to bring a physical approach to TD Place.

"I think they have the bodies to do so. They have very physical forwards and backs that can offer some strong carries through the middle and good speed on the edge," she said. "But I think our speed will outsmart them.

"We also expect a very structured defence in front of us, so we'll try to move them around … and impose our rhythm, our fast-paced play."

Canada is 14-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to New Zealand. Canada and New Zealand played to a 27-27 tie in May in Pacific Four Series play.

Claire Gallagher, a former Ottawa Gee-Gee, starts at fly half Friday while forward Pamphinette Buisa, representing the Ottawa Irish Rugby Club, is among the replacements.

Winger Paige Farries returns to international competition for the first time since suffering an injury during the WXV 1 finale in the fall in Vancouver.

Canada

McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Capilano RFC; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Sophie de Goede, Victoria, Saracens (England); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Alex Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC; Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);

Replacements

Taylor McKnight, Stouffville, Ont., Aurora Barbarians; Mikiela Nelson, North Vancouver, Exeter Chiefs (England); Olivia DeMerchant, Mapledale, N.B., Halifax Tars RFC; Courtney O'Donnell, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Justine Pelletier, Riviere-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025