Women’s 2025 Rugby World Cup final: The battles England need to win against Canada

Second row De Goede was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year having only played eight games in 2025.

The goal-kicking Canada forward has been in outstanding form since returning to action following an anterior cruciate ligament injury in June 2024.

The 26-year-old won player of the match in both the pool-stage win over Wales – a performance which included 20 carries for 108 metres gained – and the quarter-final against Australia.

She also scored a try in both knockout games and has recorded the most successful kicks for goal (21) in the tournament. England know that any ill-discipline could be costly.

“Her all-round game is through the roof. She has a phenomenal skill-set and is world class,” former Wales international Siwan Lillicrap told BBC Sport.

De Goede, who plays in back row for Saracens in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league, is not a traditional lock compared to England’s Morwenna Talling.

The 23-year-old, who is second in England’s tournament tackle stats with 67, has become a key cog in the England pack thanks to the physicality she brings to the game.

Talling’s unsung work was rewarded with a quarter-final try and a player-of-the-match performance against Scotland.

Her rise over Mitchell’s tenure has also helped free up captain Zoe Aldcroft to move from the second row to blind-side flanker.

You would expect Talling to be tasked with combating the brilliance of De Goede, with her work at mauls a potential way to expend some of the Canadian’s energy.