The unmistakable chorus of Dappy’s 2011 hit No Regrets played over the speakers as England took the field for their training session at Twickenham ahead of the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday. However, the Red Roses carry the weight of multiple regrets—six, to be exact—stemming from past World Cup final defeats.
The most recent was three years ago when they were beaten by New Zealand at Eden Park. This time, as hosts, they face Canada at their home stadium. The question lingers: Can they finally overcome their World Cup struggles, or will they falter once more when it matters most?
To succeed, England must control the tempo, contest strongly at the breakdown, and keep their attack unpredictable. Meanwhile, Canada, ranked second globally, must sustain the speed that overpowered New Zealand in the semifinals while containing England’s dynamic players, such as Meg Jones and Ellie Kildunne, who can ignite a play from nothing.
Though the outcome remains uncertain, one guarantee is that the event will make history. England’s Amy Cokayne, who scored three tries in the 2022 final, is eager to perform before a record 82,000 spectators: "The more, the merrier. Big games bring out the best in big players, and we have a team full of them. We’ll rise to the moment."
Among England’s top performers is Ellie Kildunne, the current world player of the year and a crowd favorite. Whenever she’s involved in play, the stadium erupts—her two spectacular solo tries in the semifinal against France sent supporters into euphoria.
Ahead of the final, England’s head coach, John Mitchell, spoke highly of the star full-back: *"Ellie is a humble, immensely talented athlete who plays with great instinct. You can’t over-coach her; she thrives on reading the game. Off the field, she’s refreshing—she stays true to herself, whether it’s through photography or podcasting. She’s naturally creative."*
"But with her status comes challenges—everyone wants a piece of her, both on and off the field. I hope she’s managed well because she has so much more to give."
Mitchell also reflected on his team’s potential to become "great." When asked if a loss would deny them that status, he replied: "That’s something they’ll still have to earn. Defining greatness isn’t always clear-cut—if you set limits, you might never reach them."
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