The Albany Gazette - Mitchell backs England to sustain dominance after World Cup triumph

The victory ended England's lengthy wait to win a third world title to set alongside their 1994 and 2014 triumphs.

No 8 Alex Matthews, a world champion 11 years ago when England also beat Canada in the final, scored two of their five tries on Saturday.

England, the best resourced team in women's rugby union and with the most competitive domestic league -- Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) -- had long been regarded as favourites to be crowned world champions on home soil.

But the fact England had won just once in six successive final appearances, including an agonising 34-31 defeat by New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 showpiece in Auckland -- had raised questions about their ability under pressure.

Canada's Asia Hogan-Rochester tried to re-open those doubts with a fifth-minute try in front of a sellout crowd of 81,885 -- a new record for a women's 15-a-side match -- at the headquarters of English rugby union.

England, however, led 21-8 at half-time thanks to tries from full-back Ellie Kildunne, hooker Amy Cokayne and Matthews.

Abbie Ward added another try early in the second half before Matthews powered over 11 minutes from time as England extended their own record run to 33 successive wins.

"These girls are awesome," said Mitchell, brought into the England women's set-up after the 2022 final with the specific aim of winning the World Cup.

The 61-year-old New Zealander, a former head coach of the All Blacks and England's defence chief when they were beaten in the 2019 men's World Cup final by South Africa, added: "Three years ago we set about doing something and we finally took the last few steps today.

"I think 2022 taught us a lot... We can dominate the world for a long time but the world's going to get better, so this is just the start."

- 'What dreams are made of' -

Zoe Aldcroft, England's elated captain, said: "We have had 33 wins in a row and we have finally put the cherry on top of the cake by winning the World Cup.

"It feels great. Honestly, it's unbelievable. It is literally what dreams are made of."

Canada, second in the world rankings behind England, were superb in ending double-defending champions New Zealand's reign with a 34-19 semi-final win.

But they came up short in their second World Cup final against an England team that raised their game when it mattered most.

Canada launched a crowdfunding campaign entitled "Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025" in an attempt to raise one million Canadian dollars (US$717,257) ahead of the tournament.

Despite several players being attached to PWR clubs, Canada coach Kevin Rouet revealed some of his squad members only earned around £400 ($536) a month playing rugby.

"We need to just keep growing the women's game to help them not decide 'do I have a life or do I play rugby?'" he said.

Canada captain Alex Tessier, who plays in the PWR for Exeter, insisted funding was not the reason her side lost the final.

"That's not what made the difference tonight," she said. "I think we could have won it with whatever budget we had."

Rouet was left thinking of what might have been.

"It's frustrating for us because we know we didn't play our best game," said the Frenchman.

"It was just missing 80 minutes of good rugby for us to be world champions."

(P.Davis--TAG)