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Schell: World Cup final will be clash of the ages
Friends will turn to foes in a ‘clash of the ages’ in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, according to Julia Schell.
The full-back is one of 17 Canada players who will be playing in the PWR next season and believes that inside knowledge could prove crucial this weekend.
Schell joined Trailfinders Women in 2023 and has played every minute of the Maple Leafs run to the final, where they will be coming up against the world number ones England at a sold out Allianz Stadium.
“If there is any team we know the best, it is England, and for sure we have friends on that team and we play with and against them week in and week out,” she said.
“They also know that about us, but it is going to be a clash of the ages.
“We are so grateful that the PWR has welcomed us in, we don’t have a league like that in Canada.
“So much of our success has come from people being able to play year-round against quality opposition and quality coaches.
“It really is amazing, it does feel like a home tournament for us because we are able to see so many friends from our clubs all the time, it has been a great atmosphere.”
Canada have seen themselves reinvented in the eyes of the public throughout this World Cup.
On the face of it, Canada are not a nation associated with the oval ball but that is only through the lens of men’s rugby.
Some in women’s rugby have described them as dark horses, given that they crowdfunded $1 million Canadian dollars to help their World Cup preparations.
But as the world number twos, it is only now fair to call them underdogs as they go against the highest-ranked team on the planet.
Even then, if Canada can earn a fourth win over the Red Roses in 38 meetings, they will knock them off the top of the rankings.
Schell added: “It is cool, even throughout the tournament, we’ve seen the persona of what people think of us change.
“At this point, it is a job that needs to be done, and we owe it to ourselves to put our best foot forward.
“We can tune out the outside noise sometimes, but it is cool to see people go ‘Canada’s not bad, eh?’”
Canada claimed just their second-ever win over New Zealand as they beat the defending champions 34-19 in the semi-final.
It puts them one game away from a first-ever World Cup triumph, but they will have to beat the team that defeated them in their last final appearance back in 2014.
A key factor in the win over the Black Ferns was a lightning-fast start, as Canada notched three tries in the opening 24 minutes.
For Schell, who scored six tries in their first game against Fiji, playing the Canadian way will be the focus in the final.
“We’re very big on starting strong, I think any team is,” she said.
“We are just clicking at the right time. We have had a great build, not only throughout the tournament but throughout the year.
“And we are just playing the kind of rugby that we want to play, and we’re having fun doing it. At the end of the day, regardless of the score, that is all you can really ask for.
“You have a game plan, but at the end of the day, you have to focus on what you can do.
“If they are a forward-dominant team, they are a forward-dominant team, and we deal with it, and we trust our forwards with my life.
“We’ll just take that challenge on.”
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