It is a mouth-watering finale to the WXV women鈥檚 rugby tournament 鈥� No. 2 Canada against No. 1 England.

The matchup of two unbeaten sides will decide the championship of the six-team round-robin tournament. But it is also a measuring stick for Kevin Rouet鈥檚 Canadian side. And while a win Saturday at Vancouver鈥檚 B.C. Place Stadium would be welcome, Rouet has one eye fixed on next year鈥檚 World Cup where the stakes are far higher.

Captain Tyson Beukeboom says the Canadians, who pushed England to the limit before losing 26-19 in the semifinal of the last World Cup in November 2022, are looking forward to testing themselves against the powerful Red Roses.

鈥淚 think this is probably the best position we鈥檝e been in going into a game against England in a long time,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he girls are excited. I鈥檓 excited. We鈥檙e ready. We鈥檙e as ready as we鈥檝e ever been to compete against England.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e here to build,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e here to build to World Cup. But I think with the prep that we鈥檝e had, that build can also mean that we鈥檙e in a really good position to win this tournament.鈥�

Canada finished runner-up to England in last year鈥檚 inaugural WXV 1, the elite division of World Rugby鈥檚 annual three-tiered competition.

Canada鈥檚 depth is shown by the fact that Beukeboom, Canada鈥檚 most capped women鈥檚 player with 70 caps, is not in the starting 15. She will be counted on to make an impact from the bench.

鈥淚t speaks to the depth of our team,鈥� said the 33-year-old lock forward, sporting a shiner from a collision in training with teammate Caroline Crossley. 鈥淜ev is always a man with a plan. Sometimes it鈥檚 not my favourite plan, especially when I鈥檓 on the bench.鈥�

Centre Alex Tessier will serve as skipper until Beukeboom comes on. Tessier and fly-half Claire Gallagher have proved to be an influential tandem on the backline, both accomplished kickers with Tessier offering another option at first receiver.

Rouet has more talent in reserve. Captain Sophie de Goede, one of the world鈥檚 top players, is recovering from knee surgery while veteran Karen Paquin has only just returned after taking some time off from the game.

England is a formidable opponent.

The Red Roses, a fully professional side, have won 19 straight matches since losing 34-31 to host New Zealand in the World Cup final. That loss represents England鈥檚 lone blemish in its last 50 matches, dating back to a 28-13 defeat to the Black Ferns in July 2019 in the Women鈥檚 Rugby Super Series in San Diego.

Canada has won six straight since losing 45-12 to England in last year鈥檚 WXV.

The English women have beaten Canada two other times since the World Cup (50-24 and 29-12 in England last September).

The Red Roses have dominated the all-time series, holding a 32-3-1 edge while outscoring Canada 1,250-477. And England has won the last 12 meetings, dating back to a 52-17 defeat in the 2016 Women鈥檚 Rugby Super Series in Salt Lake City.

Saturday鈥檚 showdown pits the Pacific Four Series winner, Canada, against the Women鈥檚 Six Nations champion, England.

Canada beat No. 4 France 46-24 鈥� a result that moved Rouet鈥檚 side into second place in the world rankings 鈥� and No. 6 Ireland 21-8 en route to the WXV finale. England defeated the eighth-ranked U.S. 61-21 and then ran in nine tries in a 49-31 win over No. 3 New Zealand.

Rouet, who rotated his roster during the tournament, has made eight changes to his starting lineup.

McKinley Hunt, DeLeaka Menin, Laetitia Royer, Fabiola Forteza and Pamphinette Buisa slot into the forward pack. Asia Hogan-Rochester, Paige Farries and Julia Schell move into the backline.

England has made three changes withwing Bo Westcombe-Evans, lock Rosie Galligan and flanker Maddie Feaunati slotting in. It鈥檚 an experienced starting 15, with a combined 667 caps including 106 from captain Marlie Packer.

The two sides know each other well with 12 of the Canadian matchday 23 playing their club rugby in England.

鈥淚 think that definitely helps build our confidence,鈥� said Beukeboom, who plays for England鈥檚 Ealing Trailfinders. 鈥淲hen you are around the people that have kind of been at the top for so long, you learn their strengths and weakness. And it also diminishes the aura of who they are. You just get a little bit more familiar and they get a little bit less scary, which definitely contributes to our confidence.鈥�

Unlike the Canadians, however, the Red Roses are under contract to their governing body in addition to their club salaries. Rouet has said the pay his players get at English clubs is essentially the equivalent of semi-pro status.

Rouet goes into Saturday鈥檚 match with a 19-7-0 record as Canada coach. The defeats have all come at the hands of teams ranked above them in England (four times), New Zealand (twice) and France.

England coach John Mitchell, a former England men鈥檚 defence coach and New Zealand All Blacks head coach, has a 9-0-0 record.

In the event of a tie, England will be crowned champions even if only Canada claims a try-bonus point. That鈥檚 because England has 10 points to Canada鈥檚 nine and a superior points difference (plus-58 to plus-35) going into the final round.

The two teams鈥� world rankings will not change whatever the result.

Canada

McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivi猫re-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England).

Replacements

Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Villeneuvois LM (France); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Saracens (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England).

England

Hannah Botterman, Bristol Bears; Amy Cokayne, Leicester Tigers; Maud Muir, Gloucester-Hartpury;Zoe Aldcroft, Gloucester-Hartpury; Rosie Galligan, Saracens; Maddie Feaunati, Exeter Chiefs; Marlie Packer (capt.), Saracens; Alex Matthews, Gloucester-Hartpury;Natasha Hunt, Gloucester-Hartpury;Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach; Tatyana Heard, Gloucester-Hartpury;Helena Rowland,Loughborough Lightning;Bo Westcombe-Evans, Loughborough Lightning; Ellie Kildunne, Harlequins.

Replacements

Lark Atkin-Davies, Bristol Bears; Mackenzie Carson, Loughborough Lightning; Sarah Bern, Bristol Bears; Abbie Ward, Bristol Bears; Morwenna Talling, Sale Sharks; Lucy Packer, Harlequins; Zoe Harrison, Harlequins; Emily Scarratt, Loughborough Lightning.