Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps says the moment has arrived to end England's four-year unbeaten run when the sides clash on Friday.
Canada scrum-half Olivia Apps is convinced the stage is set for a landmark upset. She believes her side can finally bring England's long unbeaten run to an end when the two nations meet on Friday.
The Red Roses have not lost in four years, a streak that has made them the team everyone else in women's rugby is chasing. Apps does not see an untouchable opponent, though. She sees a chance, and she believes Canada have reached the point where they can take it.
As the player running the show from scrum-half, Apps carries a lot of responsibility. She sets the tempo, links forwards and backs, and keeps her side's shape under pressure. Against a team as organised and relentless as England, her decision-making at the base of the ruck could prove decisive.
For Canada, beating England would be more than a single result. It would be a statement that the gap at the top of the women's game is closing, and that the Red Roses' grip on the sport can be broken. Friday will show whether Apps' confidence is justified.
