Packer could start for England in World Cup final, Merchant says

Lucy Packer could start for England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against Canada, with former champion Kat Merchant saying she could be the difference if handed the starting duties. Packer has appeared in all five matches this year but has started only once — the record-breaking win over Samoa — and was used as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s semi-final victory over France. Merchant told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast that Packer has done enough to justify starting: “It is probably not going to be a popular opinion but I think Lucy Packer, for me, is the difference. She brings an incredible speed of ball and if [John] Mitchell is being really brave, I think she starts next week.” The proposed inclusion would likely come at the expense of the more experienced Natasha Hunt, who was part of England’s 2014 World Cup squad and could make a strong impact from the bench, Merchant added.

Claire Thomas, a BBC pundit, also voiced support for starting Packer but acknowledged Hunt’s value as a bench option. “It’s not like she’s the Lucy Packer of three years ago when she was thrown into a World Cup final with hardly any rugby under her belt and torn angle ligaments to boot,” Thomas said. “If they put her in the mix next week to start at number nine, she’s someone that has captained her club and played in World Cup semi-finals. She has a lot of experience now and I think she has a very similar toolkit to Mo Hunt so they can do a very similar job.”

Alongside backing Packer to start, Merchant argued for other changes to England’s back line in the final. She said Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Holly Aitchison should come into the lineup in place of Jess Breach and Tatyana Heard, respectively, to give England a more dynamic, defensively solid look. Breach remains England’s leading try-scorer in the tournament with six tries but struggled in the semi-final against France. “Claudia is such an out-and-out finisher, and defensively, she and Abby Dow are your better defensive wingers,” Merchant said. “And defensively this is where I’m thinking, because England had problems out wide against France.”

She added: “I’m putting Holly in at 12 because I think they need something different, and Meg Jones stays at 13. Heard has had a solid tournament, but I think England’s game plan needs something different to beat Canada.” Merchant’s stance was echoed by Thomas in part, though she remained cautious about Breach’s omission from the starting 15. “I am concerned about the fact that Alysha Corrigan knows Jess inside and out from their time together at Saracens and she will absolutely back herself in a one-on-one against her,” Thomas said. “Asia Hogan-Rochester has Jess Breach for pace and she is full of confidence right now.”

The two pundits also agreed on a change at fly-half, with Aitchison cited as the preferred option at 12 and a continued role for Meg Jones at 13. “Sale Sharks’ Aitchison started at 12 in the 2022 World Cup final defeat and was brought on for Heard against France,” Merchant noted, adding: “I think Heard has had a good tournament and she is solid, but if England are going to be different defensively and keep Canada under pressure, this is the move.” Thomas suggested the attack might still hinge on how the midfield handles Canada’s middle-channel threat, and warned that dropping Breach would shift dynamics up front. “I’m willing to accept a slight drop in defensive stability in midfield for what Holly might do to England’s points tally,” Thomas said.

England enters the final with a long history against Canada. The Red Roses have beaten Canada 33 times in 37 meetings, with one draw, and have won the last 13 meetings. Their most recent clash was a 21-12 win in Vancouver in World Rugby’s WXV1 competition in October 2024. Canada’s last victories over England came in previous World Cup meetings, including a 26-19 win in the 2021 World Cup semi-finals in New Zealand and a 21-9 win in the 2014 final in France.

If England can translate the changes into a cohesive performance, Packer’s presence at number nine could sharpen England’s ball speed and decision-making, potentially tipping the balance in a tightly contested final. The Canada defense is expected to test England’s wide game and mid-field organization, and the Waterlooville-born scrum-half’s tempo could be a critical factor. The final is scheduled for Saturday, with England seeking to add another chapter to a storied rivalry and reclaiming a World Cup title that has eluded them since 2014.