Star lock De Goede aims to kick Canada to 'next step'

Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final: Canada v New Zealand

Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol Date: Friday, 19 September Kick-off: 19:00 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio and the BBC Sport website and app

In August 2000, Australia lock John Eales nailed a late penalty kick to earn victory against New Zealand in Wellington and ensure the Wallabies retained the Bledisloe Cup.

The probability of another second row emulating Eales' feat and winning a crucial match against New Zealand has always seemed unlikely, but that could change in Bristol on Friday.

When Canada face world champions New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup, their number four Sophie de Goede could be the player who decides the match.

Goal-kicking has always been dominated by obsessive backs - think Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell with their meticulous routines - but Eales showed that forwards can also have the required temperament and technical skills.

"John Eales is someone I admire as he won a World Cup with Australia," De Goede told BBC Sport, when asked about the possibility of winning the tournament as a goal-kicking lock.

"They are certainly big shoes to try and follow in."

The 26-year-old Saracens forward is a fine kicker too, nailing 17 conversions so far in this year's World Cup - the most in the tournament.

"I know it doesn't make sense for traditional rugby people, but I grew up playing fly-half because both my parents played rugby, which is not common in Canada," she said.

"I eventually grew into my body and got moved forward. I love kicking and find it cathartic to go out kicking by myself, and so I just kept up with it as I enjoyed it.

"I get people in the stands saying 'I am a forward and kick too' and I love watching you."

Eales' size 13 shoes are not the first big boots De Goede is aiming to fill, with both her parents, Stephanie and Hans, having captained Canada at World Cups.

She emulated her parents by leading Canada at the last World Cup and would have probably done so again but for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in June 2024, which denied her the chance to play in the Olympic sevens tournament.

"My parents were always nervous that if they coached me too much then it would feel like there is a lot of pressure," said De Goede, who also played basketball at university.

"They helped me find my own way in rugby to find the player that I am myself. I grew up playing fly-half and they were both forwards.

"Where they have really helped me is in leadership lessons. They both captained Canada and learned a lot along the way in terms of how to interact with team-mates and be a better leader and person."

With De Goede only able to play once prior to the World Cup, centre Alex Tessier was selected to skipper Canada at the tournament in England.

De Goede's focus remained on returning to full fitness and the form that led to her being regarded as one of the best players in world.

An infection in the knee of her right leg - the one she uses to kick - delayed her recovery, but a barnstorming player-of-the-match performance against Wales, which included 20 carries, 108 metres gained and 12 points, showed she was back up to speed.

Despite still being on antibiotics to help cope with swelling, another individual award was then collected after a 13-point haul in a comfortable quarter-final victory over Australia.

Kick, pass, carry, scrum, jump - the lock, who plays in the back row for Saracens, was recently described by former England captain Katy Daley-McLean as the best player in the world.

Despite needing a £530,000 fundraising drive called Mission: Win Rugby World Cup, amateur side Canada are ranked above the defending champions at number two in the world.

"I have 100% confidence that we are going to take the next step," De Goede said.

"I say that with a lot of respect for the Black Ferns because they are current World Cup holders and you can never underestimate New Zealand in a rugby context.

"Everyone knows what a powerhouse nation they are and an incredible brand of rugby they play.

"We have to back ourselves and I believe we have every ability to pull it off."

De Goede watched the 2014 World Cup final from the stands in France when Daley-McLean's England defeated Canada.

The goal for the lock is to help develop rugby in her native country, and she believes reaching and winning a final is the only way.

"Rugby really has the opportunity to explode in Canada, but we've not been on this big global stage where we've had a grand performance to inspire the nation and the next generation," she added.

"This is our opportunity to have that turning-point moment for the sport of rugby in Canada."