Sophie de Goede, described as the all-knowing second-in-command of Canada, with a particular expertise in butchery.
Sophie de Goede, the Canadian second-rower, is leading her team in the current Women's World Cup with an impressive performance. The 28-year-old player has proven her versatility and skill in the tournament, earning her the title of player of the match against the Wallaroos.
De Goede has qualified for the semi-finals against New Zealand, where she scored one of her two tries in the tournament. Her other try came in the quarter-finals against Australia. De Goede's statistics at the current tournament are impressive, with her running 246 meters with the ball, making 50 tackles, and completing 11 offloads. She ranks first in the latter category.
De Goede is also the top scorer in the Women's World Cup, having scored 17 conversions. This is an impressive feat, considering she is primarily a forward player.
The French coach of Canada, Kevin Rouet, asked De Goede to play second-row due to an injury to Laetitia Royer. However, De Goede prefers playing third-row. Rouet had also requested Ange Capuozzo before the World Championship this year to fill the second row position.
De Goede's comfort with the boot in rugby may have come from her background in tennis and football. She revealed that her ability to kick is natural and not coached personally. This skill has been useful in the tournament, as it has given her team more options in their game plan.
De Goede's parents, Hans de Goede and Stephanie White, were both captains of the Canadian national rugby team. Hans de Goede was captain of Canada at the very first World Cup in 1987, and Stephanie White was co-captain in 1991 and sole captain three years later.
John Eales, an Australian fly-half in the 90s, was another second-rower who was not primarily responsible for scoring tries or penalties. Eales was compared to Jean-Pierre Bastiat, a legendary second-rower, who occasionally kicked with square-toed boots with cleats.
Karen Paquin, a flanker on the Canadian team, ended up playing on the wing during the tournament due to the skills the team has honed by frequently playing sevens. Rouet selected a bench with seven forwards during the tournament, both in the semi-finals against England and in the third-place match.
De Goede won two lineouts at the current tournament, showcasing her skill and leadership in the forwards. With her exceptional performance, De Goede is a strong contender for the world player of the year title.
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