To take those lessons from a Canada win, however, would be to ignore what their own players and coach are saying. And what the numbers show.
Canada have dug deep for their women’s team. It is just their pockets are comparatively shallow.
Rugby Canada funds its men’s and women’s teams equally – something few, if any, other unions around the world can say.
Head coach Kevin Rouet explained the rest of their philosophy, with a caveat.
“We try to be that creative because when you don’t have money you have to be creative in the way you prepare,” he said.
“I think it allows us to do a lot of stuff that we wouldn’t be able to do if we had too much money.
“I know it’s crazy to say that, but sometimes it allows us to be to find the best of everything and try to just be efficient with everything.
“But I want more money, if that wasn’t clear!”
Pamphinette Buisa, who was selected in Rouet’s squad but withdrew after suffering an injury in their final warm-up match against Ireland, says similar.
“We want the support, we want the resources,” she said in a social media post., external
“A win wouldn’t prove that professionalism doesn’t matter. It would prove how much this team gives without the systems it deserves.”
Canada have a good chance on Saturday. With more money, and the subsequent increased depth, cohesion and conditioning, they would have a great chance.
If Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, France or Ireland want to be England’s primary rival in a growing game, stalling on cycle-wide spending is only going to make that goal less likely.
And to reduce England’s return on investment to the number of shiny pots in the cabinet also seems short-sighted.
A Rugby World Cup victory would be huge, super-charging the growth of the sport.
But the success or failure of a policy can’t be entirely decided by a match that may turn on the bounce of a ball or, as in the last Rugby World Cup final, a first-half clash of heads.
England’s money has delivered a dominant, excellent team, that draws crowds, sponsors, spectators, players and attention to the game like no other.
The Red Roses will go into the next World Cup in Australia in 2029 as one of, if not the, favourites.
While the Rugby Football Union has invested financially, England have thousands of fans invested emotionally.
That investment doesn’t glitter like a World Cup, but it is just as rare a commodity. And just as valuable.
