Canada played their first game against Spain on 1 August and a hat-trick from Magali Harvey gave the Canadians a 31–7 victory.

Merchant would then become one of four players to score twice along with the recovered Hunt, and wingers Lydia Thompson and Kay Wilson to give the former champions a 65–3 win.

[6][7] Four days later on 5 August, Canada and England defeated Samoa and Spain 42–7 and 45–5 respectively, playing in a similar fashion, both teams scoring five tries from five different scorers.

England scored early on with a penalty from Emily Scarratt, with a quick response from a Canadian try of Karen Paquin, with Magali Harvey's conversion missed.

Scarratt however was able to convert the try of vice-captain Sarah Hunter to take the lead back for England a third time, before Harvey's late penalty brought the scores level.

England were not seen to be outright favourites as Ireland had recently beaten New Zealand for the first time and won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations the previous year.

Ireland fielded the exact same side that beat the Black Ferns and pressurised England until scoring first after quarter of an hour.

Player of the Match: Emily Scarratt (England) Touch judges: Nicky Inwood (New Zealand) Alex Pratt (Scotland) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France) England were favourites for the same reason, and they dominated the entire game with two Emily Scarratt penalties before Karen Paquin prevented tries from Katherine Merchant and Natasha Hunt.

Both captains complimented each other's performances and marked the game as steps as journeys both teams started long ago, with it being England's end.

England captain Katy McLean and vice-captain Sarah Hunter received MBEs at the 2014 New Years Honours.