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When the Canadian womens rugby team won the Nations Cup shortly after he took over the program last year, head coach Francois Ratier held a post-tournament meeting with his players. He asked them what they wanted the teams identity to be and the players had the answers he was looking for. Ratier then chipped in himself by writing down the number of days left until the IRB Womens Rugby World Cup final. "What can we do every day to make it happen?" he recalled asking his players. "And now, we are here." Ratier was dreaming big at the time. Canada had never even reached the podium -- never mind the championship game -- in the six previous editions of the tournament. Now his team has a shot to win it all on Sunday against England at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris. "We have the passion, we have the rage, we want it," Ratier said. "But then we just have to execute and do it." It has been an impressive run by the Canadians, who have finished fourth on three occasions and were coming off a sixth-place showing in 2010. England, meanwhile, is a 2010 runner-up and has never finished lower than third, winning it all in 1994. The 2014 Canadian squad has surpassed expectations and theyve done it by grinding down the opposition. Canada opened the tournament with comfortable wins over Spain and Samoa before fighting England to a 13-13 draw. Next up was an impressive 18-16 victory over France in front of a sellout crowd that nearly boosted the host side to a comeback win. The Canadians held strong though, with Magali Harveys try standing up as the difference. The Canadian team is a tough, united side that believes it belongs in the mix with the worlds best. Canada has proved that by playing a fast, physical brand of rugby and using a team-first mentality. It takes Ratier back to that meeting a year ago after Canadas 27-13 win over England to win the Nations Cup for the first time. It was a victory that he said started the players on their current journey. He still remembers the terms the players used to describe the teams identity. "They came back with really simple words," he said. "One of them was Fearless. Which is great, because thats what they are." Canada also defeated England 29-25 earlier in that tournament in Denver. England got some revenge a few months later by easily dismantling Canada 32-3 at The Twickenham Stoop in the final game of Canadas European tour. Harvey and captain Kelly Russell, both recently shortlisted for the womens player of the year award, have continued their strong play in France. Both have been leaders for the Canadian side. "Weve put in the work, so were happy to be where we are," Russell said of her squad. "We have one more goal to achieve here and thats winning it." England lost to New Zealand in the last three finals, but the Black Ferns failed to advance from the pool stage this year. "Its a cliche, but we really have taken it one game at a time," said England coach Gary Street. "If you had said to us at the start of the tournament that we would have the opportunity to play France or Canada in the final then of course, we would have taken it. Were massively looking forward to (the final)." England advanced with a 40-7 rout of Ireland, who will play France in the third-place game before the final. A packed house is expected and with Frances archrival providing the opposition in the championship game, there should be plenty of local support for Canada this time around. "We are not nervous," Ratier said. "We just trust ourselves and were going to play our best rugby. Well see it at the end if its a win or a loss. "But for sure were going to leave everything on the field." Air Max 1 Wholesale . 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SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5.The Toronto Blue Jays are leaning on a young arm during their chase for the American League East title. The Blue Jays hope that Marcus Stromans second career start versus the Boston Red Sox is as good as his first with the clubs set to resume their three-game series tonight. The 23-year-old Stroman has emerged as an anchor for Torontos rotation, going 6-2 with a 3.21 earned run average on the season. He is 3-0 over his last six starts and has not allowed a run in back-to-back starts (14 innings) and in three of his last four outings. Stroman came into his own in a big way last Thursday versus Boston, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Shane Victorino led off the frame with a bloop single. It was the only hit the right-hander allowed as he got David Ortiz to fly out before Mike Napoli hit into a double play to end the inning and Stromans outing. "We know hes got what it takes. He pitched a hell of a game today," said Toronto catcher Dioner Navarro. Stroman also walked two and struck out seven in the 8-0 win. "Hes pitching like a veteran whos been around a long time and hes been very successful. He shuts down good hitting teams. Hes a great competitor," said Jays manager John Gibbons. Rubby De La Rosa had the unfortunate task of going up against Stroman last week and will try to keep a better pace with the Jays hurler tonight. TThe 25-year-old righty had his worst start in eight outings this season, lasting four-plus innings and giving up seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and two walks.dddddddddddd He fell to 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA on the year. De La Rosa was facing the Blue Jays as a starter for the first time following two previous relief appearances. The Red Sox will hope for a better effort on the mound tonight after the Blue Jays slugged their way to a 14-1 victory on Monday. Melky Cabrera hit a pair of homers, including a three-run shot during a nine-run sixth inning. Cabrera also launched a two-run blast and Ryan Goins went 4-for-5 with four RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won eight of their last 10 games and are 2 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East. R.A. Dickey struck out 10 and allowed a run on three hits and a walk over seven innings to notch the win. Clay Buchholz surrendered seven runs on seven hits and four walks over five- plus frames for Boston, which has dropped six of its last seven games. "It was an ugly night from the mound," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. Toronto has won eight of 11 against the Red Sox this season, sweeping a three- game set in Boston from May 20-22. With the non-waiver trading deadline less than two days away, watch SportsCentre on TSN tonight at 6pm et/3pm pt as baseball analyst Steve Phillips looks at what the Jays might do. ' ' '