For the second time this year, DaLeaka Menin has been named WXV Global Series Player of the Week after a spectacular performance that helped Canada clinch a win against England for the first time since 2016.
The tight-head prop played the full 80 minutes, giving her all at every scrum, ruck, tackle, and breakdown, and showing a never-ending energy and flair that undoubtedly inspired her teammates.
At times, it seemed as though there was more than one Menin on the pitch, as the prop made more than three tackles in a single seven-tackle sequence on two separate occasions and showed a profound commitment to the goal of overcoming the Women's Rugby World Cup holders. The experienced front-rower, who came out on top of the arm-wrestle against Hannah Botterman, even made the try-scorers list, pumping her knees from close range to reach the whitewash and edge her team closer to a comeback.
With Canada leading by three points, Menin and the Canadian forward pack faced one final challenge: a scrum in their own half that they had to secure to keep victory from slipping away. Following initial pressure from the English side, the Canadians held firm, stringing together four phases of play before kicking the ball into touch as the match official called the game for the final time.
Having been part of the win against England 10 years ago, a match in which she even started, Menin has now made new special memories, reinforcing Canada's belief that they can go the extra step in the future.
At 31, Menin is one of the game's best operators and an unquestionable hallmark of the "front-row brigade", delivering outstanding performances after another, and fans can expect more this week in Canada's final game of the season.
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