USA vs Samoa
Kickoff: 1:30pm Saturday 6th September
Venue: York Community Stadium
Watch on: BBC iPlayer
This is the first of two games that will determine who finishes second in this group. There is not really any doubt over who will win this game so the big question is about the margin of victory. After last week's epic draw, the USA find themselves 135 points behind Australia in points difference. Samoa has been one of the great, most emotive stories of this tournament which has grabbed the hearts of the rugby world. However, this game could be brutal. The USA will be at full strength and will know that a 3-digit margin of victory is needed to keep American hopes alive - at least until Saturday evening.
To score a century of points in this game Fukofuka has made a couple of changes - both in the back three. At fullback, Lotte Sharp is replaced by Sariah Ibarra. Emily Henrich has moved back out to the wing in place of Cheta Emba which means that a new inside centre comes in. Many would expect Alev Kelter to slot back in after starting against England but Gabrielle Cantorna starts instead whilst Kelter has to settle for the 23 shirt.
As for Samoa, there is some good new up front. Tori Iosefo is fit enough to start after going off in the 69th minute. She was brought on in the first half to stabilise the Samoan scrum and had a massively positive impact. She'll need to be at that level again this weekend to give her side a chance. Harmony Vatau was a standout ball-carrier whilst playing at fly half and has been moved to inside centre where she'll be given more opportunities to show off her power. Cantorna has just come in and will have a tough day physically, regardless of the score.
Team news
USA
Starting XV
1.Hope Rogers 2.Kathryn Treder 3.Keia Mae Sagapolu 4.Hallie Taufoou 5.Erica Jarrell-Stacey
6.Freda Tafuna 7.Kate Zackary(C) 8.Rachel Johnson 9.Cassidy Bargell 10.McKenzie Hawkins
11.Erica Coulibaly 12.Gabrielle Cantorna 13.Ilhona Maher 14.Emily Henrich 15.Sariah Ibarra
Bench
16.Paige Stathopoulos 17.Maya Learned 18.Alivia Leatherman 19.Tahlia Brody
20.Georgie Perris-Redding 21.Olivia Ortiz 22.Kristin Bitter 23.Alev Kelter
Samoa
Starting XV
1.Denise Aiolupotea 2.Ava Filimaua 3.Tori Iosefo 4.Ana-Lise Sio 5.Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
6.Utumalama Atonio 7.Sui Pauaraisa(C) 8.Joanne Fanene Lolo 9.Ana Afuie 10.Karla Wright-Akeli
11.Drenna Falaniko 12.Harmony Vatau 13.Keilamarita Pouri-Lane 14.Lutia Col Aumua 15.Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung
Bench
16.Faith Nonutunu 17.Ana Mamea 18.Glory Aiono 19.JayJay Taylor
20.Nina Foaese 21.Sinead Ryder 22.Faalua Tugaga 23.Fa'asua Makisi
England vs Australia
Kickoff: 5pm Saturday 6th September
Venue: Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
Watch on: BBC TWO
This is the best game out of the four happening on Saturday. It may not be close, but that is what could make it so intriguing. Before this game starts, both teams will know the exact size of Australia's buffer to the USA in terms of points difference. As it stands on the Thursday before kickoffs, the gap is 135 but that could be massively closed by the USA. There is a very realistic scenario in which the USA replicates England's score against Samoa and leaves Australia with a buffer between 40 and 50 points. The previous two meetings between England have Australia have ended in English victories with margins of 36 and 35 points.
This all makes for a fascinating game. England are clearly a better side, but this could have the feel of a nail-biter without actually being one. This game could be full of twists and turns that will make for nervous watching in both Australia and the USA.
England have made a plethora of changes from the heavily-rotated side that beat Samoa. With that in mind, it is more useful to compare this XV to the one that thrashed the USA in Sunderland on the opening night. The change in the pack from that game is caused by an injury to Zoe Aldcroft who could return after this game. In her place, England have selected Morwenna Talling to slide out to the flank which means that the other locks slide up one place on the depth chart. Rosie Galligan starts and Lilli Ives-Campion is on the bench. There are two more changes on the bench due to players regaining fitness after missing the first match; Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland are both back in the 23. Jess Breach has started every game and will pick up her 50th cap in the same tournament that she won her 50th cap.
As for Australia, this is a fairly different XV to the one that took on the USA. The entire front row from that game has dropped to the bench, presumably with the intention that the Wallaroos will be at their strongest in the final 20 minutes of the game. There are more changes in the back row. Piper Duck stays at blindside but Ashley Marsters and Siokapesi Palu both come in for Emily Chancellor and Tabua Tuinakauvadra. There is only one change across the backs as Cecilia Smith drops to the bench and is replaced by Pomare.
Team news
England
Starting XV
1.Hannah Botterman 2.Amy Cokayne 3.Maud Muir 4.Rosie Galligan 5.Abbie Ward
6.Morwenna Talling 7.Sadia Kabeya 8.Alex Mathews(C) 9.Natasha Hunt 10.Zoe Harrison
11.Jess Breach 12.Tatyana Heard 13.Megan Jones 14.Abby Dow 15.Ellie Kildunne
Bench
16.Lark Atkin-Davies 17.Kelsey Clifford 18.Sarah Bern 19.Lilli Ives Campion
20.Maddie Feaunati 21.Lucy Packer 22.Holly Aitchison 23.Helena Rowland
Australia
Starting XV
1.Lydia Kavoa 2.Adiana Talakai 3.Eva Karpani 4.Kaitlan Leaney 5.Michaela Leonard
6.Piper Duck 7.Ashley Marsters 8.Siokapesi Palu(C) 9.Samantha Wood 10.Faitala Moleka
11.Desiree Miller 12.Trilleen Pomare 13.Georgina Friedrichs 14.Maya Stewart 15.Caitlyn Haise
Bench
16.Tania Naden 17.Faliki Pohiva 18.Bridie O'Gorman 19.Annabelle Codey
20.Emily Chancellor 21.Tabua Tuinakauvadra 22.Tia Hinds 23.Cecilia Smith
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