Australia
The Wallaroos come into this World Cup missing their star fullback, Charlotte Caslick, who had impressed since joining the 15-a-side team from their sevens counterparts. They currently sit at sixth in the World and will be expected to match their ranking with a quarter-final appearance. Their fate will likely be determined by their second fixture at the World Cup which will be against the USA. Their most recent game against the USA came in this year's Pacific Four series, a round-robin tournament that is dominated by New Zealand and Canada. Australia beat the USA 27-19 and will be confident that they can repeat that success at the York Community Stadium. Unfortunately for Australia, their path to a semi-final is blocked by the formidable Red Roses and Canada who beat them by 38-points in their previous match in the Pacific Four Series.
World Ranking: 6th
Best ever result: 3rd place (2010)
2021 Result: Quarter-final
Head Coach: Joanne Yap
Captain(s): Emily Chancellor and Siokapesi Palu
Player to Watch: Ashley Marsters
Expectation: Semi - final
Pool Prediction: 2nd
FIxtures:
Saturday 23rd August, 12pm GMT vs Samoa at the Salford Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
Saturday 30th August, 7:30pm GMT vs USA at the York Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
Saturday 6th September, 5pm GMT vs England at the Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium (BBC TWO)
SQUAD
Loosehead Prop: Lydia Kavoa - Bree-Anna Browne - Brianna Hoy
Hooker: Katalina Amosa - Tania Naden - Adiana Talakai
Tighthead Prop: Bridie O'Gorman - Eva Karpani - Faliki Pohiva
Lock: Annabelle Codey - Ashley Fernandez - Kaitlan Leaney - Michaela Leanard
Back Row: Emily Chancellor(CC) - Ashley Marsters - Siokapesi Palu(CC) - Piper Duck - Tabua Tuinakauvadra
Scrum-half: Layne Morgan - Samantha Wood
Fly-half: Tia Hinds - Faitala Moleka - Manu'a Moleka
Centre: Georgina Friedrichs - Trilleen Pomare - Cecilia Smith
WIng: Desiree Miller - Maya Stewart - Caitlin Urwin
Fullback: Lori Cramer- Waiaria Ellis - Caitlyn Halse
England
The hosts enter this tournament as overwhelming favourites - and rightly so. They have gone unbeaten since losing the final of the 2021 World Cup which took place in 2022 due to Covid-19. In the three years since, they have been unstoppable and have almost always won convincingly. This is, on paper, a rather tricky pool and one that could catch England out if they succumb to the pressure in front of a crowd of nearly 50,000 at the Stadium of Light on Friday night. Their biggest challenge in their group will be Australia but that is also a game that the Red Roses will expect to win comfortably. Their ultimate challenge is exacting revenge on New Zealand in the final and doing what the Black Ferns did last time by winning a home World Cup. Women's sport has seen massive growth in interest in England and the Red Roses could be the next team to capture the imagination of their country. The likes of Ellie Kildunne and Mo Hunt have the opportunity to write their names into English sporting history and bring women's rugby into the forefront of people's minds.
World Ranking: 1st
Best ever Result: Champions (1994 and 2014)
2021 Result: Runners-up
Head Coach: John Mitchell
Captain: Zoe Aldcroft
Player to Watch: Ellie Kildunne
Expectation: Win the World Cup
Pool Prediction: 1st
Fixtures:
Friday 22nd August, 7:30pm vs USA at the Stadium of Light (BBC TWO)
Saturday 30th August, 5pm vs Samoa at Franklin's Gardens (BBC TWO)
Saturday 6th September, 5pm vs Australia at the Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium (BBC TWO)
SQUAD
Loosehead Prop: Hannah Botterman - Kelsey Clifford - Mackenzie Carson
Hooker: Lark Atkin-Davies - May Campbell - Amy Cokayne
Tighthead Prop: Sarah Bern - Maud Muir
Lock: Zoe Aldcroft - Rosie Galligan - Lilli Ives-Campion - Morwenna Talling - Abbie Ward
Flanker: Abi Burton - Sadia Kabeya - Marlie Packer
Number 8: Maddy Feaunati - Alex Mathews
Scrum Half: Natasha Hunt - Lucy Packer
Fly Half: Holly Aitchison - Zoe Harrison
Centre: Tatyana Heard - Meg Jones - Helena Rowland - Emily Scarratt - Jade Sheckells
Wing: Jess Breach - Abby Dow - Claudia Moloney-MacDonald
Fullback: Ellie Kildunne - Emma Sing
Samoa
Samoa have qualified for World Cups before but have never made a real impact on this stage. They'll be hoping to change that in 2025. However, they are in a tough group with some teams that have had a lot more investment and much more experience at the highest levels. Samoa will go into each game as an underdog but will no-doubt create some magical moments in their 3 games at this tournament. This is also an opportunity for these players to put themselves in the spotlight on the biggest stage and potentially garner some interest from some established leagues.
World Ranking: 15th
Best ever Result: 9th (2002)
2021 Result: Withdrew due to Covid-19 pandemic
Head Coach: Ramsey Tomokino
Captain: Sui Tauaua-Pauaraisa
Player to Watch: Ana Afuie
Expectation: Challenge for 3rd in the Group
Pool Prediction: 4th
Fixtures:
Saturday 23rd August, 12pm vs Australia at the Salford Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
Saturday 30th August, 5pm vs England at Franklin'sGardens (BBC TWO)
Saturday 6th September, 1:30pm vs USA at York Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
Squad
Hooker: Cathy Ulu'ulumatafolau Leuta - Avau Valentina Filimau - Faith Nonutunu
Prop: Denise Aiolupotea - Glory Aiono Samuelu - Tori Iosefo - Ana Memea - Ti Tauasosi
Lock: Ana-Lise Sio - Jayjay Taylor - Tuilaepa - Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
Back Row: Utumalama Atonio - Joanna Fanene -Lolo - Nina Foaese - Sinead Ryder - Sui Tauaua-Pauaraisa - Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
Scrum Half: Saelua Leaula - Faalua Tugaga - Ana-Maria Afuie
Fly Half:
Centre: Madisen-Jade Iva - Fa'asua Makisi - Drenna Falaniko - Davina Lasini - Harmony Vatau - Keilamarita Pouri-Lane
Wing: Michelle Curry - Linda Fiafia - Lutia Col Aumua
Fullback: Taytana Pati Ah Cheung - Melina Salale - Karla Wright-Akeli
USA
The USA are entering this tournament with plenty of fanfare. The presence of Ilhona Maher has helped to give this team a presence within the United States and what better way to really generate some noise than to beat the hosts on the opening night? A win against England is highly unlikely but the Americans will be looking for a giant-killing and will be ready to pounce on any English errors. As I mentioned when previewing Australia, the USA vs Australia game is the most important of this group and will likely determine who gets through behind England. In addition, if the USA are able to get through, it could set up a mouth-watering clash between themselves and their northern neighbours - Canada.
World Ranking: 10th
Best ever Result: 2nd (1994 and 1998)
2021 Result: Quarter-final
Head Coach: Sione Fukofuka
Captain: Kate Zackary
Player to Watch: Ilhona Maher
Expectation: Get out of the group
Pool Prediction: 3rd
Fixtures:
Friday 22nd August, 7:30pm vs England at the Stadium of Light (BBC TWO)
Sunday 30th August, 7:30pm vs Australia at York Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
Saturday 6th September, 1:30pm vs Samoa at York Community Stadium (BBC iPlayer)
SQUAD
Hooker: Paige Stathopoulos - Hope Cooper
Prop: Hope Rodgers - Maya Learned - Charli Jacoby - Keia Mae Sagapolu - Catie Benson - Alivia Leatherman
Lock: Hallie Taufoou - Erica Jarrell-Searcy - Rachel Ehrecke - Emerson Allen
Back Row: Tahlia Brody - Rachel Johnson - Freda Tafuna - Kate Zackary - Georgie Perris-Redding
Scrum Half: Olivia Ortiz - Cassidy Bargell
Fly Half: McKenzie Hawkins - Kristin Bitter
Centre: Alev Kelter - Emily Henrich - Ilhona Maher - Nana Fa'avesi - Gabby Cantorna
Back Three: Erica Coulibaly - Cheta Emba - Bulou Mataitoga - Sariah Ibarra - Lotte Sharp
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