New Zealand vs South Africa
Kickoff: 1pm Saturday 13th September
Venue: Sandy Park
Watch on: BBC TWO
The first of the four quarter-finals will take place this weekend between New Zealand and South Africa at Sandy Park. These two nations are giants of the rugby world but, in the women's game, find themselves in very different positions. The Black Ferns have been the most dominant team in the sport since the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991 whilst the Springboks women have not been given the investment needed to compete. Despite not receiving enough investment, South Africa have managed to qualify for a historic quarter-final that looks likely to lead to more funding going forward.
That conversation is one for the future, but what about right now? South Africa are massive underdogs, having lost 57-10 France, who are at a similar level to New Zealand, in their previous game. The route to competitiveness for South Africa is clear - physicality. This is a team full of good athletes which was proven by their victory over Italy. The Black Ferns pack is fearsome but it is very different to France's so perhaps South Africa will be able to find more in-roads in this game. If they are to win, South Africa will need some moments of magic and they have the players to do it. Most notably, Malinga on the left wing is one of the quickest players in the tournament and is a powerful runner as well. She has already proven to be dangerous but she'll be up against Braxton Sorensen-McGee who has been on fire in this tournament at just 18-years-old.
Speaking of Sorensen-McGee, she is part of a superstar back three that has been impressive but is yet to truly explode in the way that it can. Woodman-Wickliffe is the greatest of all time and Holmes is a world-class fullback. Another dangerous runner in this team can be found in the back row; Jorja Miller has been deadly throughout this tournament whilst attacking like more of a centre than a flanker.
The Black Ferns go into this game having made four changes to this side that kept a clean sheet against Ireland. In the front row, Mahutariki-Fakalelu replaces Tanya Kalounivale whilst Sae is replaced by Olsen-Baker in the back row. This means that Mikaele-Tu'u moves to blindside flanker to make space for Olsen-Baker to slot in at number 8. At scrum half, Pouri-Lane has dropped out of the side entirely with Joseph starting and Du Plessis returning from injury to take a place on the bench. The final change comes at inside centre as Stefano replaces Brunt.
South Africa have made almost a dozen changes to the team that was swept aside by France in the final pool game. Amongst the changes, 40-year-old Nolusindiso Booi returns in the second row. The five players that stayed in the team are: Dolf, Samboya, Roos, Hele and Latsha.
This South Africa team now looks to be back to full strength so this game will not be easy for the Black Ferns even though they should win it by a decent margin. The last time these sides played, the game finished 55-3 but the game was played in 2010 so there is no recent record from which to judge. However, form and ranking both favour New Zealand going into this one.
Team news
New Zealand
Starting XV
1.Chryss Viliko 2.Georgia Ponsonby 3.Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu 4.Maiakawanakaulani Roos 5.Alana Bremner
6.Liane Mikaele-Tu'u 7.Jorja Miller 8.Kaipo Olsen-Baker 9.Maia Joseph 10.Ruahei Demant(C)
11.Portia Woodman-Wickliffe 12.Theresa Stefano 13.Stacey Waaka 14.Braxton Sorensen-McGee 15.Renee Holmes
Bench
16.Atlanta Lolohea 17.Awhina Tangen-Wainohu 18.Kate Henwood 19.Laura Bayfield
20.Kennedy Tukuafu 21.Iritana Hohaia 22.Amy du Plessis 23.Ayesha Leti-Iiga
South Africa
Starting XV
1.Sanelisiwe Charlie 2.Lindelwa Gwala 3.Babalwa Latsha 4.Nolusindiso Booi(C) 5.Danelle Lochner
6.Sizophila Solontsi 7.Sinazo Mcatshulwa 8.Aseza Hele 9.Nadine Roos 10.Libbie Janse Van Rensburg
11.Ayanda Malinga 12.Aphiwe Ngwevu 13.Zintle Mpupha 14.Maceala Samboya 15.Byrhandre Dolf
Bench
16.Luchell Hanekom 17.Yonela Ngxingolo 18.Nombuyeke Mdliki 19.Vainah Ubisi
20.Anathi Qolo 21.Lerato Makua 22.Catha Jacobs 23.Eloise Webb
Canada vs Australia
Kickoff: 4pm Saturday 13th September
Venue: Ashton Gate
Watch on: BBC TWO
Unlike South Africa and New Zealand, Australia and Canada are very familiar with each other, The two sides meet on an annual basis in the Pacific Four Series and are now well-acquainted. The Canadians have had the upper hand throughout the matches and have a 7-0 record against the Wallaroos. The most recent matches, all in the Pacific Four Series, have been decisive Canadian victories. In May, Canada beat Australia 45-7 in Brisbane which highlights the gap between the 2 teams.
Kevin Rouet has made a few changes to the side that beat Scotland, including 2 in the back row. Senft drops to the bench and is replaced by Crossley, who will play at 6, whilst Forteza moves to number 8. Paige Farries is replaced by Alysha Corrigan and Beukeboom is replaced by O'Donnell.
Australia is going into this game having made just 2 changes to the side that lost to England. Ashley Marsters drops to the bench and is replaced by Emily Chancellor, and Cecilia Smith returns at centre in place of Trilleen Pomare. Australia are the underdogs in this game but, with threats like Desiree Miller and Caitlyn Halse, they can cause any team problems. The first half against England will provide plenty of confidence from a defensive point of view, whilst the try-scoring of Miller will allow Australia to be a threat at all times.
Both of these quarter-finals have clear favourites (New Zealand and Canada) but their opponents are strong sides that are both capable of doing something special. Going into this World Cup, there were 4 teams thought to be clear of the rest. So far that has been the case, with each one going unbeaten and topping their groups. However, this is knockout rugby. Anything can happen and one unforeseen result could shake-up this entire tournament.
Team news
Canada
Starting XV
1.McKinley Hunt 2.Emily Tuttosi 3.DaLeaka Menin 4.Sophie de Goede 5.Courtney O'Donnell
6.Caroline Crossley 7.Karen Paquin 8.Fabiola Forteza 9.Justine Pelletier 10.Taylor Perry
11.Asia Hogan-Rochester 12.Alex Tessier(C) 13.Florence Symonds 14.Alysha Corrigan 15.Julia Schell
Bench
16.Gillian Boag 17.Brittany Kassil 18.Olivia DeMerchant 19.Tyson Beukeboom
20.Laetitia Royer 21.Gabrielle Senft 22.Olivia Apps 23.Shoshanah Seumanutafa
Australia
Starting XV
1.Lydia Kavoa 2.Adiana Talakai 3.Eva Karpani 4.Kaitlan Leaney 5.Michaela Leonard
6.Piper Duck 7.Emily Chancellor 8.Siokapesi Palu(C) 9.Samantha Wood 10.Faitala Moleka
11.Desiree Miller 12.Cecilia Smith 13.Georgina Friedrichs 14.Maya Stewart 15.Caitlyn Halse
Bench
16.Katalina Amosa 17.Faliki Pohiva 18.Bridie O'Gorman 19.Ashley Fernandez
20.Ashley Marsters 21.Tabua Tuinakauvadra 22.Tia Hinds 23.Trilleen Pomare
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