France vs Ireland
Kickoff: 1pm Sunday 14th September
Venue: Sandy Park
Watch on: BBC TWO
The 3rd quarter-final of the weekend looks set to be the best. France is ranked 3rd in the world and Ireland is ranked 5th. These two teams are very familiar with each other, playing on a yearly basis in the Six Nations. The last 5 games between the sides, all in the SIx Nations, have been incredibly one-sided. France has won each game comfortably, but things have begun to change in recent years.
Ireland has only started to invest in women's rugby in the last 5 years and only started focusing on 15-a-side in the wake of an embarrassing failure to qualify for the last World Cup. Since then, Ireland has risen up the World rankings and is now the best challenger to the current top four. In recent years Ireland has recorded several big victories, including a win over the Black Ferns. However, they did lose 40-0 to New Zealand last week so Ireland's current form is in question.
The French, meanwhile, have been perennial semi-finalists. They have consistently finished 3rd behind England and New Zealand and currently sit 3rd in the world. They strolled through their pool with ease and go into this game as significant favourites but will be wary of the threat that Ireland will pose.
France will go into this game with a slightly altered line-up. There are two changes to the side that beat South Africa, both of which are made in the backs. Marine Menager moves to outside centre from the left wing which means that Kelly Arbey replaces Nassira Konde in the starting XV. At fullback, Bourgeois swaps spots with Boulard which means that Bourgeois will be starting. This is a powerful pack that will look to impose itself on Ireland and control the game.
Ireland will need to be at their best to counter France's power and that job will be made easier by the return of Aoife Wafer to the back row. Wafer is just 22-years-old and has already been selected in the 2024 and 2025 Six Nations teams of the year as well as becoming the first Irish player to be named player of the tournament in 2025. She normally plays at no.8 but will start at flanker on Sunday. She will be joined in the back row by Hogan and Tuite which means that Moore drops to the bench and Boles is out of the match-day squad entirely. A shake-up was probably necessary given how ineffectual the Irish attack was in their drubbing at the hands of New Zealand. There is also some good, and slightly surprising, news at fullback for Ireland. Stacey Flood has been named at fullback despite being forced off against New Zealand last weekend. The bad news is that McMahon is not fit but the return of Wafer should hopefully mitigate the impact of that injury. Sam Monaghan will captain the team in her absence.
Team news
France
Starting XV
1.Yllana Brosseau 2.Agathe Gerin 3.Rose Bernadou 4.Manae Feleu(C) 5.Madoussou Fall Raclot
6.Axelle Berthoumieu 7.Lea Champon 8.Charlotte Escudero 9.Pauline Bourdon-Sansus 10.Lina Queyroi
11.Kelly Arbey 12.Gaby Vernier 13.Marine Menager 14.Joanna Grisez 15.Morgane Bourgeois
Bench
16.Manon Bigot 17.Annaelle Deshaye 18.Assia Khalfaoui 19.Hina Ikahehegi
20.Seraphine Okemba 21.Teani Feleu 22.Alexandra Chambon 23.Emilie Boulard
Ireland
Starting XV
1.Niamh O'Dowd 2.Neve Jones 3.Linda Djougang 4.Ruth Campbell 5.Sam Monaghan(C)
6.Fiona Tuite 7.Aoife Wafer 8.Brittany Hogan 9.Aoibheann Reilly 10.Dannah O'Brien
11.Amee Leigh-Costigan 12.Eve Higgins 13.Aoife Dalton 14.Beibhinn Parsons 15.Stacey Flood
Bench
16.Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald 17.Ellena Perry 18.Sadhbh McGrath 19.Eimear Corri-Fallon
20.Grace Moore 21.Emily Lane 22.Enya Breen 23.Anna McGann
England vs Scotland
Kickoff: 4pm Sunday 14th September
Venue: Ashton Gate
Watch on: BBC ONE
A classic sporting rivalry will resume once again on Sunday afternoon. The venue for this clash will be Ashton Gate, which is home to the Bristol Bears in both the Gallagher PREM and sometimes PWR. The all-time record between these teams is 32-2 in favour of England and the recent history of this fixture does not offer any more encouragement to scotland. England has won the last 5 games and each one was by a margin of over 40 points. On paper this game should be very one-sided but, given the rivalry and occasion of this game, things could go very differently this weekend.
England will go into this game having regained their captain but having lost two stars. Zoe Aldcroft returns to the back row but Hannah Botterman (back spasms) and Ellie Kildunne (concussion) are both missing. Botterman's injury means that Kelsey Clifford will start and MacKenzie Carson will be on the bench. Aldcroft returning to the back row means that Lilli Ives-Campion misses out on being in the team. Morwenna Talling will move back to her usual second-row position alongside Rosie Galligan which means that Abbie Ward drops to the bench. Ward being on the bench is a bit of a surprise but her experience will be an asset at the end of the game.
The other changes come at fly half and fullback. Helena Rowland will be the starting fullback with Emma Sing providing cover on the bench and Holly Aitchison replaces Zoe Harrison in the starting XV. Aitchison had been the first-choice fly half going into the tournament but suffered an injury which meant that Harrison started. Aitchison returned to action in the second half against Australia and it looks like she remains the clear starter despite the efforts of Harrison.
There are 2 changes to the Scottish side that lost to Canada: Cockburn is replaced by Christine Belisle at tighthead prop whilst Jade Konkel replaces Rachel McLachlan in the back row. This means that Evie Gallagher moves to flanker and Konkel starts at no.8. Rachel McLachlan will be used in the second half to hopefully give her side a boost to match the Red Roses in the crucial stages.
England should win this game comfortably but Scotland's attacking style of play could cause serious issues for England. The USA game exposed some potential issues that were not properly exploited by Samoa or Australia. Scotland has the likes of Francesca McGhie and Emma Orr who can take apart any defence in the World given the opportunity.
Team news
England
Starting XV
1.Kelsey Clifford 2.Amy Cokayne 3.Maud Muir 4.Morwenna Talling 5.Rosie Galligan
6.Zoe Aldcroft(C) 7.Sadia Kabeya 8.Alex Mathews 9.Natasha Hunt 10.Holly Aitchison
11.Jess Breach 12.Tatiana Heard 13.Megan Jones 14.Abby Dow 15.Helena Rowland
Bench
16.Lark Atkin-Davies 17.MacKenzie Carson 18.Sarah Bern 19.Abbie Ward
20.Maddie Feaunati 21.Lucy Packer 22.Zoe Harrison 23.Emma Sing
Scotland
Starting XV
1.Leah Bartlett 2.Lana Skeldon 3.Christine Belisle 4.Emma Wassell 5.Sarah Bonar
6.Rachel Malcolm(C) 7.Evie Gallagher 8.Jade Konkel 9.Leia Brebner-Holden 10.Helen Nelson
11.Francesca McGhie 12.Lisa Thomson 13.Emma Orr 14.Rhona Lloyd 15.Chloe Rollie
Bench
16.Elis Martin 17.Molly Wright 18.Molly Poolman 19.Eva Donaldson
20.Rachel McLachlan 21.Alex Stewart 22.Caity Mattinson 23.Evie Wills
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