RWC2025 quarterfinals - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The Women’s Rugby World Cup reaches the quarterfinal stage this weekend, with four clashes between old rivals.
Champions New Zealand face South Africa in Exeter on Saturday while Canada play Australia in Bristol.
Sunday belongs to Europe, with France up against Ireland before tournament hosts and favourites England take on Scotland.
Similar to South Africa v Black Ferns, the Canada v Australia is another match that appears destined to go with the form book given world number two Canada.
They have beaten Australia 45-7 in Brisbane during the Pacific Four series in May and have yet to lose to the Wallaroos.
Canada ended the group stage with a 40-19 rout of Scotland whereas Australia were hammered 47-7 by England.
“I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position, but also in a position of pressure,” said Canada captain Alex Tessier.
“Pressure is a privilege and we’re looking forward to a good battle on Saturday.”
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Australia have already met expectations by getting this far, with coach Joanne Yapp – a former England captain – saying: “We appreciate it was a loss against England last week but we had an aim to make the quarters to give ourselves a shot and the players have achieved that.”
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France v Ireland
Perhaps the most intriguing of all this weekend’s quarterfinals in that a win for either side is a genuine possibility.
France won 27-15 when the teams met in this season’s Women’s Six Nations but Ireland prop Linda Djougang said: “We came so close. We know the challenge ahead of us.”
Les Bleues made a relatively slow start to the tournament but look to be finding their best form at the right time.
“We’ve shown we want to play,” said France back Lina Queyroi. “We want to move the ball, to tire them out physically.”
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England v Scotland
Border rivals they may be, but geography has been the only close thing when it comes to rugby encounters between England and Scotland.
England have won 32 of their 34 encounters, with the Scots last defeating the ‘Auld Enemy’ back in 1989.
In the past five meetings, the average points difference between the teams has stretched to nearly 50, with England benefitting from having turned professional, with a much larger playing pool, several years before Scotland.
Even though England will be without fullback Ellie Kildunne this weekend after the 2024 world player of the year suffered concussion against Australia, another lopsided encounter looks likely.
“We came to qualify for the quarterfinals,” said Scotland coach Bryan Easson.
“We’ve got the quarterfinals; we’re top six in the world so I would say we’re making real progress.”
England, with captain Zoe Aldcroft set to return after a knee injury, are bidding to break their own record of 30 straight Test wins.
But England forwards coach Louis Deacon said: “Knockout rugby is a different competition. You have to earn the right, you have to earn another week.”
Saturday, September 13
Canada v Australia
(Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT; 11.00 EDT; 02.00 Sunday, September 14 AEST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Canada by 10 points
Teams:
Canada: 15 Julia Schell, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alexandra Tessier (captain), 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester; 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier; 8 Fabiola Forteza, 7 Karen Paquin, 6 Caroline Crossley; 5 Courtney O’Donnell, 4 Sophie de Goede; 3 DaLeaka Menin, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 1 McKinley Hunt
Replacements: 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: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Cecilia Smith, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Samantha Wood, 8 Siokapesi Palu, 7 Emily Chancellor, 6 Piper Duck, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Adiana Talakai, 1 Lydia Kavoa.
Replacements: 16 Katalina Amosa, 17 Faliki Pohiva, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Ashley Fernandez, 20 Ashley Marsters, 21 Tabua Tuinakuvadra, 22 Tia Hinds, 23 Trilleen Pomare.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Lauren Jenner (FIR) & Holly Wood (RFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Sunday, September 14
France v Ireland
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 13.00; 12.00 GMT; 15.00 French time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: France by five points
France:
France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Marine Ménager, 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Kelly Arbey, 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 8 Charlotte Escudero, 7 Lea Champon, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 4 Manae Feleu, 3 Rose Bernadou, 2 Agathe Gerin, 1 Yllana Brosseau
Replacements: 16 Manon Bigot, 17 Annaëlle Deshaye, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Hina Ikahehegi, 20 Seraphine Okemba, 21 Teani Feleu, 22 Alexandra Chambon, 23 Emilie Boulard
Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Beibhinn Parsons, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Aoibheann Reilly, 8 Brittany Hogan, 7 Aoife Wafer, 6 Fiona Tuite, 5 Sam Monaghan, 4 Ruth Campbell, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd.
Replacements: 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
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) & Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
England v Scotland
(Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: England by 20 points
Teams:
England: 15 Helena Rowland, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Rosie Galligan, 4 Morwenna Talling, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Kelsey Clifford.
Replacements: 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: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Jake Konkel, 7 Evie Gallagher, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Christine Belisle, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Molly Wright, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Rachel McLachlan, 21 Alex Stewart, 22 Caity Mattinson, 23 Evie Willis
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
