World Cup 2025, Round three - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: With seven teams already securing their places in the Rugby World Cup 2025 quarterfinals, the final berth comes down to Australia and the United States – and the pressure is on.
The Wallaroos and USA kept their play-off hopes alive following a dramatic 31-all draw last weekend. Now, both sides enter their final pool matches knowing the quarterfinal dream is still within reach – but only for one.
Australia co-captain Emily Chancellor said the team had put the disappointment of the draw behind them and felt upbeat about their performance and chances of advancing.
“The message was really clear – it’s not doom and gloom, this was a positive game we played against the USA,” the star flanker said from Brighton.
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“We’re not kicking stones about a result; we’re in a positive mindset and we’re looking forward to the opportunity we have to cause the upset of the competition.
“If we say that last game was the game of the tournament, let’s look for the upset of the tournament.”
The Americans face winless Samoa in their final pool match, while the Wallaroos meet world No.1 England on Saturday.
A bonus point would see them secure a play-off spot, which they can achieve by scoring four or more tries against England, or if they lose by seven points or fewer.
If they don’t, and the USA posts a big score in a win over Samoa, it will come down to points differential.
Chancellor said her team would leave the mathematical machinations to the coaches and run out targeting a victory against England, who have won 29 matches straight – their last defeat coming in the 2022 World Cup final against New Zealand.
“They’re a world-class team, and we know that they’ve got a wonderful winning streak,” she said.
“They’ve got threats in the forwards, threats in the backs, but ultimately we’re looking at us and how we can play against them.
“That means we’ve got to dominate our tackles and be really positive in our attacking shapes, which we’ve shown – when we do have the ball in the right spaces of the field – how good we can be.
“Our number one goal is to get our own bonus-point win.
“Obviously it becomes a bit more technical and tactical as the game goes on, but we’re leaving that to the coaches to be doing the maths, and we’re there to play a game to win – and we’ll focus on that.”
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With the Wallabies and sevens teams firing, and Rugby Australia clearing its huge debt, Chancellor said the Wallaroos wanted to be part of the “golden age,” with Australia hosting the next women’s tournament in 2029.
“We’ve seen such great things from the Aussie sevens, and the Wallabies have had their really good period, and we are riding that wave with them. We really want to be part of it.
“Australians – we’re competitive, and we do pride ourselves on our rugby union success, so it is important that we perform well at this World Cup.”
Key weekend fixtures ahead
Saturday will see Canada take on Scotland, and Wales face Fiji.
On Sunday, Japan battle Spain, Italy take on Brazil, and in arguably the clash of the day, New Zealand take on Ireland.
The Black Ferns are favourites, but they’ll be wary of the Irish – who have beaten them twice, including their most recent meeting at WXV 1 on September 30 last year.
Still, New Zealand is brimming with confidence after commanding World Cup wins over Spain (54-8) and Japan (62-19).
Reigning HSBC SVNS Series Women’s Player of the Year Jorja Miller starred in the opener, while 2022 World Cup-winning co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu returned from injury to face Japan. Now, the experienced backrower is preparing for what she describes as a must-win clash.
“We want to draw a line in the sand and obviously put ourselves in a great position moving forward,” Tukuafu told reporters on Tuesday.
“This game is going to be… it’s like a final, and we’ve just got to turn up and play some incredible rugby.
“Every game from now on, we believe it’s a final. We want to make sure we don’t show all our cards but make sure that we nail the moments that we do get.”
Saturday, September 6:
Canada v Scotland
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 12.00; 11.00 GMT; 07.00 EDT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Canada by 15 points
Teams:
Canada: 15 Julia Schell, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alexandra Tessier (captain), 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester; 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier; 8 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Karen Paquin, 6 Fabiola Forteza; 5 Tyson Beukeboom, 4 Sophie de Goede; 3 DaLeaka Menin, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 1 McKinley Hunt
Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Laetitia Royer, 20 Courtney O’Donnell, 21 Caroline Crossley, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Lisa Cockburn, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Young, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Jade Konkel, 20 Eva Donaldson, 21 Alex Stewart, 22 Caity Mattinson, 23 Evie Willis
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Ella Goldsmith (RA) & Maria Heitor (FPR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
USA v Samoa
(York Community Stadium, York – Kick-off: 13.30; 12.30 GMT; 08.30 EDT, 00.00 Sunday, September 7 WST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: USA by 40 points
Teams:
USA: 15 Sariah Ibarra, 14 Emily Henrich, 13 Ilona Maher, 12 Gabriella Cantorna, 11 Erica Coulibaly, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 9 Cassidy Bargell, 8 Rachel Johnson, 7 Kate Zackary (captain),6 Freda Tafuna, 5 Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 4 Hallie Taufoou, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Alivia Leatherman, 19 Tahlia Brody, 20 Georgie Perris-Redding, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Kristin Bitter, Alev Kelter.
Samoa: 15 Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung, 14 Lutia Col Aumua, 13 Keilamarita Pouri-Lane, 12 Harmony Vatau, 11 Drenna Falaniko, 10 Karla Wright-Akeli, 9 Ana Afuie, 8 Joanna Fanene Lolo, 7 Sui Pauaraisa, 6 Utumalama Atonio, 5 Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 4 Ana-Lise Sio, 3 Tori Iosefo, 2 Avau Filimaua, 1 Denise Aiolupotea
Replacements: 16 Faith Nonutunu, 17 Ana Mamea, 18 Glory Aiono, 19 Jay-Jay Taylor, 20 Nina Foaese, 21 Sinead Ryder, 22 Faalua Tugaga, 23 Fa’asua Makisi.
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (RFU) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Wales v Fiji
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 14.45; 13.45 GMT; 03.00 Sunday, September 7 FJT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Wales by 10 points
Teams:
Wales: 15 Kayleigh Powell, 14 Lisa Neymann, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Courtney Keight, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Alex Callender, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Wiilliams, 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Georgia Evans, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Maisie Davies.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Abbie Fleming, 20 Bryonie King, 21 Seren Lockwood, 22 Hannah Dallavalle, 23 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers
Fiji: 15 Litiana Vueti, 14 Repeka Adi Tove, 13 Verenaisi Ditavutu, 12 Josifini Neihamu, 11 Kolora Lomani, 10 Salanieta Kinita, 9 Setaita Railumu, 8 Manuqalo Komaitai, 7 Alfreda Fisher, 6 Nunia Daunimoala, 5 Asinate Serevi, 4 Jade Coates, 3 Vika Matarugu, 2 Keleni Marawa, 1 Karalaini Naisewa
Replacements: 16 Selai Naliva, 17 Carletta Yee, 18 Tiana Robanakadavu, 19 Mereoni Nakesa, 20 Sulita Waisega, 21 Repeka Mata, 22 Kelerayani Luvu, 23 Adi Salote Nailolo
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR)
Assistant Referees: Lauren Jenner (FIR) & Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
England v Australia
(Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton & Hove – Kick-off: 17.00; 16.00 GMT; 02.00 Sunday, September 7 AEST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: England by five points
Teams:
England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lucy Packer, 8 Maddie Feaunati, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Morwenna Talling, 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Rosie Galligan, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Hannah Botterman.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsea Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Lili Ives Cmpion, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.
Australia: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Trilleen Pomare, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Samantha Wood, 8 Siokapesi Palu, 7 Ashley Marsters, 6 Piper Duck, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Adiana Talakai, 1 Lydia Kavoa.
Replacements: 16 Tania Naden, 17 Faliki Pohiva, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Annabelle Codey, 20 Emily Chancellor , 21 Tabua Tuinakuvadra, 22 Tia Hinds, 23 Cecilia Smith.
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (RFU) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Sunday, September 7:
Japan v Spain
(York Community Stadium, York – Kick-off: 12.00; 11.00 GMT; 13.00 Spain time; 20.00 JST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Japan by five points
Teams:
Japan: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Misaki Matsumura, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Megumi Abe, 8 Jennifer Nduka, 7 Iroha Nagata, 6 Masami Kawamura, 5 Otoka Yoshimura, 4 Yuna Sato, 3 Wako Kitano, 2 Asuka Kuge, 1 Sachiko Kato.
Replacements: 16 Kotomi Taniguchi, 17 Manami Mine, 18 Nijiho Nagata, 19 Ayano Sakurai, 20 Seina Saito, 21 Moe Tsukui, 22 Minori Yamaoto, 23 Mele Yua Havili Kagawa
Spain: 15 Amalia Argudo, 14 Claudia Perez Perez, 13 Claudia Pena Hidalgo, 12 Lea Ducher, 11 Clara Piquero, 10 Zahia Perez, 9 Anne Fernandez de Corres, 8 Alba Capell, 7 Nerea Garcia Rementeria, 6 Ana Peralta Baquet, 5 Lourdes Alameda 4 Monica Castelo, 2 Sidorlla Rodriquez, 2 Cristina Herrera, 1 Ines Fernandez.
Replacements: 16 Marieta Mallen, 17 Gemma Sierra, 18 Mireia De Andres, 19 Victoria Martinez, 20 Valentina Marquez, 21 Ariadna Bingbing Vergara Piqueras, 22 Tecla Bueriberi, 23 Ana Cortes.
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (RFU) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Italy v Brazil
(Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 10.00 BRT; 15.00 Italy time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Italy by 30 points
Teams:
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Giada Corradini, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Francesca Granzotto, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Alia Bitonci, 8 Elisa Giordana Duca, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 6 Francesca Sgorbini, 5 Alessandra Frangipani, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 3 Sara Seye, 2 Vittoria Veccheni, 1 Silvia Turani.
Replacements: 16 Layra Gurioli, 17 Silvia Turani, 18 Alessia Pilani, 19 Beatrice Veronese, 20 Alissa Ranuccini, 21 Sofia Stefan, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Gaia Buso
Brazil: 15 Fernanda Tenorio, 14 Giovanna Barth, 13 Marina Fioravanti, 12 Mariana Nicolau, 11 Bianca Silva, 10 Raquel Kochhann, 9 Aline Mayumi Bednarski, 8 Camilla Carvalho, 7 Larissa Alves Carvalho, 6 Larissa Henwood, 5 Dayana Dakar, 4 Eshyllen Coimbra, 3 Pamela Santos, 2 Julia Leni, 1
Franciele Barros
Replacements: 16 Isabela Saccomanno, 17 Tais Prioste, 18 Giovana Mamede, 19 Marcelle Cruz, 20 Ana Carolina Santana, 21 Leticia Medeiros, 22 Leila Silva, 23 Edna Santini
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ella Goldsmith (RA) & Maria Heitor (FPR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
New Zealand v Ireland
(Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton & Hove – Kick-off: 14.45; 13.45 GMT; 01.45 Monday, September 8 NZT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: New Zealand by 10 points
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Renee Holmes, 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 10 Ruahei Demant, 9 Risi Pouri-Lane, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Jorja Miller, 6 Layla Sae, 5 Alana Bremner, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Tanya Kalounivale 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Chryss Viliko.
Replacements: 16 Vici-Rose Green, 17 Kate Henwood, 18 Amy Rule, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Kennedy Tukuafu, 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Theresa Setefano, 23 Ayesha Leti-Iiga
Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Beibhinn Parsons, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Aibheann Reilly, 8 Brittany Hogan, 7 Edel McMahon, 5 Sam Monaghan, 4 Ruth Campbell, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Ellena Perry.
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney Macdonald, 17 Niamh O’Dowd, 18 Sadhbh McGrath, 19 Eimear Corri-Fallon, 20 Claire Boles, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Nancy McGillivray, 23 Anna McGann
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (ZIM) & Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
*Additional sources: AAP & Rugbypass
