World Cup 2025, Round Two - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The World Cup heads into its second week on the back of impressive off-field numbers, with organisers adamant the tournament’s momentum can be maintained despite several mismatches in the first round of pool matches.
More than 85,000 spectators watched the opening eight group games, with host nation England’s 69-7 thrashing of the United States attracting a peak television audience of 2.4 million in the United Kingdom.
France’s 24-0 win over Italy also broke records with 3.2 million watching in France.
But the average margin of victory in the first round was 47 points, with France’s ultimately convincing win over Italy the closest contest of the round.
Several more lopsided contests are expected this weekend, with teams that are effectively professional going up against essentially amateur sides.
Tournament favourites England have made 13 changes, with injured captain Zoe Aldcroft missing, but they will still be expected to hammer Samoa, who lost their Pool A opener 73-0 to Australia.
Reigning world champions New Zealand, meanwhile, face Japan with the Black Ferns having won 95-12 when the teams last met.
But Yvonne Nolan, the competition director for World Cup 2025, insisted this week that closer games were on the way.
“If you like free-flowing rugby and tries, you’re seeing it,” she said. “If you like an arm wrestle, it will come. These matches are going to get tighter and tighter as we get through the pools and into the knockouts.”
Nolan, who insisted all 16 competing teams “deserve to be here”, added: “In 2006 I was part of an Ireland team beaten by France 43-0. Today, Ireland are ranked fifth, just behind France. If we all get behind these teams, that performance gap will close.”
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This weekend’s action kicks off at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester, where second-ranked Canada take on Wales in a Pool B clash.
Fresh from a win over Wales, Scotland take on Fiji.
The Pool A front-runners and World Cup favourites England take on Samoa, while the clash of the pool USA face Australia.
On Sunday, Ireland face Spain, and defending champs New Zealand battle Japan.
Italy will take on South Africa, and the clash between France and Brazil will conclude proceedings on Sunday.
Tyson Beukeboom is set to equal a national appearance record after being named in Canada’s starting team to face Wales on Saturday.
The lock, already Canada’s most-capped women’s player, will draw level with former men’s player, Aaron Carpenter, as the most-capped Canadian player of all time when she earns her 80th cap in Salford.
Canada, ranked second in the world, is currently top of Pool B after a 65-7 rout of Fiji last weekend, with six of their 11 tries scored by fullback Julia Schell.
They can guarantee their place in the quarterfinals with a victory over Wales.
Quarters for Canada?
Canada coach Kevin Rouet has made five starting changes, with McKinley Hunt and Emily Tuttosi coming into the front row, while Karen Paquin is set for her fourth World Cup appearance in the back row and Beukeboom returns to the 15 after coming off the bench against Fiji.
Express back Asia Hogan-Rochester makes her World Cup debut out on the left wing.
Wales were beaten 8-38 by Scotland in their tournament opener, but Rouet said: “We have to expect a lot of fight, Wales is never an easy game for us, it’s always an 80-minute grind, so we are prepared for the threat.
“They have said it is like a final for them, so you never know what you could expect from that. We just have to be confident with who we are and our preparation, go with the game plan.
“We expect a lot from them, and they need to expect a lot from us.”
Rouet, explaining why he had changed a winning team, added: “Fiji was a physical battle, and you need to respect that. I believe we have amazing players in every position so it’s tough and fun every week.”
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Kiwi star to make history
Kennedy Tukuafu will make her first Test appearance since July after being named in a much-changed New Zealand side for the reigning champions’ Women’s Rugby World Cup pool match against Japan in Exeter on Sunday.
Loose forward Tukuafu, who was injured against the USA in the 2025 Pacific Four Series back in July, will start on the openside against Japan, with Jorja Miller switching to blindside following the Black Ferns’ 54-8 thrashing of Spain in their Pool C opener.
While Tukuafu is still co-captain, Alana Bremner and Ruahei Demant will lead the side this week to allow Tukuafu to concentrate on her own game.
Prop Kate Henwood also returns from an ankle injury sustained in the July match against the Black Ferns XV.
She is set to make her World Cup debut off the bench alongside fellow World Cup debutants Katelyn Vahaakolo, Atlanta Lolohea, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and Maia Joseph.
The starting side sees props Chryss Viliko and Tanya Kalounivale form the front row with hooker Georgia Ponsonby in the front row, with Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Alana Bremner the second row duo.
Meanwhile, outstanding wing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, is just one try away from becoming New Zealand’s all-time top try-scorer.
If she scores in this game against Japan, she will become the first New Zealand rugby player, man or woman, to reach 50 Test tries.
“It’s great to have Kennedy and Kate back in the team,” said Black Ferns boss Allan Bunting. “Their grit and determination to get to where they are, at a pinnacle event is a special moment for not only for them but the entire squad.”
Saturday, August 30
Canada v Wales
(Salford Community Stadium, Manchester – Kick-off: 12.00; 11.00 GMT; 07.00 EDT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Canada by 20 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 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Karen Paquin, 6 Caroline Crossley; 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 Courtney O’Donnell, 20 Fabiola Forteza, 21 Olivia Apps, 22 Claire Gallagher, 23 Shoshanah Seumanutafa
Wales: 15 Nel Metcalfe, 14 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Courtney Keight, 11 Lisa Neumann, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Georgia Evans, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Bryonie King, 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Molly Reardon, 1 Maisie Davies.
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Jenni Scoble, 19 Tilly Vucaj, 20 Branwen Metcalfe, 21 Seren Lockwood, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Kerin Lake
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (NZR) & Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Scotland v Fiji
(Salford Community Stadium, Manchester – Kick-off: 14.45; 13.45; 03.00 Sunday, August 31 FJT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Scotland by 10 points
Teams:
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 Elliann Clarke, 2 Elis Martin, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Molly Wright, 17 Anne Young, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Adelle Ferrie, 20 Eva Donaldson, 21 Alex Stewart, 22 Caity Mattinson, 23 Beth Blacklock
Fiji: 15 Litiana Vueti, 14 Alowesi Nakoci, 13 Verenaisi Ditavutu, 12 Josifini Neihamu, 11 Michella’e Brigid Stolz, 10 Salanieta Kinita, 9 Setaita Railumu, 8 Manuqalo Komaitai, 7 Alfreda Fisher, 6 Nunia Daunimoala, 5 Mereoni Nakesa, 4 Jade Coates, 3 Vika Matarugu, 2 Bitila Tawake, 1 Loraini Senivutu
Replacements: 16 Keleni Marawa, 17 Karalaini Naisewa, 18 Tiana Robanakadavu, 19 Carletta Yee, 20 Sulita Waisega, 21 Kolora Lomani, 22 Kelerayani Luvu, 23 Adi Salote Nailolo
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (RFU) & Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
England v Samoa
(Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – Kick-off: 17.00; 16.00 GMT, 04.00 Sunday, August 31 WST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: England by 50 points
Teams:
England: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Jade Shekells, 11 Claudia Moloney Macdonald, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lucy Packer, 8 Maddie Feaunati, 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Abi Burton, 5 Rosie Galligan, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Kelsey Clifford.
Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Morwenna Talling, 20 Sadia Kabeya, 21 Natasha Hunt, 23 Zoe Harrison, 23 Ellie Kildunne
Samoa: 15 Karla Wrght-Akeli, 14 Davina Lasini, 13 Keilamarita Pouri-Lane, 12 Fa’asua Makisi, 11 Linda Fiafia, 10 Harmony Vatau, 9 Ana Afuie, 8 Nina Foaese, 7 Sui Pauaraisa, 6 Utumalama Atonio, 5 Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 4 Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 3 Glory Aiono, 2 Faith Nonutunu, 1 Denise Aiolupotea
Replacements: 16 Lulu Leuta, 17 Ti Tauasosi, 18 Tori Iosefo, 19 Ana-Lise Sio, 20 Madisen-Jade Jamie Iva, 21 Saelua Leaula, 22 Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung, 23 Michelle Curry
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
USA v Australia
(York Community Stadium, York – Kick-off: 19.30; 18.30 GMT; 04.30 Sunday, August 31 AEST; 14.30 EDT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Australia by five points
Teams:
USA: 15 Lotte Sharp, 14 Cheta Emba, 13 Ilona Maher, 12 Emily Henrich, 11 Erica Coulibaly, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 9 Cassidy Bargell, 8 Rachel Johnson, 7 Kate Zackary (captain),6 Freda Tafuna, 5 Erica Jarrell, 4 Hallie Taufoou, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Rachel Ehrecke, 20 Tahlia Brody, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Gabriella Cantorna, 23 Sariah Ibarra
Australia: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Cecilia Smith, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Samantha Wood, 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 7 Emily Chancellor, 6 Piper Duck, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Bridie O’Gorman, 2 Tania Naden, 1 Faliki Pohiva.
Replacements: 16 Katalina Amosa, 17 Lydia Kavoa, 18 Eva Karpani, 19 Annabelle Codey, 20 Ashley Marsters, 21 Layne Morgan, 22 Trilleen Pomare, 23 Tia Hinds
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (ZIM) & Maria Heitor (FPR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Sunday, August 31
Ireland v Spain
(Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – Kick-off: 12.00; 11.00 GMT; 13.00 Spain time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Ireland by 20 points
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Anna McGann, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 8 Grace Moore, 7 Claire Boles, 6 Fiona Tuite, 5 Sam Monaghan, 4 Eimear Corri-Fallon, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Cliodhna Moloney Macdonald, 1 Ellena Perry.
Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Siobhan McCarthy, 18 Sadhbh McGrath, 19 Ruth Campbell, 20 Brittany Hogan, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Enya Breen, 23 Nancy McGillivray
Spain: 15 Amalia Argudo, 14 Claudia Perez Perez, 13 Claudia Pena Hidalgo, 12 Claudia Cano, 11 Clara Piquero, 10 Zahia Perez, 9 Anne Fernandez de Corres, 8 Valentina Lucia Perez Marquez, 7 Ana Peralta Baquet, 6 Lia Pineiro, 5 Elena Martinez, 4 Lourdes Alameda, 3 Eider Garcia Fuentes, 2 Marieta Roman Mallen, 1 Gemma Silva Sierra
Replacements: 16 Cristina Blanco Herrera, 17 Laura Delgado, 18 Mireia De Andres, 19 Anna Puig, 20 Monica Castelo, 21 Nerea Garcia Rementeria, 22 Ariadna Bingbing Vergara Piqueras, 23 Lea Ducher
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
New Zealand v Japan
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 22.00 JST; 01.30 Monday, August 31 NZT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: New Zealand by 75 points
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 14 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Sylvia Brunt, 11 Katelyn Vahaakolo, 10 Ruahei Demant, 9 Risi Pouri-Lane, 8 Layla Sae, 7 Kennedy Tukuafu, 6 Jorja Miller, 5 Alana Bremner, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Tanya Kalounivale 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Chryss Viliko.
Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Kate Henwood, 18 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Renee Holmes, 23 Theresa Setefano
Japan: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Sakurako Hatada, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Seina Saito, 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 Jennifer Nduka, 21 Megumi Abe, 22 Minori Yamaoto, 23 Kanako Kobayashi
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) & Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
France v Brazil
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 16.45; 15.45 GMT; 17.45 France time; 12.45 BRT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: France by 40 points
Teams:
France: 15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Marine Manager (captain), 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Kelly Arbey, 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 8 Marie Morland, 7 Lea Champon, 6 Seraphine Okemba, 5 Hina Ikahehegi, 4 Taina Maka, 3 Rose Bernadou, 2 Agathe Gerin, 1 Annaelle Deshaye
Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Mkarita Beleinadogo, Yllana Brosseau, 20 Axelle Berthoumieu, 21 Alexandra Chambon. 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Carla Neisen.
Brazil: 15 Fernanda Tenorio, 14 Isadora Lopes, 13 Edna Santini, 12 Marina Fioravanti, 11 Yasmim Luiza de Lima Soares, 10 Maria Gabriela Graf, 9 Luiza Gonzalez da Costa Campos, 8 Iris Coluna, 7 Larissa Alves Carvalho, 6 Leticia Medeiros, 5 Leticia Silva Ferreira, 4 Eshyllen Coimbra, 3 Tais Gomes da Costa Prioste, 2 Isabela Gomes Saccomanno, 1 Samara Vergara.
Replacements: 16 Natalia Jonck, 17 Franciele Barros, 18 Pamela dos Santos Soares, 19 Ana Carolina Santana, 20 Camilla Carvalho, 21 Leila Dos Santos Silva, 22 Carolyne Pereira, 23 Bianca Silva
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (RFU) & Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
Source: AFP
