WXV 1 Round three - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: It seems like a fitting finale as the hosts Canada take on defending champions England for the WXV 1 title on Saturday.

England head inot the fixture as favourites. They have won 32 of the 36 tests between the sides, including the last 12, while the most recent of Canada’s three wins (there has been one draw) came in 2016.

However, it will be dangerous to underestimate the hosts, who are peaking at the right moment.

In the other fixture on Saturday, New Zealand will attempt to avoid tournament whitewash when they take on France.

New Zealand lead the head-to-head six wins to five but their only victory since 2018 came in the Women’s RWC 2021 semi-finals when Caroline Drouin missed a last-minute penalty that would have won it for France.

A win for Les Bleues will see them climb above the Black Ferns and into third, condemning New Zealand to fourth place, their lowest-ever position.

USA and Ireland kick off the action on Friday. Both teams have been improving rapidly. USA will want to turn promise into points while Ireland can transform a good tournament into a great one.

Back to back

Candana and England have won their two games so far, with John Mitchell’s side defeating the Black Ferns 49-31 and the USA 61-21.

Tournament hosts Canada, on the other hand, have seen off France 46-24 and Ireland 21-8, setting them up for a winner-takes-all match with the holders.

If the Red Roses beat Canada, they will secure a second successive WXV 1 title and extend their winning streak to 20 games.

Mitchell has made three changes to his starting XV.

Bo Westcombe-Evans comes into an otherwise unchanged backline in place of Abby Dow, whilst Rosie Galligan starts at second row and Maddie Feaunati at blindside flank.

Both Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling are among the replacements.

“Last weekend was an outstanding example of improvement within the group,” said Mitchell.

“We want to deliver another high-standard performance against Canada. We remain focused on the challenge that awaits, and we are ready to attack it.”

* All the Round Two teams and predictions are below …

Friday, October 11

USA v Ireland
(BC Place, Vancouver – Kick-off: 12.30 19.30 GMT; 15.30 USA time, 20.30 UK Time)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Ireland by five points

Teams:

USA Women: 15 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Cheta Emba, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 9 Cassidy Bargell, 8 Rachel Johnson, 7 Kate Zackary (Captain), 6 Tahlia Brody, 5 Hallie Taufoou, 4 Erica Jarrell, 3 Charli Jacoby, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Keia Mae Sagapolu, 19 Rachel Ehrecke, 20 Tessa Hann, 21 Taina Tukuafu, 22 Emily Henrich, 23 Tess Feury

Ireland Women: 15 Stacey Flood; 14 Eimear Considine, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Enya Breen, 11 Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; 10 Nicole Fowley, 9 Emily Lane; 8 Brittany Hogan, 7 Aoife Wafer, 6 Erin King, 5 Fiona Tuite, 4 Dorothy Wall, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd.
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Siobhán McCarthy, 18 Andrea Stock, 19 Ruth Campbell, 20 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, 21 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 22 Dannah O’Brien, 23 Eve Higgins

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Emma Gallagher (Canada)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Saturday, October 12

New Zealand v France
(BC Place, Vancouver – Kick-off: 15.45; 22.45 GMT; 22.45 France time, 11.45 Sunday Oct 13 New Zealand time)

Prediction
@rugby365com: TBC

Teams: 

New Zealand: 15 Mererangi Paul, 14 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 13 Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Brunt, 12 Ruahei Demant (co-captain), 11 Katelyn Vahaakolo, 10 Hannah King, 9 Iritana Hohaia, 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 7 Layla Sae, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 5 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 4 Alana Bremner, 3 Amy Rule, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Kate Henwood.
Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Chryss Viliko, 18 Tanya Kalounivale, 19 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 20 Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), 21 Maia Joseph, 22 Patricia Maliepo, 23 Renee Holmes.

France: TBC

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Julianne Zussman (Canada) & Kristine Lovatt (Canada)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)

Canada v England
(BC Place, Vancouver – Kick-off: 19.00; 02.00 Sun Oct 13 GMT; 03.00 Sun Oct 13 UK time)

Prediction
@rugby365com: England by 10 points

Teams:

Canada: TBC

England Women: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 13 Helena Rowland, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Maddie Feaunati, 5 Rosie Galligan, 4 Zoe Aldcroft, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Hannah Botterman.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Abie Ward, 20 Morwenna Talling, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Emily Scarratt

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Afroa)