RWC2025: England v France – Teams and Prediction
BRISTOL, UK – England head into the Rugby World Cup 2025 semifinal against France as clear favourites – and with good reason.
After dominating the pool stage and putting away Scotland 40-8 in last week’s quarterfinal in Bristol, the Red Roses now enjoy home-ground advantage as well as momentum.
They are also riding a 31-match unbeaten streak, dating back to the 2022 World Cup Final defeat to Black Ferns in New Zealand.
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Power game
Head coach John Mitchell has crafted a physically dominant side. England have scored 38 tries in the tournament so far—22 of them from their powerful forward pack.
Despite concerns about sharpness in the backline, Mitchell is unapologetic about the team’s direct approach.
“We’ve demonstrated over the last three years that we can play any particular way,” he said.
“If you look at the conditions we faced last weekend, it’d be pretty stupid not to use that strength and go route one.”
With wet weather potentially in play again, Mitchell hinted at sticking to a territory- and power-focused game plan.
“We do have the ability to play any particular way. Who knows which way we’ll go?”
Hannah Botterman, who has been restored to England’s front row for the semifinal in Bristol after recovering from a back spasm, stressed the importance of set-pieces.
“If we do our job in the scrum, line-out, maul, then the backs understand that that gives them the best platform to play off,” she said.
Botterman’s selection is one of four changes to the team that overpowered Scotland, with fullback Ellie Kildunne, flyhalf Zoe Harrison and lock Abbie Ward all in the starting XV.
The return of Kildunne – the current World Player of the Year – who missed the quarterfinal after suffering a concussion, is a major boost.
“Ellie’s intuitive and can break a game. She’s not a person you hold to structure,” said Mitchell.
“That stride of hers, when she gets into a one-on-one or creates half a metre of space, she’s very difficult to handle.”
Dangerous underdogs
France have embraced their underdog role, with hooker Elisa Riffonneau saying the label takes pressure off the squad.
“It’s exciting to be underdogs and prove people wrong. We are convinced we can make it to the final.”
The Les Bleues last beat England seven years ago – a narrow 18–17 win for the French in Grenoble, which ultimately handed them a Grand Slam in the Women’s Six Nations.
Four months ago, France provided England with their closest contest of their world-record winning streak.
At Twickenham Stadium, the two teams played out a 43–42 thriller that ended with John Mitchell’s Red Roses lifting silverware in celebration of their latest Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam.
Ahead of Saturday’s match-up, former Trailfinders Women player and France’s replacement hooker admitted that the result from May has played on her mind.
“I think the game is still in our heads,” Riffonneau said. “It hurt.
For me it’s also helpful because we can change that. The Six Nations is the Six Nations, and the World Cup is the World Cup. It’s a different tournament.”
This week, France have faced an extra challenge. Manae Feleu, the team’s captain, has been banned for a dangerous tackle, and flanker Axelle Berthoumieu has been banned for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer.
Set to be without the duo – even if they do reach the World Cup final in a week’s time – it has stacked the odds against France even further.
Marine Ménager has inherited the role of captain in Feleu’s absence. For so long a leading light on the wing for her country, the 29-year-old believes that her side has enough to push England to the limit.
“We know our character,” Vernier said. “Playing them in a World Cup semifinal on their home turf is massive, and the chance to beat them in a game like this would be even bigger.
Sure, their record speaks for itself, but like we showed in Twickenham during the Six Nations, we’ve got sharp enough weapons to trouble them.”
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Prediction
Rugby365: England are deserved favourites – but if France can disrupt the set-piece and play with flair out wide, this could be another classic. Nonetheless our nod goes to England by 12 points.
Teams:
England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Zoe Harrison, 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 Hannah Botterman.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland
France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Marine Menager, 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 8 Teani Feleu, 7 Lea Champon, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 5 Hina Ikahehegi, 4 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 3 Rose Bernadou, 2 Agathe Gerin, 1 Yllana Brosseau
Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Annaëlle Deshaye, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Taina Maka, 20 Seraphine Okemba, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Kelly Arbey.
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
Kick-off: 15.30 (14.30 GMT; 16.30 Frenhc time)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Kat Roche (USAR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
Sources: AFP & Rugbypass
