World Cup Round two - Preview and Predictions

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand, Wales, Canada, Italy, England and France put their unbeaten starts on the line in Auckland and Whangārei this weekend.

The showpiece tournament kicked off in style last weekend as hosts New Zealand and Wales earned victories in Pool A, Canada and Italy won their respective matches in Pool B and France and England did likewise in Pool C.

In a quirk of the fixture schedule, those teams will play each other on Saturday and Sunday, while Australia, Scotland, Japan, the USA, Fiji and South Africa have an opportunity to kickstart their RWC 2021 (playing in 2022) campaigns.

On Saturday, England put their triumphant start to World Cup, and 26-match winning streak on the line when they take on France at the Northland Events Centre in Whangārei.

Les Bleues have not beaten the Red Roses since March 2018, losing each of the teams’ last 10 meetings.

Six of those defeats have been by six points or fewer, however, and England prop Sarah Bern insists her teammates cannot read too much into recent results.

“France are an extremely good side,” Bern told World Rugby.

“Everything that we do and what we decide to do, we've got to make sure that we're really clear on it and we do it as well as we can.

“Anything could happen against France. They play some lovely rugby, and they're very strong carriers and they have a very good set piece.

“So, it's basically just down to us making sure we all do our jobs as well as we can. And I know that sounds really cliche, but in games like this, that's where those one percents really make a difference.”

Red Roses coach Simon Middleton has made only one change to his matchday 23 as Marlie Packer returns at openside flank.

Captain Sarah Hunter will become the joint most-capped England player of all time in Whangārei, drawing level with Rocky Clark on 137 caps.

France have also made one change to their team, following victory against South Africa in round one, as Agathe Sochat returns at hooker.

Gaëlle Hermet is only fit enough for a place on the replacements’ bench, alongside the returning Safi N’Diaye and Marine Ménager, meaning Céline Ferer continues to captain the side.

Australia, Scotland target first win

Both teams suffered agonising defeats on the opening weekend and will be keen to get their push for a quarter-final berth back on track with victory in Whangārei.

Scotland coach Bryan Easson has made two personnel changes to his starting line-up as Rachel McLachlan and Emma Orr come in, and Hannah Smith shifts onto the left wing.

Australia have also kept a largely settled side for Saturday’s match as Eva Karpani comes in at tighthead prop and Maya Stewart takes the number 11 jersey from Ivania Wong.

The teams have met twice previously at the tournament, at RWC 1998 and RWC 2002, with the Wallaroos winning on both occasions. Australia head into the match three places higher than Scotland in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings

First for South Africa and Fiji

Round two will draw to a close with a match that has never been played before, Fiji against South Africa.

Both teams kicked off their World Cup campaigns with defeat, against England and France respectively, but they each came away from Eden Park with positives as well as disappointment.

Not many teams breach the England defence as regularly as the Fijiana did last Saturday, while the Springbok Women frustrated Les Bleus for large parts of the opening match.

South Africa are currently 11th in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings while Fiji are 21st, so the former will be targeting this game for a positive result.

However, with the favourites tag bringing pressure and Fiji scored some cracking tries in their opening loss to England and showed that, when they get their offloading game going, they can hurt even the best of teams.

Eloise Webb, the 26-year-old fullback/centre who played many sports growing up before focusing on rugby, came off the bench in the second half against France.

"We know that it is going to be a fast game, that is for sure,” the player who grew up in East London and who also played in Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco said.

“Fiji always like to keep the ball alive and get it out of contact quickly and they showed versus England that when they get it right they can hurt defences.

“So, we know that it will be a big test for us and we will have to defend well, but as I say we took a lot of positives from the France game and we will be looking for our forward pack to lead the way again and as backs we will look to help them out.

“The squad are just having the best time out here in New Zealand, we are loving every minute and cannot wait to represent our country again this coming weekend.”

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Scotland

Pool B: Canada, USA, Italy, Japan

Pool C: England, France, South Africa, Fiji

Fixtures

Saturday, October 15

Scotland v Australia

Venue: Northland Events Centre, Whangarei

Kick-off: 15.00 (02.00 GMT)

Predictions: Australia by 12 points

USA v Japan

Venue: Northland Events Centre, Whangarei

Kick-off: 17.30 (04.30 GMT)

Predictions: USA by 10 points

France v England

Venue: Northland Events Centre, Whangarei

Kick-off: 20.00 (07.00 GMT)

Predictions: England by three points

Sunday, October 16

Italy v Canada

Venue: Waitakere Stadium, Auckland

Kick-off: 12.15 (11.15 GMT – Saturday)

Predictions: Canada by three points

Wales v New Zealand

Venue: Waitakere Stadium, Auckland

Kick-off: 15.15 (02.15 GMT)

Predictions: New Zealand 20 points

Fiji v South Africa

Kick-off: 17.45 (04.45 GMT, 06.45 SA Times)

Venue: Waitakere Stadium, Auckland

Predictions: South Africa by five points

Source: World Rugby

*Compiled by Leezil Hendricks 

@Leezil07