Women’s Rugby World Cup Quarter-Finals: Latest Updates & Schedule
- Ireland's Six Nations player of the year, Aoife Wafer, has not been named in Sunday's squad.
- Head coach Scott Bemand said Wafer was "bursting to go" as she closes in on a return to action following knee surgery but has decided not to risk...
- Sam Monaghan will start in the second row after being withdrawn in the first half against Spain as a precaution, while fellow co-captain Edel McMahon returns to the...
Ireland’s Six Nations player of the year, Aoife Wafer, has not been named in Sunday’s squad.
Head coach Scott Bemand said Wafer was “bursting to go” as she closes in on a return to action following knee surgery but has decided not to risk her for the pool decider amid six changes from the win over Spain.
Sam Monaghan will start in the second row after being withdrawn in the first half against Spain as a precaution, while fellow co-captain Edel McMahon returns to the side at flanker in place of claire Boles.
Quick Guide: Women’s Rugby World Cup pool permutations
England will win Pool A if they avoid defeat against Australia. Australia will win Pool A if they beat England and will come second if they get a bonus point or draw, or if the USA fail to beat samoa with a bonus point, or if they finish with superior points difference (at kick-off Aus +73, USA -62). In the remote circumstance that the points difference was equal,then tries scored minus tries conceded; then total points; then total tries would break the tie. If these were all level, then Australia would advance because of a superior world ranking.
the victor of Canada v Scotland wins Pool B. In the event of a draw and both sides picking up the same number of try bonus points (zero or one), Canada come first because of their superior points difference.
The victor of New Zealand v Ireland wins Pool C. In the event of a draw and both sides picking up the same number of try bonus points (zero or one), New Zealand come first because of their superior points difference.
The victor of France v South Africa wins Pool D. In the event of a draw, South Africa come first unless they fail to pick up a try bonus point and France do so, in which case France come first because of their superior points difference.
New Zealand, the last side to beat England when they won 34-31 in the 2022 World Cup final, currently top Pool C ahead of Ireland on points difference.
Sunday’s winners at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium will face the Pool D runners-up, which will be determined after France face south Africa in Northampton. South Africa caused an upset against Italy in the last pool match to secure a last-eight spot but it would be a seismic achievement to overcome the French.