France come into Saturday’s semi-final with a poor track record at Women’s Rugby World Cup knockouts, but with a team capable of changing that. Les Bleues have made it into eight semi-finals over the years, but have never progressed further than that. Could Rugby World Cup 2025 be the tournament that changes that?
The French came into the tournament on the back of a 40-6 defeat to the Red Roses in what was the last game before their Rugby World Cup campaign began. That campaign has seen France beat Italy, Brazil and South Africa in an unbeaten pool stage which culminated in a tense quarter-final against Ireland. The Irish were 13-0 ahead at half-time, but France wrestled the game back to win 18-13 and set up a thrilling semi-final against their old rivals.
England, however, are a tough semi-final prospect. The Red Roses also went unbeaten in what was the toughest of all the pools, and were comfortable winners against Scotland in the quarter-finals. John Mitchell’s team are also currently on an incredible winning streak which began after their heart-breaking loss to New Zealand in the final of Rugby World Cup 2021.
Tournament hosts England have the opposite knockout record to France: the English have only once in history failed to make the final of a Women’s Rugby World Cup – a third-place finish in 1998. So France have a challenge on their hands, but records are there to be broken, and this French side will want revenge for the humbling they got in Mont-de-Marsan at the beginning of last month. The problem for them is that 22 of the 23 Red Roses selected for the semi-final were part of the August victory, with only Emma Sing losing out to Holly Aitchison for a place on the bench. But in France’s favour is the fact they pushed England all the way in a Six Nations decider at Allianz Stadium in April, which ended with just one point separating the teams.
Kick-off: 15:30 BST, Saturday, 20 September
Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol
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If you have a ticket, make sure you read Amber Reed’s top tips for a great time in Bristol.
France team
Starting XV: 15. Morgane Bourgeois, 14. Kelly Arbey, 13. Nassira Konde, 12. Gaby Vernier, 11. Marine Menager, 10. Carla Arbez, 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 1. Yllana Brosseau, 2. Agathe Gerin, 3. Rose Bernadou, 4. Madoussou Fall Raclot, 5. Hina Ikahehegi, 6. Charlotte Escudero, 7. Lea Champon, 8. Teani Feleu.
Replacements: 16. Elisa Riffonneau, 17. Annaelle Deshaye, 18. Assia Khalfaoui, 19. Taina Maka, 20. Seraphine Okemba, 21. Alexandra Chambon, 22. Lina Tuy, 23. Emilie Boulard.
France’s key player: France made a late change due to injury, with Joanna Grisez ruled out and Kelly Arbey taking her place on the wing. France’s task was difficult enough without the disruption of a late change, and out wide is arguably where they could least afford the disruption as England have a lethal back three. All eyes with be on Arbey as well as full-back Morgane Bourgeois, who will need to be a calming influence on the 20-year-old in such a big game, as well as acting as the last line of a defence that will be tested all afternoon.
England team
England’s key players: The returning pair of Ellie Kildunne and Hannah Botterman represent a huge boost for England, despite how well the team – and the players who replaced them – did in their absence last week. Kildunne is the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, while Botterman will be looking to bring the same energy that helped her fellow forwards put the squeeze on France’s pack last time out.
What France said
France assistant coach David Ortiz:
“Everyone’s laser-focused on the match – the quality of the team run this morning showed it. We’ve switched into game mode. We can’t wait to get going in this huge semi-final against England.
“There’s no need for big speeches. We’ve been waiting for this moment ever since the fixtures came out. We’re facing an England side on a 31-match winning streak, massive favourites. It doesn’t get any better than that. We don’t need to ask questions – the occasion and facing them on home soil is motivation enough to give everything and aim for a huge performance.”
France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon-Sansus:
“The whole squad is determined and buzzing to get out there tomorrow. The jersey presentation tonight will help build that up even more. The excitement’s there, we’ve got nothing to lose, and the girls are ready to rip in.
“We know we can beat them. Our strength will be sticking together, raising the tempo, showing character in defence like we did against Ireland. We’ve got all the tools to do it. Not many people believe in us, but we believe in ourselves and we know we can overcome a lot.”
France centre Nassira Konde:
“We’ve kept building through the competition, learning from every match. We came within a point in the Six Nations. They’ve got the pressure of being at home, we’ve got nothing to lose. All we need to do is let go, play free, and it’ll be amazing.”
What England said
England head coach John Mitchell:
“We stay focused on the process all the way. That helps you regulate your emotions and just narrow your focus because right now there’s four teams aiming for the top so that allows you to keep distractions out of the way. But amongst that, you’ve got to ensure you have fun.
“And these girls know how to have fun. I don’t need to get in the road. And at the minute, at this stage of the tournament, one of the key messages to the staff is always make it normal and easy and get out of the girls’ roads. They’ve got it. They know what they’re doing.
“If you get in the road and intervene too much, to me, that creates hesitation. Good clarity, freedom to do what you do, but you also understand the role that you have to play. All good aspects that allow a person to be themselves and get on with it.”
England captain Zoe Aldcroft:
“We absolutely love playing France, but I think we’re just concentrated on ourselves. We’ve made sure we’ve had a good training week this week and it’s semi-final rugby, so we know that they’re going to come hard at us and we’re going to go hard back. We have kept our process the same as we normally do, that is a really important thing we do.”