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How about some rugby reading?
Troubling news for England:
Red Roses must contend with pressure:
The USA leave our shores, but they can hold their heads up high:
South Africa team
Coach Swys de Bruin has made loads of changes from the side that beat Italy last week.
He promised before the start of the competition to use all 32 players before the knockouts and he’s making good on that.
Prop Babalwa Latsha – a familiar name to Harlequins fans - will captain the team for the first time at this tournament. De Bruin also brings in new playmaker Mary Zulu at fly-half.
The most capped scrumhalf in Springbok Women history, Tayla Kinsey, will also add a third Rugby World Cup arrow to her bow when she comes off the bench against France, a team she has faced four times before, including at the previous RWC, held in New Zealand in 2022, in what will be her 41st Test cap.
The human wrecking ball at no. 8, Aseza Hele, keeps her spot. She’s one of just two forwards to do so.
South Africa: 15 Byrhandré Dolf; 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Eloise Webb, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Maceala Samboya; 10 Mary Zulu, 9 Nadine Roos; 1 Yonela Ngxingolo, 2 Mickie Gunter, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 5 Anathi Qolo, 6 Lerato Makua, 7 Catha Jacobs, 8 Aseza Hele.
Replacements: Luchell Hanekom, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Nomsa Mokwai, Faith Tshauke, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Tayla Kinsey, Aphiwe Ngwevu
France Team
Manae Feleu returns to the second row to add some heft in time for the knockouts.
Along with her lock partner Madoussou Fall Raclot, the French will look to match the South Africans at their own game.
“We’re a slightly lighter team, so we’ll need to move a lot and hold on over the long haul,” Feleu said.
“We know the first 20 to 40 minutes will be intense. We’ll have to be brave defensively, in the collisions, and in attack. We absolutely can’t let up – the match lasts 80 minutes. We need to keep moving and shift them around to open up our game.”
Marine Ménager has been one of the form wingers and will set this place on fire if gets enough ball out wide.
France: 15 Emilie Boulard; 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gaby Vernier, 11 Marine Menagner; 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus; 1 Yllana Brosseau, 2 Agathe Gerin, 3 Rose Bernadou, 4 Manae Feleu, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 6 Axelle Berthomiue, 7 Lea Champon, 8 Chorlotte Escudero.
Replacements: Elisa Riffonneau, Annaelle Deshaye, Assia Khalfaoui, Hina Ikahehegi, taina Maka, Seraphine Okemba, Alexandra Chambon, Morgane Borgeois.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Loads of fans. A stadium buzzing. Perfect conditions for running rugby. Two teams with literally nothing to lose as they’ve both already qualified for the quarterfinals.
It’s the last game of the group stages and though both France and South Africa will already have their thoughts on the next round, this provides a great opportunity to iron out some kinks and acid test a few new moves before things get serious next week.
France will start as heavy favourites today. They’re among the big four alongside England, Canada and New Zealand and should have little trouble against the South Africans who only beat a top-10 ranked team for the first time last week when the downed Italy by five points in a historic 29-24 triumph. For context, France swept the Italians 24-0 and could have had more.
South Africa have a power game to match the French which should prove a decent challenge for the dark horses from across the English Channel. And if the Boks backs can see enough of the ball, they’ll want to show that they Saffas are more than one dimensional bruisers.
I’m expecting a relatively comfortable scoreline but will be paying close attention to the shapes and patterns out there. When all is said and done, we might have a few questions answered.
Kick-off is at 4:45 pm BST.
Teams, updates and other bits to come.
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