POOL A – ENGLAND REMAINS STRONG AMIDST STRONG AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE
It started as a tight affair and ended in a dominant display of power, with England overcoming Australia to finish as Pool A’s winners. The hosts had to withstand a very promising first 10 minutes from their South Hemisphere rivals to clinch a 47-7 win at Brighton & Hove Stadium.
John Mitchell picked a strong team for their pool closer, with the likes of Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Alex Matthews in the starting 15. However, the Wallaroos didn’t seem concerned about it, as they started the game on the offensive, earning their first points, following a maul drive try finished by hooker Adiana Talakai.
With the home team feeling the pressure, they went chasing for their first points, which eventually came from wing Jess Breach.
As Harrison missed the conversion, England would be down two points until the 32nd minute, with Australia relentlessly defending and putting down every Red Roses attempt.
As half-time was fast approaching, the hosts finally broke Australia’s heroic defence, bagging two more tries to their scoreline. Abbie Ward was first, followed by Sadia Kabeya in the back row.
England was finally able to settle down, taking control of the match’s procedures and scoring four more tries after the break. Kabeya got her brace after a smart play by scrum half Natasha Hunt.
Kelsey Clifford came next and in great fashion, as the replacement prop managed to find the whitewash not once but twice, raising her team's lead to 40-7. Sarah Bern would wrap up the score with 15 minutes to go until the final whistle.
Although the performance wasn’t perfect, captain Alex Matthews was deeply grateful for how her team stuck together and overcame Australia.
"I'm just so proud of the girls, we didn't have momentum in the first half, we stuck at it, we stuck to our gameplan and we came out on top. I think that's the challenge that everyone out there has wanted us to have and we've shown we can do it.
England will now travel to Bristol to face their old-time rivals Scotland, with the fixture scheduled for September 14th.
POOL B – SCOTLAND DEFIES CANADA UNTIL THE LAST GRASP
Canada might’ve ended up winning their arm-wrestle against Scotland, but Bryan Easson’s side fought valiantly and made the World Cup contenders sweat in a packed Sandy Park. The Maple Leaf secured a 40-19 win, claiming 1st place in Pool B, but had to push their limits to take down a thrilling Scottish side.
Canada tried to set things into motion, with their set-piece taking charge of the territory and feeding good ball to their backline. Scotland didn’t back down from the fight and upheld a united defensive front, blocking off most of Canada’s attacking plays.
Loosehead prop McKinley Hunt was the first to cross the finishing line, with the Canadian prop making a huge carry to reach the whitewash.
Eleven minutes later, it was finally Scotland’s turn to change the scoreboard. After several phases of play, speedster Rhona Lloyd caught the ball on the wing and glided towards the in-goal area, placing down the ball before being tackled.
Unfortunately for the Thistle, Canada would instantly extend their lead twice, following a penalty try and Emily Tuttosi’s first of two tries, going to the break with a 19-5 lead.
Rested and reenergized, Scotland had their best 15 minutes of the entire game, completing several turnovers and cracking open the Canadian defence a handful of times. At the 51st minute Evie Gallagher would break through the line, sprinting unopposed to score her team’s 2nd.
Nonetheless, Canada would bounce back and add a couple of tries, again from Tuttosi and Brittany Kassil, before wing Francesca McGhie got a chance to score her 6th five-pointer of the tournament. Olivia DeMerchant put the bowtie on Canada’s 40-19 victory.
Although Scotland fell short of earning an all-time stun, Rhona Lloyd felt optimistic about her team’s performance.
"There were massive areas of the game where we competed with them, and although we’re frustrated with the loss, there’s a lot to be proud of.
“We could have been more disciplined, it was close margins that let us down today and if we want to compete with these teams that are number one, two, three, then they’re the bits we need to control.
In Pool B’s closer, Wales and Fiji produced a sensational clash at Exeter’s Sandy Park, with the Pacific nation coming out on top 28-25. It was one of the tightest encounters of the 3rd round, with much of the point scoring happening in the opening 40 minutes.
Wales were the first side to land a try, following a powerful carry from centre Carrys Cox. Fiji came knocking next, with Player of the Match Josifini Neihamu muscling her way through until she reached the whitewash. Fullback Litiana Vueti added the extras in a flawless afternoon for the experienced backline unit.
Both teams were completely locked in an intense try exchange, as Wales scored two more from Alex Callender and Sisilia Tuipulotu's efforts, with Fiji adding three, thanks to the hard work of Neihamu, Setaita Tailumu and Repeka Tove.
As Fiji led by a 13-point margin when the break came, Wales needed to find a way back into the game, but the heavy pressure would be counterproductive. Unfortunately for Sean Lynn’s side, they were unsuccessful in their hopes, even when wing Lisa Neumann scored in the corner with 8 minutes left.
The Welsh never managed to hold any real control of the match’s tempo, while Fiji held their own and upheld a superb defensive performance that will be forever remembered.
Sean Lynn voiced his disappointment over his team's loss, but he has hopes that Wales will turn it around in the future.
"It definitely is but this is test-match rugby. We had opportunities, we didn't take them. One thing I will say is the character they showed form half-time to get themselves back in it was brilliant, but test-match rugby is brutal and we just didn't take opportunities."
POOL C – IRELAND AND SPAIN WINLESS
Spain walked into the York Community Stadium arena in hopes of earning a win in their World Cup farewell, but even after a strong opening half, the Leonas failed to hold Japan on, as the Asian nation managed to squeeze a 29-21 victory.
The Sakura started with the right foot, as fullback Sora Nishimura managed to scrape off a couple of Spanish tacklers to dive into the in-goal area.
The Leonas didn't sit around and, through their insatiable defensive performance, were able to find their way into Japan's 22, setting up strong plays, two of which led to tries. Cristina Blanco Herrera went first, seeing an opening after several phases to crash inside the Sakura’s try-area, for her team’s first 5 points of the game. Amalia Argudo added the 2-point conversion.
None of the teams were able to make something out of their ball possession for most of the first half, until Spain was able to mount a sensational team play that would lead to Mónica Castelo scoring her last Test Match try. The lock picked up the oval-shaped ball and marched through the Japanese defence, placing the ball down triumphantly.
As Argudo added two extra points, the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship title holders went to the break leading the scoreline by 14-5.
Unfortunately for their aspirations, Japan were far more clinical in the last leg of the clash and ultimately earned a spectacular four-try comeback.
In quick succession, the Sakura scored points, with captain Iroha Nagata leading the charge, followed by Wako Kitano, Komachi Imakugi and Jennifer Nduka.
Spain was unable to contest the more experienced Japanese team, which was more experienced, managing only to add a third try with one minute left on the clock. Claudia Peña Hidalgo broke the advantage line and offloaded for Victoria Rosell to score her first World Cup try.
Being Mónica Castello’s farewell game, as Laura ‘Bimba’ Delgado and Anna Puig’s, the lock shared what it meant for her this World Cup journey.
“I'm not going to focus on the result of the Ireland game or the result of the Japan game, I'm going to focus on the moments I spend with my teammates. They make our team a family and make us understand each other on the field as we do. It's about every moment that happens outside the bubble that is rugby."
Ireland had a tough day on the pitch, as Scott Bemand’s team succumbed to a fiercer and stronger Black Ferns side, with the World Champs taking a 40-00 win and the 1st place of Pool C.
While Ireland managed to hold on for the opening quarter, New Zealand ultimately burst through the Irish drawbridge and banked three tries from Stacey Waaka, Chryss Viliko and Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
Hollie Davidson sent the teams to the break, with New Zealand picking up where they’ve left off, adding three more tries until the end. Sorensen-McGee bagged a hat-trick, with Maya Joseph crossing the whitewash for a final time.
Although Ireland lost 40-00, their co-captain, Sam Monaghan, was feeling too disenheartened as there's a quarterfinal match coming next.
"They played some incredible rugby, we've left this game a bit disappointed and we left a fair bit out there, a lot of our errors they converted into tries and a lot of the pressure we put on them we just couldn't convert in their 22, so loads to take into next week. We've got such a massive week coming up, we're in a quarter-final, which is really exciting. We'll dust ourselves off, go again next week and bring it."
POOL D – FRANCE AND ITALY FINISH IN TOP FORM
After missing out on the quarterfinals qualification, Italy made sure to show the rugby world community that they are still one of the best teams in the game, successfully beating Brazil 64-03.
Although the scoreline in the end, the Azzurre started the game on the back foot, as Brazil were the first ones to change the scoreboard at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens.
However, those three conceded points were a much-needed incentive for the Italians, who found the try-line five times in under 40 minutes, to their fans' delight.
Sara Mannini was the first in line, followed by Valeria Fedrighi, Francesca Graonzotto and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, with the latter scoring twice.
The Yaras struggled to counter the Italians' offensive manoeuvres effectively and were severely pinged down for their ill-discipline.
Fabio Roselli's team kept the tempo up and didn't stop for a single minute after the break, adding seven more tries and two conversions to their lead. Minuzzi would bag a hat-trick, followed by a Gaia Buso brace and tries from Sofia Stefan and Giada Corradini.
Trailblazer and one of the best Italian performers of the 2025 Rugby World Cup, Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, voiced her elation for today’s win.
"I am very happy, but obviously it shows the work of all the team and the connection from the backs and the forwards."
"We wanted to show what kind of Italy we want to be so we stuck together and did a very good performance. That was what we wanted to show in the first two matches, but we couldn't so we wanted to finish well."
As for France, the Les Bleues made a statement to all of those who doubted their physical and technical prowess and ability to perform at a high level, delivering a resounding 57-10 win against the Springbok Women’s.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus set the tone, guiding her team towards their best performance at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, scoring four tries in the opening half and five more in the second string of 40 minutes.
Émilie Boulard was the first to cross the try-line, finishing a rugby champagne play. South Africa opted to go to the goalposts for their first points of the match. Still, it would concede almost immediately to tries from superstar Gabrielle Vernier, with Charlotte Escudero and Agathe Gérin following next.
Leading at half time by 24-03, the French wouldn’t take their foot off the gas pedal and kept pumping their attack until the end.
Boulard bagged her second of the game, with wing Joanna Grisez also earning a brace. Annaëlle Deshayes and Alexandra Chambon also added their names to the try-scorers sheet.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who was voted as the Player of the Match, made sure to leave a strong warning for France’s doubters.
"We still have a lot to give. Our objective was to finish first and we did it. Now it's getting better and better, stronger and stronger for the quarter-final and we are ready to go."
“We still have a bit of tweaking to do but we'll be at our best for next week against Ireland."
As the pool stages have wrapped up, we are now heading to knockout stage territory, with France and Ireland meeting on September 14th, the same day that England and Scotland will decide who goes next to the semifinals.
Photos : Morgan Harlow and Alex Davidson
