The sixth Women's Rugby World Cup will reach its climax on
Sunday, September 5 as defending champions New Zealand meet hosts
England in a mouth-watering final at the Twickenham Stoop, kicking
off at 17:15 (local time).
With a near-capacity crowd expected at the home of English
Premiership club Harlequins, it will be the third successive time
that the rivals have come head-to-head in the final game of the
tournament.
Despite the Black Ferns' unbeaten run of 18 games on the
World Cup stage dating back to 1998, England will be buoyed by
their first victory in eight years over the champions the last time
they met at Twickenham in November.
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France v Australia
The race for third place will be contested by France, who
have held that position in the past two World Cups, and Australia,
the Rugby World Cup Sevens winners who made life extremely
difficult for England in the semi final.
Wallaroos wing
Kristy Giteau knows the size of the challenge ahead for them to achieve
third, their best ever placing on the Women's Rugby World Cup
stage, and a big improvement on seventh four years ago.
"They're in the top four for a reason, so we are
playing a team that's truly competitive, truly talented and
we've got to present every opportunity with meaning," said
Giteau, who retains her right-wing berth for the match.
"Its like any game - whoever's more hungry. It's
going to be the people that execute their game plan the right way
that are going to take the win. Hopefully that's us."
USA v Canada
Traditional
North American rivalry will come to Surrey Sports Park as USA face Canada for
the small matter of fifth place, not to mention bragging rights
over their neighbours. For the Women's Eagles, it will equal
their ranking of four years ago, while Canada are aiming to finish
on a high after having their title dreams dashed by France on day
three.
The encounter will be the swansong for a number of Canadian
players, including captain Leslie Cripps, her deputy Maria Gallo,
Sarah Ulmer, Heather Jaques and Gillian Florence - a veteran of
five World Cups.
The two sides come into the play-off on the back of emphatic
wins over Ireland and Scotland, but the rivalry between them will
add an extra frisson to the encounter on Pitch 1 at 13:30 local
time.
"It's kind of like what the Kiwis have with the
Aussies, the Scottish with the Irish, Canadians and
Americans," explained Gallo. "Whether it's rugby,
hockey, any type of sport, there is going to be that battle. I
can't really put my finger on it, but it is what it is."
Canada hold the upper hand over their North American rivcals
in 2010, winning three of the four meetings between the sides
stretching back to January, but while a semi final place may have
eluded both, Sunday's match is still one that really counts.
Ireland v Scotland
Another passionate rivalry will be ignited at Surrey Sports
Park as Celtic neighbours Ireland take on
Scotland to seal seventh place in the first match on Pitch 1. It
will be the final international match for Scotland back row Donna
Kennedy, who will earn her 115th cap, following an exceptional
career which included being named IRB Women's Personality of
the Year in 2004.
Scotland coach Gary Parker shuffles his pack with full back
Nicola Halfpenny, prop Beth Dickens and hooker Sarah-Louise Walker
moving from the bench to the starting line-up, while Jilly McCord
switches from prop to second row.
"We played Ireland in December, in the Six Nations, in a
training game and here we are playing them in the last game of the
season. We know each other well. I think that's good for both
sides as we'll go into the match knowing we can both win,"
said Parker.
Ireland, for their part, are equally determined to finish
seventh, securing a one place improvement on their final position
four years ago in Canada. Philip Doyle's side are coming off
the back of a 40-3 loss to USA on day four, but will hope to finish
a tournament on a high that has yielded many positives, including a
stoic performance against England and a pool victory over the
Women's Eagles.
Wales v South Africa
Mandisa Williams, the South Africa captain, has urged her
teammates to step up and deliver another surprise win over Wales,
following their 15-10 victory in the pool stages to record their
first ever Women's Rugby World Cup win.
South Africa have since beaten Kazakhstan 25-10 and are
boosted by the return of Williams to the back row for this ninth
place play-off after she missed the last two games with the ankle
injury she picked up against Wales in their Pool A encounter.
"If we can manage to start with the same intensity and
keep that going throughout the match, then we should stand a good
chance," insisted Williams, whose side are already guaranteed
their best World Cup finish after placing 12th on their debut four
years ago.
"Our backs have shown they can be dangerous when the
forwards give them a good platform. This is our last match of the
tournament and we must give everything."
Coached Denver Wannies has a chance to cap an already
outstanding year for South Africa, and should they edge the
encounter again they will have reaped a record seven wins from nine
matches, their only losses coming against World Cup semi finalists
New Zealand and Australia.
Wales, though, will also be looking for a strong finish,
having picked up their first win of the tournament - 32-10 against
Sweden - on Wednesday. The Welsh came into the World Cup with high
hopes, despite a disappointing six nations, and will be eager to
avenge their loss to South Africa.
Sweden v Kazakhstan
They may only be contesting the 11th place play-off, but for
Sweden and Kazakhstan the target remains a first win at Women's
Rugby World Cup 2010 to ensure they do not prop up the final
standings.
Kazakhstan, who finished 11th in 2006, scored their first
tries of what has been a difficult tournament against South Africa
on day four and will hope to build on that performance and
"show their true colours" in the words of vice captain
Anastassiya Khamova.
Sweden, though, have their own sights set on 11th place at
what is their first Women's Rugby World Cup appearance for 12
years. The signs have been positive, not least their opening match
against eventual semi finalists France, who had to dig deep to
scrape a 15-9 win.
Ulrika Andersson-Hall will again be a key figure for Sweden
in the influential position of fly half, as they look to nulify the
forward power of the Asian champions, which has caused problems for
all their opponents at this tournament.
