England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards has today (Wednesday) named his team to face France in what is a crucial IRB Rugby World Cup match on Friday, kick-off midnight BST, at St. Albert’s RFC in Edmonton, Canada.

England currently sits fourth on the IRB table following wins over the USA (18-0) and South Africa (74-8), but need a victory or a draw to confidently ensure a place in the semi-finals.

England and France last locked horns in March when the Red Roses stormed to a 28-0 victory in Paris to take the Six Nations title in style. Richards, however, is not expecting a re-run of his team’s emphatic victory, knowing that France are always a dangerous outfit.

He said: “Physiologically, we may have a slight advantage over France with the Six Nations win under our belts. We know we can beat them having done so recently, but realistically I really don’t think that result will have any bearing on the way this game goes and I am certainly not expecting such a performance again. That occasion was one of those days when everything we did turned to gold. It was almost like a perfect game for us in many ways.

“This match is going to be all about what happens on the day. France have certainly improved since March and clearly they have a very good back five in the scrum. They are also fast, powerful and they move the ball around well. They are going to be a very dangerous side for us.

“This match is basically a ‘do or die’ game and easily the most important match of the year for us. Potentially the loser drops out of the reckoning, but I have named a very strong team again and I have full confidence in every member of this squad that they will perform and come away with the right result.”

Worcester’s Jo Yapp returns to the starting line-up at scrum-half to lead England out against France with Saracens’ Karen Andrew also back in at number ten. Rochelle Clark and Amy Garnett return to the front-row with Richmond’s Jenny Sutton also back in the second-row.

Henley’s Danielle Waterman makes her first start of the World Cup on the wing, with vice-captain Sue Day this time moving into the centre to partner Clifton’s Kim Oliver.  Lichfield’s Charlotte Barras starts at full-back for her third game on the bounce.

England

1 Rochelle Clark   (Henley)
2 Amy Garnett   (Saracens)
3 Vanessa Gray   (Wasps)
4 Jennifer Sutton   (Richmond)
5 Tamara Taylor  (Thirsk)
6 Georgia Stevens  (Clifton)
7 Margaret Alphonsi  (Saracens)
8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone)
9 Jo Yapp    (Worcester) (C)
10 Karen Andrew   (Saracens)
11 Kim Shaylor   (Worcester)
12 Kim Oliver   (Clifton)
13 Sue Day     (Wasps) (VC)
14 Danielle Waterman  (Henley)
15 Charlotte Barras   (Lichfield)
Replacements:
16 Selena Rudge  (Wasps),
17 Vanessa Huxford  (Wasps),
18 Jenny Lyne   (Richmond),
19 Helen Clayton   (Saracens),
20 Amy Turner   (Wasps),
21 Shelley Rae   (Wasps),
22 Michaela Staniford  (Henley),

England’s World Cup Schedule:

August 31st   England v USA at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton,
KO 12am BST WON 18-0
September 4th  England v South Africa at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton    KO 9.30pm BST WON 74-8
September 8th  England v France at St. Albert RFC, Edmonton
   KO Mid-night BST
September 12th  Semi-finals:
1st v 4th (M19), St. Albert, KO mid-night BST 
2nd v 3rd (M20), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO mid-night BST
5th v 8th (M21), St. Albert, KO 9.30pm BST
6th v 7th (M22), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO 9.30pm BST
9th v 12th (M23), St. Albert, KO 7pm BST
10th v 11th (M24), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO 7pm BST
September 16th  Consolation Finals (All Ellerslie Rugby Park):
Loser M21 v Loser M22, KO mid-night BST
Winner M23 v Winner M24, KO 9.30pm BST
Loser M23 v Loser M24, KO 7pm BST  
September 17th  Finals (All at the Commonwealth Stadium)
Winner M21 v Winner M 22, KO 7pm BST
Loser M19 v Loser M20, KO 9.30pm BST
Winner M19 v Winner M20, KO mid-night BST

Ends..