August 12, 2017
France vs. Australia #WRWC2017 Preview
Photo: INPHO/Brian Keane (Australia centre Sharni Williams tries to burst through the Ireland defence)
Doug Coil
France will face Australia in teams second match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 on Sunday at 2:45pm ET in Dublin, Ireland.
The match pits the 4th ranked France against the 6th ranked Australia, which should prove to be a contested match. France won their first match 72-14 against Japan, while Australia lost a heart breaker to Ireland 19-17.
The match is being streamed in other countries on http://www.rwcwomens.com
France
France has made seven changes to their starters and one position change from their win against Japan.
Against Australia, Lise Arricastre and Caroline Thomas will join Julie Duval, who was retained at tighthead prop, in the front row. Lenaig Corson switched side at lock and pairs with Audrey Forlani, who like flanker Marjorie Mayans, was a reserve against Japan. Romane Menager and Safi N’Diaye remain as a force in the backrow.
In the backs there are three changes as the wings have changed with Chloe Pelle and Shannon Izar starting and with Carla Neisen at outside center. Neisen will team with Elodie Publan with Montserrat Amedee at fullback. The halfback combination of Yanna Rivoalen and Caroline Drouin remains the same.
France has a solid core of veterans to call upon as replacements. Nothing can be taken for granted, as France will still need to play Ireland on Thursday. Australia will face an easier match against Japan that day and will know if point differential will be a factor.
Australia
With the 19-17 loss to Ireland in the match, Australia has stayed with virtually the same lineup that they had for Ireland. The lone exception is that Sarah Riordan has replaced Kayla Sauvao at outside center with Sauvao moving to the reserves.
In the reserves there are two changes. Louise Burrow has replaced Evelyn Horomia on their WRWC squad due to an injury. Asheigh Timoko is also a new reserve.
The match against Ireland was the most exciting of the matches on day one for Australia. They will need to reduce any mistakes and continue their play from the previous day to hope to gain a win against France.
France v Japan: 1 Lise Arricastre 2 Caroline Thomas 3 Julie Duval 4 Lenaïg Corson 5 Audrey Forlani 6 Marjorie Mayans 7 Romane Menager 8 Safi N’Diaye 9 Yanna Rivoalen 10 Caroline Drouin 11 Chloé Pelle 12 Elodie Poublan 13 Carla Neisen 14 Shannon Izar 15 Montserrat Amedee 16 Gaëlle Mignot 17 Dhia Traore 18 Patricia Carricaburu 19 Manon Andre 20 Julie Annery 21 Audrey Abadie 22 Caroline Ladagnous 23 Camille Grassineau
AUSTRALIA v Ireland: 1 Liz Patu 2 Cheyenne Campbell 3 Hilisha Samoa 4 Chloe Butler 5 Millie Boyle 6 Mollie Gray 7 Shannon Parry (captain) 8 Grace Hamilton 9 Katrina Barker 10 Trilleen Pomare 11 Mahalia Murphy 12 Sharni Williams 13 Sarah Riordan 14 Nareta Marsters 15 Samantha Treherne 16 Louise Burrows 17 Emily Robinson 18 Hana Ngaha 19 Rebecca Clough 20 Alisha Hewett 21 Fenella Hake 22 Kayla Sauvao 23 Ashleigh Timoko
