Archive August 28, 2025

England vs. Samoa Rugby World Cup: Women’s World Cup

Date: Saturday, August 30th, 2018 Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Due to a knee injury, England captain Zoe Aldcroft will miss the remainder of the women’s rugby world cup’s pool stage.

One of 13 changes made by coach John Mitchell for Saturday’s game against Samoa is the 28-year-old who started the Red Roses’ opening victory over the United States.

Since Aldcroft was appointed captain in January, she hasn’t played on matchday 23 since suffering a broken wrist during the USA game.

Marlie Packer, the former captain, replaces Mitchell as skipper of Aldcroft, and Mitchell also chooses to place a number of his regular starters in Northampton.

Packer, the 111-cap flanker, has not played since being sent off in Aldcroft’s side’s emphatic World Cup warm-up victory over Spain, where she once again led the charge in her place.

After two seasons as captain, Aldcroft replaced Packer, who said it was “absolutely honor” to lead your nation at a World Cup.

It was my first time leading my country against South Africa at the World Cup three years ago, and to do it again at a World Cup is very special.

She knows the entire squad supports her and wants her back with us, and we don’t want to rush Zoe [Aldcroft].

Helena Rowland and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, both injured, start at left wing and fly-half, respectively.

While center Emily Scarratt was scheduled to start, but she was turned down for the team due to a shoulder-related nerve issue, Holly Aitchison is still missing as she recovers from an ankle injury.

Rowland did not play fly-half in the Women’s Six Nations game against Italy, which she did in the previous year.

With this selection, Mitchell said, “It has been in our planning to give everyone game time over the first two pool matches,” and we’ve been able to do that.”

Our new team wants to celebrate and improve on our opening performance against the USA.

After two tries against the USA, impressive outside centre Megan Jones and Jess Breach, who is one score away from 50 international tries, keep their place.

In the middlefield, Gloucester-Hartpury’s Jade Shekells takes the place of Emma Sing, who was previously the team’s full-back.

After being named in the starting lineup, Lilli Ives Campion and flanker Abi Burton, who spent 25 days in an induced coma after being diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, are expected to make their World Cup debuts in the forward position.

Maddie Feaunati, who has played 13 times for her father, ranks eighth in the rankings.

After suffering an injury at this year’s Six Nations, Prop Mackenzie Carson may make her first start on the bench.

Ellie Kildunne, the top female player in the world rugby, is a member of a strong starting lineup that includes Zoe Harrison and Natasha Hunt from the previous week.

Samoa lost their opening game 73-0 to Australia, who are a fully amateur and 15th-ranked nation.

Like Mitchell, head coach Ramsey Tomokino chose to use his team for the first two games.

As two of eight brand-new World Cup debutants, Christabelle and Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa take the second row.

Despite the significant changes, England is likely to record a significant scoreline against Samoa given that they played two different teams at this year’s Women’s Six Nations and still managed to win a fourth consecutive Grand Slam.

England won the World Cup by 82-0 over Kazakhstan in 2010, and their 2022 match against Fiji was the only game with the most points in a World Cup game (84).

The Red Roses also recorded the most tries in a World Cup game with a score of 84-19 against Fiji (14).

Campbell, Carson, Muir, Talling, Kabeya, Hunt, Harrison, and Kildunne are the replacements.

Wright-Akeli, Lasini, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Fiafia, Vatau, Afuie, Aiolupotea, Nonutunu, Aiono, C Onesemo-Tuilaepa, D Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Atonio, Pauaraisa, Foaese, etc.

Clara Munarini (Italy) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales) serve as assistant referees.

England vs. Samoa Rugby World Cup: Women’s World Cup

Date: Saturday, August 30th, 2018 Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Due to a knee injury, England captain Zoe Aldcroft will miss the remainder of the women’s rugby world cup’s pool stage.

One of 13 changes made by coach John Mitchell for Saturday’s game against Samoa is the 28-year-old who started the Red Roses’ opening victory over the United States.

Since Aldcroft was appointed captain in January, she hasn’t played on matchday 23 since suffering a broken wrist during the USA game.

Marlie Packer, the former captain, replaces Mitchell as skipper of Aldcroft, and Mitchell also chooses to place a number of his regular starters in Northampton.

Packer, the 111-cap flanker, has not played since being sent off in Aldcroft’s side’s emphatic World Cup warm-up victory over Spain, where she once again led the charge in her place.

After two seasons as captain, Aldcroft replaced Packer, who said it was “absolutely honor” to lead your nation at a World Cup.

It was my first time leading my country against South Africa at the World Cup three years ago, and to do it again at a World Cup is very special.

She knows the entire squad supports her and wants her back with us, and we don’t want to rush Zoe [Aldcroft].

Helena Rowland and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, both injured, start at left wing and fly-half, respectively.

While center Emily Scarratt was scheduled to start, but she was turned down for the team due to a shoulder-related nerve issue, Holly Aitchison is still missing as she recovers from an ankle injury.

Rowland did not play fly-half in the Women’s Six Nations game against Italy, which she did in the previous year.

With this selection, Mitchell said, “It has been in our planning to give everyone game time over the first two pool matches,” and we’ve been able to do that.”

Our new team wants to celebrate and improve on our opening performance against the USA.

After two tries against the USA, impressive outside centre Megan Jones and Jess Breach, who is one score away from 50 international tries, keep their place.

In the middlefield, Gloucester-Hartpury’s Jade Shekells takes the place of Emma Sing, who was previously the team’s full-back.

After being named in the starting lineup, Lilli Ives Campion and flanker Abi Burton, who spent 25 days in an induced coma after being diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, are expected to make their World Cup debuts in the forward position.

Maddie Feaunati, who has played 13 times for her father, ranks eighth in the rankings.

After suffering an injury at this year’s Six Nations, Prop Mackenzie Carson may make her first start on the bench.

Ellie Kildunne, the top female player in the world rugby, is a member of a strong starting lineup that includes Zoe Harrison and Natasha Hunt from the previous week.

Samoa lost their opening game 73-0 to Australia, who are a fully amateur and 15th-ranked nation.

Like Mitchell, head coach Ramsey Tomokino chose to use his team for the first two games.

As two of eight brand-new World Cup debutants, Christabelle and Demielle Onesemo-Tuilaepa take the second row.

Despite the significant changes, England is likely to record a significant scoreline against Samoa given that they played two different teams at this year’s Women’s Six Nations and still managed to win a fourth consecutive Grand Slam.

England won the World Cup by 82-0 over Kazakhstan in 2010, and their 2022 match against Fiji was the only game with the most points in a World Cup game (84).

The Red Roses also recorded the most tries in a World Cup game with a score of 84-19 against Fiji (14).

Campbell, Carson, Muir, Talling, Kabeya, Hunt, Harrison, and Kildunne are the replacements.

Wright-Akeli, Lasini, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Fiafia, Vatau, Afuie, Aiolupotea, Nonutunu, Aiono, C Onesemo-Tuilaepa, D Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Atonio, Pauaraisa, Foaese, etc.

Clara Munarini (Italy) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales) serve as assistant referees.

Eve Higgins, Ireland’s center, claims that her team is focused on Sunday’s World Cup Pool C game against Spain and that it is not considering a potential group winner against New Zealand the following week.

One of Scott Bemand’s side’s six tries came on Sunday in Northampton, where Ireland won 42-14 against Japan.

After winning the 2021 World Cup qualifier between the two countries, Spain lost to New Zealand 54-8, but ran Ireland close in their WXV3 meeting in 2023.

“We’ve been paying attention to one game at a time,” he said. Everything is focused on Spain this week, and we are focusing on it. We don’t anticipate New Zealand. We want to return and see what we did,” said Higgins.

Spain is a team that is incredibly hardworking. They never give up. We are aware that this will be a difficult game because they will fight for every inch.

At the break, Ireland held a 28-7 lead over Japan at Franklin’s Gardens, but they were able to rally back before triumphing comfortably over the other team.

How can we improve in the second half of the weekend, we’re definitely looking at doing it? What we learned from the Japan game should be applied to this weekend.

“Starting quickly was one of our main goals in the game,” we said. Now it’s about how to incorporate that because Japan has already gained some momentum.

Higgins enjoys playing on the biggest stage of the sport, whether it be inside or outside the center.

Wearing a green jersey is “the biggest thing.” That is the dream. I’m currently enjoying 12; however, if you put a 13 on my back, I’d say I’d enjoy that as well.

“Playing in a World Cup is a huge experience, and we couldn’t have done it last time,” says one player who says, “when you look back, these are moments you might never live again.” It’s extremely special to be in that position because they only rotate every four years. then why not enjoy it?