Women's Rugby: World Cup Semifinals Feature New Zealand vs Canada and France vs England Clash
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
Women's Rugby World Cup Semifinals: Fixtures and Insights
New Zealand vs Canada
The first semifinal game is between New Zealand and Canada, and everything points to a tight affair as the six-time champions and current holders square off with first-time hopefuls.
You'd think it'll be a walk in the park as New Zealand hunts for back-to-back World Cup final appearances, but Canada has been formidable all through this tournament and was a thorn in the title defender’s side the last time they met. New Zealand and Canada battled it out in the Pacific Four Series in May, and they ended with a 27-27 draw (even drawing the first half 12-12).
Since that game, both nations are on a five-game run, which must now end as one team progresses to the final. The books favour New Zealand, but there's truly nothing to separate them in recent form. However, our experts have analyzed this game deeply, and you can find their best picks in the New Zealand vs Canada prediction.
New Zealand has scored slightly more, recording 202 in four games compared to Canada’s 193. But on the other end, Canada has conceded less, allowing only 31, which is significantly less than New Zealand, with 44.
And if we're looking at winning records since the last world cup, there's still little to differentiate them as both nations have played 19 games, won 12, lost 4, and took 1 draw.
France vs England
The France and England clash will also feature a former champion facing a team that's hungry for its first title. But unlike the New Zealand and Canada game that's close according to the best betting odds, the bookmakers are extremely bullish on England knocking France out with a 20+ spread. However, this isn't exactly shocking when you look at the H2H history between these two.
England have won their last seven H2Hs against France in a row, and have taken 12 wins from their last 13. With that kind of run, it's not hard to see England reaching the final and battling for their third World Cup trophy. However, that 20+ spread hasn't won in 14 of their last 15 meetings. Don't worry, our experts have picked the best bets for you in the France vs England prediction.
In fact, England only won their last meeting against France by one point (43-42). What's more, France’s form, which has seen them win eight of their nine games in 2025, suggests they could be up for a major upset. However, it still feels almost impossible against a seemingly unbeatable England side that's now won its last 25 games and 29 of its last 30. Can France end England's streak to reach the final and go on to win their first World Cup? We’ll find out this Saturday.
