England: Waterman (Bristol); Merchant (Worcester), Scarratt (Lichfield), Burford (Thurrock), Wilson (Bristol); Mclean (Darlington MP, capt), Mason (Wasps); Clark (Worcester), Fleetwood (Lichfield), Hemming (Bristol); Taylor (Darlington MP), McGilchrist (Wasps); Matthews (Richmond), Alphonsi (Saracens), Hunter (Lichfield).

Replacements: Croker, Essex, Allen (all Richmond), Keates, Large (Worcester), Packer (Wasps), Hunt (Lichfield).

Ireland: Briggs (Munster); Baxter (Ulster), Cantwell (Richmond), Davitt (Ulster), Miller (Connacht); Stapleton (Leinster), Rosser (Leinster); Coghlan (Leinster, capt), Bourke (Munster), Egan (Leinster); Spence (Leinster), Reilly (Leinster); Fitzpatrick (Leinster), Molloy (Connacht), O'Brien (Munster).

Replacements: Lynch, Murphy (both Leinster), Hayes, Fleming, Guest (Munster), Muldoon (Bristol), Casey (Saracens).

Image source, IRB/Twitter

IRB Women's Rugby:, external Warm-ups ahead of their first ever World Cup semi-final. Can @IrishRugby get through to the finals?

International Rugby Board Women's Development Manager Susan Carty: "We're seeing compelling, exciting rugby. I think that's what capturing the imagination of the general public.

"New Zealand have been really strong performers and consistent winners of this particular tournament. They have now been knocked out and we are going to have a new name on the trophy on Sunday. We're excited to see what name that is going to be."

Image source, Getty Images

So today we're at the Stade Jean-Bouin (pictured earlier this afternoon), home of flamboyant top-flight Parisian side Stade Francais - they of the pink, flowery shirts of a few years ago and the Les Dieux de Stade calendars for those who appreciate the athletic form.

Recently redeveloped, it's sold out for the semi-finals, although how many fans will just turn up to see the France game later on remains to be seen.

Either way the tournament's been considered a rousing success so far, and I'd imagine a France v England final would be well received.

Although not by the Irish obviously...

England full-back Danielle Waterman: "Ireland are in really good form. They've had a good build-up over the last two to three years having won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013.

"As much as they've improved, so have we. We didn't get quite get the technical details right against Canada but we know we can go one step further in terms of our performance."

But, no matter that England lacked sharpness against the Canadians, they have reached the last three finals and have class and experience throughout their side.

Flanker Maggie 'the Machine' Alphonsi used to dominate the headlines but they now have weaponry across the team and if they click, they will expect to be too good for the Irish and reach a fourth consecutive final.

England wing Kat Merchant , external(right) found time for a selfie with fly-half Ceri Large (left) and prop Rochelle Clark.

Image source, Kat Merchant/Twitter

Image source, Getty Images

In other news, New Zealand have thrashed Wales 63-7 in their match, so the departing world champions will take part in the fifth-sixth play-off match, with Wales in the game that will decide seventh and eighth.

History dictates Ireland will be underdogs tonight, but on form they look at least the equals of England, who only topped their group on points difference from Canada after their 13-13 draw.

England looked some way short of their best against the Canadians, who matched them for power up front and looked more threatening when they went wide.

England's attacking intent was undermined by a series of poor passes and dropped balls - they'll need to cut that out if they want to keep Ireland quiet.

England women's football captain Stephanie Houghton: , external"Wishing all at @EnglandRugby the best of luck in the semi-final of the #WorldCup2014

Ireland captain Fiona Coughlan tells RTE: "We weren't happy with our performance against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations this year - although I know it was only a 17-10 loss. There were areas that we weren't happy with and at times we lacked concentration. They've come up trumps in the past but we'll be looking to put that right."

Ireland served notice of their improvement when they won the 2013 Six Nations Championship - albeit England were fielding a weakened team in an unsuccessful bid to focus on the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

And although they lost to the Red Roses in the 2014 Six Nations it was a hard fought encounter at Twickenham, with England only edging it 17-10.

The 2014 Championship was won by World Cup hosts France, who play Canada in the second semi-final at Stade Francais' Jean Bouin Stadium.

BBC Sport's Sara Orchard in Paris: "With a capacity of 20,000, the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris is sold out for the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals. New Zealand's shock exit means there will be a different name on the trophy for the first time since 1994 come the final on Sunday."

Ireland full-back Niamh Briggs on RTE: "Not many gave us a chance against New Zealand. What it did for us is that we showed we can adapt to any game - it shows we can take it to the next level."

So what of Ireland, sudden slayers of giants and World Cup semi-finalists for the first time?

With a previous best finish of seventh (in both 2010 and 1994) the side from the Emerald Isle - which, like their men's team, is a combined Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland team - would not seem to have the pedigree to worry either England or New Zealand.

But coach Philip Doyle - who will quit at the end of the tournament - has moulded them into a tigerish team and in goal-kicking full-back Niamh Briggs, one of four nominees for the IRB Player of the Year award, they have one of the world's outstanding players.

New Zealand's Black Ferns were the standard by which others were measured.

Even more dominant than their male counterparts - the All Blacks are the reigning world champions and are currently on a record-equalling 17-Test winning run - the Black Ferns had won four World Cups in a row.

They might have lost the odd recent Test to England but heading into their pool game with Ireland, New Zealand had not lost a World Cup match since their semi-final defeat by the United States in the last four in 1991.

Eighty minutes later Ireland had won 17-14 and New Zealand's hope of becoming quintuple world champions were over.

Lord Mayor of Dublin: , external"Best of luck to the Irish Women's Rugby Team tonight in the @irbwomens World Cup #WRWC2014 #COYGIG We're all behind you!"

Image source, Ceri Large

England replacement fly-half Ceri Large:, external "Prep done. Ready to go! Almost time to face Ireland in the semis!"

The last World Cup final, which saw New Zealand beat England for the third time in a row, was a superb game of rugby, but those two teams were head and shoulders above the rest in 2010.

France 2014 has proved that where there were once two, now there are five or six teams who can mix it at the top table.

And for proof, look no further than the absence of four-time reigning champions New Zealand, beaten up in the pool stages by Ireland.

While it has been accepted for some time that the "traditionally male" team sports of football and cricket - the latter albeit with a narrower playing pool - are undoubtedly high class at the top level, rugby union has been slower to hit the heights.

That is, until now.

Yes, there will be teachers, plumbers, police officers and vets on the pitch, but there will also be 30 superb rugby players. We could be in for a treat.