Kildunne back from concussion for France semi-final

England's Ellie Kildunne is the current World Player of the Year

Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final: France v England

Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol Date: Saturday, 20 September Kick-off: 15:30 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC One, Sports Extra and BBC Sport website and app

Ellie Kildunne returns from a concussion sustained in England's final pool-stage game against Australia a fortnight ago to take her place as starting full-back in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against France on Saturday.

The 26-year-old World Player of the Year sat out of the quarter-final win over Scotland, but has come through the necessary medical checks to add pace and attacking intent to England's back three.

"Ellie is intuitive and can break open a game, she's not someone you try to confine to structure," said England head coach John Mitchell.

"You have to give her some element of structure, but beyond that, it's all about her freedom to make decisions, and she just happens to be an amazing athlete.

"That stride of hers, when she gets into one-on-ones or creates half a metre of space in a duel, makes her very difficult to handle."

Prop Hannah Botterman - who has been a force in the loose and at the breakdown so far at the tournament - returns at loose-head prop after back spasms, replacing Kelsey Clifford, who scored two tries against Scotland in her absence.

Zoe Harrison's game management means she is preferred at fly-half to Holly Aitchison, who impressed at times against Scotland but whose higher-risk game did not always come off in wet conditions.

Aitchison, 28, had been Mitchell's regular starting fly-half until Harrison's form led to her taking the spot during this year's Women's Six Nations.

Despite being known for her kicking game and control, since 2023 Harrison's involvement in tries per 80 minutes is nearly double that of Aitchison at 1.8 to 1.0.

Saracens fly-half Harrison started the World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022 and is now in pole position to do so again if Mitchell's side make the final.

"I'm big on consistency and reliability, and the [matchday] 23 demonstrate that," added Mitchell.

"Zoe has grown her game and is playing with confidence, so from that point of view, it's important that she plays, she suits the way we're playing at the moment.

"We don't need to be perfect in this tournament, we just need to be effective. And right now, she's very effective."

Abbie Ward is promoted from the bench and will partner Morwenna Talling, whose player of the match performance against Scotland earns her the nod over Rosie Galligan in the second row.

Holders New Zealand and Canada meet in the other semi-final on Friday night.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland

France: Bourgeois; Grisez, Konde, Vernier, M Menager (capt); Arbez, Bourdon Sansus; Brosseau, Gerin, Bernadou, Fall Raclot, Ikahehegi, Squire, L Champon, T Feleu.

Replacements: Riffonneau, Deshaye, Khalfaoui, Maka, Okemba, A Chambon, Tuy, Arbey.

Defeat by the Black Ferns in the last World Cup final is England's only loss in their past 62 matches - a statistic that stretches back to 2019.

However, Saturday's semi-final is likely to be the Red Roses' toughest game by far of a World Cup campaign in which they are yet to be tested.

France, who fought back to beat Ireland 18-13 in the quarter-finals, are the side who have come closest to ending England's record 31-match winning run, losing this year's Six Nations Grand Slam finale 43-42.

But World Cup hosts England are on a 16-game winning run against Les Bleues - last losing to their cross-Channel neighbours in the 2018 Six Nations.

France second row and co-captain Manae Feleu, who was nominated for player of the tournament at this year's Six Nations, misses the game after failing in her appeal against a suspension.

The 25-year-old was handed a three-match ban - reduced to two if she completes tackle school - after being cited for a high tackle against Ireland.

The all-action lock is one of France's best players and will be a big loss given her offloading and line-out abilities.

Marine Menager will captain Les Bleues from the left wing, with her side also missing back row Axelle Berthoumieu, who had her 12-match ban for biting reduced to nine on appeal.

Centre Nassira Konde comes into the starting XV to move Menager from the midfield to the wing, with Kelly Arbey, who scored a wonderful individual score against England in April, dropping to the bench.

Fly-half Carla Arbez replaces Lina Queyroi in one of four personnel changes and two positional changes from the starting XV that defeated Ireland.

The last fixture between the sides came in a World Cup warm-up game in August, with the Red Roses comfortably winning 40-6 in Mont-de-Marsan.

"That means nothing. None of the warm-ups against France mean anything," former New Zealand men's head coach Mitchell said.

"I don't think they take them too seriously. They only switch on when something is at stake, and there is something at stake this weekend.

"There's an end point for both teams. They've earned the right to be where they are, too."

Mitchell has consistently rotated his side to build depth for the World Cup and now appears to have settled on his strongest matchday 23.

England, who last won the tournament in 2014, have lost the past two finals to New Zealand.