Rugby World Cup semi-final: England v France preview

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

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

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra; live text and highlights on BBC Sport website and app.

England face France in Bristol on Saturday for a place in the final of the Women's Rugby World Cup.

The tournament hosts and world number one side have won their past 16 matches against France and are clear favourites to go through.

The Red Roses thrashed France 40-6 in a World Cup warm-up match last month, but they had to dig deep to overcome Les Bleues 43-42 in a nail-biting Six Nations title decider in April.

The semi-final kicks off at 15:30 BST at Ashton Gate and will be shown live on BBC One.

The winner will face either defending champions New Zealand or Canada in the final at Twickenham Stadium on 27 September.

World Cup form guide

England powered past Scotland 40-8 in the quarter-finals to extend their world record winning run to 31 matches, while France were pushed all the way before overcoming Ireland 18-13.

England beat the United States, Samoa and Australia to win Pool A, while France defeated Italy, Brazil and South Africa to finish top of Pool D.

England have scored 248 points across their four games and conceded just 25, while France's record stands at 183 points for and 28 against.

The Red Roses have scored 38 tries, with 22 of them coming from their impressive pack of forwards, although wing Jess Breach is the team's top try-scorer this tournament with six.

Wing Joanna Grisez and full-back Emilie Boulard lead the way for France with four each from a team total of 28 tries.

France have never played in a Women's Rugby World Cup final, losing each of their previous eight semi-finals, including three against England.

England have won eight of their nine semi-finals and lifted the trophy in 1994 and 2014.

England team

World player of the year Ellie Kildunne returns from concussion to replace Helena Rowland at full-back.

Prop Hannah Botterman has recovered from a back problem to reclaim her place at the expense of Kelsey Clifford, who scored two tries in the win over Scotland.

Fly-half Zoe Harrison and second row Abbie Ward both start after being on the bench for the quarter-final, with Holly Aitchison and Rosie Galligan dropping down to the replacements.

Team: 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 team

France back row forward Axelle Berthoumieu misses the semi-final after being banned for nine matches for biting, while co-captain and lock Manae Feleu is also suspended following a dangerous tackle in the win over Ireland.

Teani Feleu, the younger sister of Manae, and Hina Ikahehegi both come into the pack, with the influential Charlotte Escudero moving from number eight to blindside flanker.

Carla Arbez starts at fly-half in place of Lina Queyroi, who has failed to recover from concussion.

Captain Marine Menager moves from outside centre to left wing in place of Kelly Arbey, with Nassira Konde coming into the XV.

Team: 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.

England v France head-to-head

• England have won 43 and France 14 of the 57 Tests the teams have played since the first fixture in 1991

• England have won the past 16 matches - starting the run with a 41-26 victory in the 2019 Women's Six Nations

• England's last defeat to France was an 18-17 loss in Grenoble in the 2018 Six Nations

• England beat France 43-42 at Twickenham in April to win the Six Nations for a seventh successive year and clinch a fourth Grand Slam in a row

• England thrashed France 40-6 in their most recent meeting in France in August

• England beat France 13-7 in the pool stage of the last World Cup in New Zealand - their last meeting in a World Cup

• England beat France 20-3 in Belfast in the 2017 World Cup semi-finals, 18-6 in the 1994 semi-finals in Gala and 13-0 in the 1991 semi-finals in Cardiff

• England's largest win against France is their 57-12 success in February 2003

When is the World Cup final?

The final takes place at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, 27 September.

The match kicks off at 16:00 BST and will be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Tickets for the match at the 82,000 capacity stadium have sold out.

Saturday's match officials

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) and Kat Roche (USA)

Television match official: Rachel Horton (Australia)