World Cup Semi-Finals Preview

New Zealands last meeting with the French was at the last World Cup where they won by 30 points but they know how unpredictable France are so a repeat win wont be a given.

France have in truth been poor at this tournament not reaching their usual high standards and certainly not showing the flair that is so often associated with them. Nonetheless theyve done enough to reach the last four and a team that is winning despite playing badly cannot be underestimated. Like Australia, as the underdog, they have nothing to lose and thats often when the French play best. If Sandrine Agricole in the centre has a good game then France tend to play well so if shes in form early on this could be tighter than we might think. France have got the talent to cause New Zealand problems but if they go behind early they tend to drift out of matches - a good start is important.

New Zealand have been hugely impressive this tournament though they say they have yet to put together a complete performance. They havent been troubled at all yet and in many ways they will probably hope that the French give them a real battle they would need that going into a final.

New Zealand have been frustrated at the breakdown that they simply havent been able to compete and with players like Casey Robertson, Justin Lavea and Vicky Heighway in their ranks theyll be hoping they can win the battle here.

It's out wide though where they do most damage and with Victoria Grant and Carla Hohepa on the wings, any team in the world would do well to cope with the pace they offer.

The Black Ferns will be playing in white in the semi-final and coach Brian Evans will be hoping that the break from tradition wont impact New Zealands other tradition of reaching World Cup Finals.

When the final round of pool games kicked off, Gary Street would have been forgiven for looking ahead to the semis and imagine facing Canada there, such was the task ahead of Australia to make the final four.

That they did so in such clinical style will no doubt have caught the eye of the English team, who despite being favourites to win this match, are well aware of the task ahead of them.

Australia are a powerful attacking outfit but they also have a great backrow with the likes of Debby Hodgkinson and Alex Hargreaves proving their worth in the tight. The breakdown is an area pinpointed by a number of England players as an area to improve so that will be a big battle as the Wallaroos will be looking to move the ball fast out to their dangerous players like Sharni Williams, Tricia Brown and Kristy Giteau. A boost for Australia is the kicking form of Nicole Beck whose 17 points against South Africa went in no small way towards pushing Australia to the magic 56 points needed to get through to the semis.

England will be confident though. They have had some tough outings but have never really looked threatened and though there are areas to work on, they are building nicely ahead of the crunch games. Maggie Alphonsi and Heather Fisher have been stealing the headlines but the graft of the likes of Jo McGilChrist and Rochelle Clark in the tight has also been a massive factor in the English wins so far. Out wide England have been clinical but some errors crept into their game against the USA,as they tried almost too hard to score of first phases and Street will be telling his charges to be patient.

England will say they dont feel pressure but they are the home team and favourites to win and that is pressure. They need to blank that out and focus on the task at hand as the Wallaroos have nothing to lose at this stage.