Classification finals: preview

11thplace

Japan v Hong Kong (Queen’s University, noon)

After great performances against Ireland and Australia, Japan will be disappointed to be ending their World Cup here - their target was a top 8 position - while Hong Kong cannot realistically have expected anything else. Does that matter? Perhaps not, given the discipline of the Japanese team, but rising to the occasion will be far easier for Hong Kong than the Cherry Blossoms.

These two teams are very familiar with each other – they have played 16 times before (Japan winning 15), and last met in the home-and-away Asian Championship playoff only last month.

It will be interesting to see what both sides have learnt over the past two weeks, especially Hong Kong who lost this fixture by 58-0 and 60-19 in that Asian Championship.

Japan:15. Mayu Shimizu; 14. Akari Kato; 13. Iroha Nagata; 12. Makiko Tomita; 11. Honoka Tsutsumi; 10. Minori Yamamoto; 9. Moe Tsukui; 1. Seina Saito (c); 2. Misaki Suzuki; 3. Saki Minami; 4. Aoi Mimura; 5. Ayano Sakurai; 6. Yuki Sue; 7. Sayaka Suzuki; 8. Maki Takano; 16. Chihiro Kobayashi; 17. Mizuho Kataoka; 18. Makoto Ebuchi; 19. Ai Hyugaji; 20. Yui Shiozaki; 21. Yumeno Noda; 22. Chikami Inoue; 23. Ai Tasaka

Hong Kong:15. Adrienne Garvey; 14. Kwong Sau Yan; 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne; 12. Kelsie Bouttle; 11. Chong Ka Yan; 10. Rose Hopewell-Fong; 9. Mak Ho Yee; 1. Lau Nga Wun; 2. Royce Chan; 3. Lee Ka Shun; 4. Chow Mei Nam (c); 5. Chan Ka Yan; 6. Christy Cheng; 7. Chan Tsz Ching; 8. Christine Gordon; 16. Winnie Siu; 17. Karen So; 18. Pun Wai Yan; 19. Tsang Sin Yan; 20. Amelie Seure; 21. Jessica Ho; 22. Lee Tsz Ting; 23. Colleen Tjosvold;

9thplace

Italy v Spain (Queen’s University, 2.30pm)

A terrific pool game is repeated with Spain the obvious favourites after their 22-8 win last week.

Italy did better than expected to not only beat Japan, but ultimately win so comfortably, while Spain perhaps struggled a little more with Hong Kong, who dominated possession and gave the Spanish defence a good workout.

It is a great pity that this game is scheduled against the 7thplace playoff as these two Mediterranean teams have such a great history, are so well matched, and this is also probably the last test match this Spanish team will play together.

Italy:15. Manuela Furlan; 14. Sofia Stefan; 13. Maria Grazia Cioffi; 12. Paola Zangirolami; 11. Michela Sillari; 10. Beatrice Rigoni; 9. Sara Barattin (c); 1. Elisa Cucchiella; 2. Melissa Bettoni; 3. Lucia Gai; 4. Flavia Severin; 5. Valeria Fedrighi; 6. Ilaria Arrighetti; 7. Elisa Giordano; 8. Silvia Gaudino; 16. Michela Este; 17. Gaia Giacomoli; 18. Sara Tounesi; 19. Valentina Ruzza; 20. Isabella Locatelli; 21. Veronica Schiavon; 22. Veronica Madia; 23. Elisa Bonaldo

Spain:15. Barbara Pla; 14. Amaia Erbina; 13. Patricia Garcia; 12. Maria Ahis; 11. Iera Echebarria; 10. Marina Bravo; 9. Anne Fernandez de Corres; 1. Isabel Rico; 2. Aroa Gonzalez (c); 3. Jeanina Vinueza; 4. Maria Ribera; 5. Rocio Garcia; 6. Diana Gasso; 7. Paula Medin; 8. Angela Del Pan; 16. Saioa Jaurena; 17. Isabel Macias; 18. Laura Delgado; 19. Monica Castelo; 20. Berta Garcia; 21. Carlota Meliz; 22. Vanesa Rial; 23. Uri Barrutieta

7thplace

Ireland v Wales (Kingspan Stadium, 2pm)

Although not officially announced (all aspects of the World Cup will be reviewed after the competition closes, so nothing is certain) it is expected that the top seven from this year’s event will qualify for 2021 – in which case there is a lot at stake in this game, which was switched from Queens to the Kingspan when Ireland lost their 7thplace semi-final to Australia.

The two teams know each other extremely well, invariably meeting in warm-up games to the Six Nations, as well as in the Six Nations itself.

Ireland must start as favourites, not just based on recent meetings between the two teams, but on performances in this competition where Wales’ only success has come against Hong Kong whereas Ireland have beaten Japan and Australia, though they were well beaten by the latter on Tuesday.

Ireland:15. Hannah Tyrrell; 14. Eimear Considine; 13. Katie Fitzhenry; 12. Jeamie Deacon; 11. Alison Miller; 10. Nora Stapleton; 9. Nicole Cronin; 1. Lindsay Peat; 2. Cliodhna Moloney; 3. Ailis Egan; 4. Ciara Cooney; 5. Marie Louise Reilly; 6. Paula Fitzpatrick (c); 7. Ciara Griffin; 8. Heather O'Brien; 16. Leah Lyons; 17. Ilse Van Staden; 18. Ciara O'Connor; 19. Sophie Spence; 20. Ashleigh Baxter; 21. Larissa Muldoon; 22. Sene Naoupu; 23. Mairead Coyne

Wales:15. Elinor Snowsill; 14. Jasmine Joyce; 13. Gemma Rowland; 12. Hannah Jones; 11. Elen Evans; 10. Robyn Wilkins; 9. Keira Bevan; 1. Caryl Thomas; 2. Carys Phillips (c); 3. Amy Evans; 4. Siwan Lillicrap; 5. Melissa Clay; 6. Alisha Butchers; 7. Rachel Taylor; 8. Sioned Harries; 16. Kelsey Jones; 17. Gwenllian Pyrs; 18. Cerys Hale; 19. Shona Powell-Hughes; 20. Lleucu George; 21. Sian Moore; 22. India Berbillion; 23. Jodie Evans

5thplace

Australia v Canada (Queen’s University, 5pm)

A great game on paper, wickedly scheduled against the France v USA bronze medal playoff, this will show us how much Australia have improved since losing 45-5 in Rototua in June. Even if Canada do start as favourites, there seems to be no way that scoreline will be repeated.

This could also the last chance anyone will get to see this wonderfully talented Australian team until at least 2020, unless the ARU significantly changes its policy. That they can be this good based on a weekend inter-state selection tournament, a handful of tests and a few weeks of training almost defies belief.

Given anything like the support offered toeveryother team in this tournament, Australia could easily be in the final today, not scrapping for the minor places. So make the most of it!

Canada thumped Wales on Tuesday and will be regretting that they had failed to do likewise the week before, otherwise they could have been at the Kingspan on finals day.

Australia:15. Samantha Treherne; 14. Nareta Marsters; 13. Sarah Riordan; 12. Sharni Williams (c); 11. Mahalia Murphy; 10. Ashleigh Hewson; 9. Katrina Barker; 1. Liz Patu; 2. Cheyenne Campbell; 3. Hilisha Samoa; 4. Rebecca Clough; 5. Alisha Hewett; 6. Millie Boyle; 7. Chloe Butler; 8. Grace Hamilton; 16. Louise Burrows; 17. Emily Robinson; 18. Hana Ngaha; 19. Mollie Gray; 20. Kate Brown; 21. Fenella Hake; 22. Kayla Sauvao; 23. Trilleen Pomare

Canada:15. Julianne Zussman; 14. Magali Harvey; 13. Amanda Thornborough; 12. Emily Belchos; 11. Elissa Alarie; 10. Alex Tessier; 9. Brianna Miller; 1. Carolyn McEwen; 2. Laura Russell; 3. DaLeaka Menin; 4. Cindy Nelles; 5. Latoya Blackwood; 6. Jacey Grusnick; 7. Karen Paquin; 8. Kelly Russell (c); 16. Jane Kirby; 17. Brittany Kassil; 18. Olivia DeMerchant; 19. Kayla Mack; 20. Barbara Mervin; 21. Chelsea Guthrie; 22. Andrea Burk; 23. Brittany Waters