USA head coach Sione Fukofuka has rolled the dice for this must-win clash, making nine changes as he seeks a combination of power and pace to unsettle the strong-looking Wallaroos. The biggest call? It has to be dropping three-time Olympian Alev Kelter. Elsewhere wingers Cheta Emba and Erica Coulibaly will have to step up and deal with Australia's lightening edges.
For Australia, it is all about getting the job done against opponents that have caused them plenty of trouble, including a high-scoring defeat in last year's Pacific Four Series. Winger Desiree Miller already has three RWC 2025 tries to her name and will be one to watch, while co-captains Emily Chancellor and Kaitlin Leaney continue in the absence of injured Siokapesi Palu.
Kick-off: 19:30 BST, Saturday, 30 August
Venue: York Community Stadium, York
If you are heading to York for the match, and indeed the weekend, head here now to get all the lowdown on her home town from England star Ellie Kildunne.
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USA team
USA's key player: There is plenty of pressure on Emily Henrich's shoulders but the 25-year-old showed last week she is more than capable of handling it. Strong in defence and full of power, she and Ilona Maher will provide plenty of questions for Australia's midfield. Expect straight running and big collisions.
Australia team
Australia's key player: USA are not the only ones boasting plenty of power, with second-row Michaela Leonard set to win her 40th cap - just the third Wallaroo to reach such a mark. A formidable athlete and a former skipper, Leonard will be out to stamp her authority on this momentous fixture.
Recent head-to-heads:
Pacific Four Series 2025: AUS 27-19 USA
Pacific Four Series 2024: USA 32-25 AUS
Friendly July 2023: AUS 58-17 USA
What they said:
USA head coach Sione Fukofuka:
"There was always going to be some changes. Unfortunately we had a couple of players ruled out through injury this week. We wanted to find a little bit of a balance, and last week gave us more information that we wanted to take through to this week. It’s a must-win game so we’re going to try and make some clear decisions around our opposition.
"She’ll (Alev Kelter) still be a part of the team. The players we selected will allow us to play as best we can, and Lev will push back into that selection frame for Samoa.
"Looking at the stats from last week, I think we were in the top three, top four teams in terms of our ball movement. So we are physical, and we're going to own that and go forward first, but using the ball and being able to shift to the edges is a clear strategy that we want to go after."
USA captain Kate Zackary:
"Today, we played a bit of volleyball and it is that reminder to have a bit of fun. That's why we started. It's for community, it's for friendship and things like that.
"There was a little girl last week who was wearing my jersey, even though she's an English fan. You want to show up to a World Cup and you want to see two teams battling it out. You want people to fall in love with both teams, the players, the individuals, but the sport, and then they take that hunger to their rugby club."
Australia head coach Jo Yapp:
"The focus is about us, we’ve done a lot coming into this competition around our try lines and try line defence and generally our collision dominance.
"We’ve not changed anything around the structure and the focuses of our week, because as soon as you start changing things like that in a big game it makes players pretty anxious."
Australia captain Emily Chancellor:
"It’s a different group this time (to RWC 2021) and a different experience but there’s going to be a point in the pool where you’ve got to perform to secure that spot [in the quarter-finals] and if we can do that in game two instead of game three it would be a really great place for us.
"I take confidence knowing we were able to perform in those moments against Scotland and Wales last World Cup. But we can’t sit in the past, we’ve got to focus on the present and the team we’ve got here and now.
"We haven’t changed much, we had a conversation as a team and playing group to reiterate the fact it is an opportunity to secure a quarter-final position. We didn’t want to take for granted that everybody knows that is the reality. That’s not us putting pressure on us, that’s us believing that if we play the way we know we can, and every individual does their job to the best of their ability, we can come out on top."
