Still In the Fight
- Sera Naiqama
- Sep 9
- 4 min read
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Quarter-Finalists are locked In.
The final eight teams of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup are locked in, with Australia claiming the final spot.
With the pool stages behind us, the tournament now enters its most unforgiving stretch: win and you move on, lose and you’re out.
As expected, the traditional powerhouses England, New Zealand, Canada, and France topped their pools. Equally compelling are the teams who placed second: Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and South Africa.
TFAP uses Opta data to uncover where the underdogs can strike in the quarter-finals.
Australia
World Rugby ranking: 7th
Quarter-final opponent: Canada (2nd)
The Wallaroos have never shied away from a challenge. Their pool run was mixed with a win, draw and loss but their ceiling was clear against England, when they led for the opening half
hour.
As Red Roses halfback Natasha Hunt admitted:
"Australia really brought it, especially in that first half. We felt pressure that we hadn't felt at the start of the tournament."
Canada are favourites, but the Wallaroos can cause disruption.
Change the picture: 65% of Australia’s tries have come from the lineout, but Canada hasn’t conceded a single lineout-origin try. The maul should remain a weapon in their attacking 22m, yet special plays off set piece and quick taps should be considered to keep the Canadians guessing.
Inject the bench: Canada is most vulnerable after halftime, conceding 54% of their points in the 40–60 minute window. Australia also dip here, giving up 42% of their points in the same stretch. Tactically using the bench to inject tempo and assist fatiguing big-minute players could be make-or-break.
Contest for territory: Canada have controlled the territory (60%) and possession (54%). Australia can disrupt that with fly-half Faitala Moleka. The 20-year-old has kicked 27 times for 780 metres, ranking fourth overall in the tournament, and has the range to force Canada into parts of the field they don’t want to be.
Scotland
World Rugby ranking: 6th
Quarter-final opponent: England (1st)
Scotland are writing a new chapter. In 2022 they never made it out of the pools; now they face hosts England, riding a 30-match winning streak. The task is enormous, but even giants have cracks.
Score early: Of the 17 points the Red Roses have conceded, 14 have come in the first half. Even more impressively, they have given up zero points in the final quarter. If Scotland are to land a blow, it has to be early.
All in the breakdown: Scotland’s ruck efficiency sits at 96%. They must maintain that to secure their ball and deny entry from the likes of England’s openside flanker Sadia Kabeya, who tops the tournament with 12 turnovers.
England’s attack is built on inaccuracy. They’ll pressure the breakdown, force a turnover, kick for territory, and punish from the lineout. Stop that cycle and Scotland stay in the game.
South Africa
World Rugby ranking: 10th
Quarter-final opponent: New Zealand (3rd)
The Springbok Women have climbed to 10th in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings for the first time ever, following their historic win over Italy. That momentum and belief will be crucial as they face the six-time world champions, New Zealand Black Ferns.
There are opportunities for the Bok Women to dictate their fate.
Use the maul: With the Black Ferns conceding 75% of their tries from lineout origin, the Boks should be licking their lips to lean on lineout mauls using their size and physicality to full effect.
Play the long game: The Black Ferns lead the tournament in total tries (24), line breaks (127), and running metres (3,792). To blunt broken-play threats, South Africa need to be clinical in building their phases and precise when they go wide.
Stay disciplined: Discipline has been South Africa’s Achilles heel. They are tied for the most penalties conceded at the ruck (16). Against New Zealand, every infringement is a gift. Staying composed and picking breakdown battles wisely is non-negotiable.
Ireland
World Rugby ranking: 5th
Quarter-final opponent: France (4th)
Ireland have shown they can swing with the heavyweights, while France have built their form meticulously week-by-week. Closer in the World Rugby rankings than the other quarter-final matchups, this contest carries real parity.
Defend with purpose: The surest way to unsettle Les Bleues is through defence. Ireland must bring relentless line speed and put two in the tackle to cut down a side that boasts the most offloads (58). Against that level of unpredictability, there’s no room for wasted ruck contests - either commit with intent or stay on feet.
Hit late: France’s defence is watertight through the first 60 minutes, yet 80% of their conceded points have come in the final quarter. Ireland’s path is to absorb, endure, and then attack as the gaps open.
Pin the backfield: Ireland boast the tournament’s most effective kicker in Dannah O’Brien. The fly-half has already put boot to ball 51 times, nearly double any other player and racked up 1,559 metres, both tournament highs. Territory will be pivotal.
In the end, trends only paint part of the picture. Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and South Africa have fought their way into the final eight, and now it’s about who dares and who delivers.
Written by Sera Naiqama
Wallaroo, Super Rugby Women's player and pundit.
The [female] athlete project is Australia's fastest growing women's sports platform, spotlighting the stories and achievements of women in sport. Listen to the weekly podcast the wrap on apple or spotify, or sign up to our weekly newsletter here.
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