The USA host England in the opening match of what promises to be a WXV Global Series blockbuster final weekend. That match in New Jersey will be followed by New Zealand’s bid to complete a clean sweep of four wins over France, before Japan host Wales and South Africa take on Ireland.
USA v England
England, world champions and the number one-ranked side in women’s rugby, look to bounce back from two defeats in a row against Canada as the North American leg of their WXV Global Series ends against unbeaten USA in New Jersey.
Veteran loose-head prop Hope Rogers - nine points from setting a new USA Eagles scoring record - returns to the home side’s starting line-up after a powerful performance off the bench against Italy last week, as part of a pack that dominated proceedings, scoring all eight of the USA’s tries.
Rogers is one of just two changes to the Eagles’ run-on side. The other is scrum-half Abigail Paton who will link up with Nina Mason to direct the USA attack in their toughest WXV challenge to date.
England have made six changes in the starting line-up, with scrum-half Flo Robinson making her international debut after impressing off the bench against Canada, alongside fly-half Holly Aitchison, who comes in for Zoe Harrison.
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald returns to the wing, while centre Tatyana Heard completes the changes in the back line. Club team-mates Mackenzie Carson and Maud Muir come into the front row, either side of Amy Cokayne.
USA (15-9; 1-8): Ashley Cowdrey; Bulou Mataitoga, Emily Henrich, Bella Vogel, Alev Kelter; Nina Mason, Abigail Paton; Hope Rogers, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele; Hallie Taufoou, Rachel Ehrecke; Hann Humphreys, Georgie Perris-Redding (co-capt), Freda Tafuna. Replacements: Paige Stathopoulos, Lauryn Carlton, Mona Tupou, Erica Jarrell-Searcy (co-capt), Kapoina Bailey, Kate Zackary, Cass Bargell, Tessa Hann.
England: Emma Sing; Mia Venner, Meg Jones (capt), Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald; Holly Aitcheson, Flo Robinson; Mackenzie Carson, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir; Morwenna Talling, Lilli Ives Campion; Abi Burton, Sadia Kabeya, Maddie Feaunati. Replacements: Bryony Field, Hannah Botterman, Sarah Bern, Demelza Short, Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt, Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne.
New Zealand v France
Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen has made nine changes to the starting line-up for the final test against France, and another three on the bench. Second-row Maiakawanakaulani Roos moves from the bench to the starting XV, while Laura Bayfield swaps sides in the engine room, and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu will look to create impact off the bench.
Mia Anderson and World Rugby Breakthrough 15s Player of the Year nominee Elinor-Plum King return to the starting line-up and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u rounds out the loose forward trio at number eight.
Maia Joseph starts at scrum-half after coming off the bench last week, alongside captain Ruahei Demant. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a switches from one wing to the other, giving Ayesha Leti-I’iga a start, while Amy Du Plessis is named in the midfield. Mererangi Paul moves to the bench.
Injuries to centres Teani Feleu and Gabrielle Vernier have prompted France coach François Ratier to reshape their centre partnership for the final outing of 2026, with Élodie Fernandez, 23, and 19-year-old Charlie Gauyat starting.
In the pack, Marie Morland, 20, wins her second cap at number eight two years after her debut. And 22-year-old Maïlys Mailagi, who trained as a prop, starts in the middle of the front row.
New Zealand (15-9; 1-8): Braxton Sorensen-McGee; Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Amy Du Plessis, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Ayesha Leti-I’iga; Ruahei Demant (capt), Maia Joseph; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu; Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Laura Bayfield; Mia Anderson, Elinor-Plum King, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Maddison Robinson, Santo Taumata, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Amarante Sititi, Ariana Bayler, Hannah King, Mererangi Paul.
France: Émilie Boulard; Anaïs Grando, Charlie Gauyat, Élodie Fernandez, Léa Murie; Carla Arbez, Alexandre Chambon (capt); Ambre Mwayembe, Maïlys Mailagi, Assia Khalfaoui; Lou Roboam, Cloé Correa, Elsa Peyras, Léa Champon, Marie Morland. Replacements: Élisa Riffoneau, Amalia Bazola Allieres, Marion Latonnelle, Julia Grosz, Ylona Avril, Khoudedia Cissokho, Lylou Pesussaud, Morgane Bourgeois.
Japan v Wales
Head coach Toshizumi Kitagawa has tinkered with Japan’s backline for the final match of 2026, revamping the back three from the side that could not cross the Wales’ whitewash in Tokyo last weekend.
Komachi Imakugi, Honoka Tsunokawa and Mele Yua Havili Kagawa make up the back three in Kumagaya City. The attack will be marshalled, as it was last weekend, by Moe Tsukui and Sawaa Harada.
Jennifer Nduka slots in at seven, stepping up from last weekend’s bench in an otherwise unchanged pack.
Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Juka Fuji, Mio Nishimura, Sakurako Korai, Anan Seo, Chihiro Ito, and Sora Nishimura are expected to make an impact later in the game.
Wales head coach Sean Lynn has made five changes to the side that won 17-0 in Tokyo - the first time a Wales side has kept a clean-sheet since September 2018. Centre Courtney Keight replaces the injured Freya Bell. Lleucu George is at fly-half and will run Wales’s attack with Seren Lockwood, who scored a brace in the first test.
Gwenllian Pyrs is selected at loose-head prop, alongside hooker Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row. Gwen Crabb partners Branwen Metcalfe in the second row, while Bethan Lewis is named at openside alongside Callender and Williams in the Wales back row.
Full back Lisa Neumann and wings Nel Metcalfe and Amy Williams are selected in a pacy back three.
Japan (15-9; 1-8): Komachi Imakugi; Honoka Tsunokawa, Sophie Akiko Langford, Uta Kataoka, Mele Yua Havili Kagawa; Sawaa Harada, Moe Tsukui (capt); Hinata Komaki, Moe Nagaoka, Wako Kitano; Masami Kawamura, Yuna Sato; Nami Asari, Nduka Jennifer, Savannah Bodman. Replacements: Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Juka Fuji, Mio Nishimura, Sakurako Korai, Anan Seo, Chihiro Ito, Sora Nishimura
Wales: Lisa Neumann; Nel Metcalfe, Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Amy Williams; Lleucu George, Seren Lockwood; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Sisilia Tuipulotu; Branwen Metcalfe, Gwen Crabb; Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt). Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Elan Jones, Jorja Aiono, Georgia Evans, Bryonie King, Keira Bevan, Jenna De Vera.
South Africa v Ireland
South Africa’s co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September have made a number of tweaks - including a crucial one forced by injury - to the Springbok Women’s side that lost 40-27 against Ireland last weekend.
Yonela Ngxingolo steps up into the starting loose-head prop role from the bench, after the experienced Sanelisiwe Charlie suffered a serious knee injury in training. Anuschka Ekron moves on to the bench as front row replacement.
Hookers Lindelwa Gwala and Anushka Groenewald swap starting and bench positions, while Danelle Lochner in the second row alongside Vainah Ubisi, allowing Catha Jacobs to move back a row in the scrum to flanker, while Nomsa Mokwai comes onto the bench in place of Logan Welman.
In the backs, Byrhandré Dolf moves from fly-half to full-back, with Mary Zulu promoted off the bench to start in the 10 jersey. Jakkie Cilliers switches to the right wing, while Alichia Arries moves to the left. Maria Tshiremba will add pace and impact off the bench. In a final change on the bench, Insaaf Levy was named at back-up scrum-half.
Full-back Niamh Gallagher and scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly come into Ireland’s backline in the only changes to the starting line-up that won the first test between the two sides on South African soil last weekend, while Sophie Barrett is in line for her second Test cap off the bench.
Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Eilís Cahill start in the front row, with Jane Clohessy and Dorothy Wall in the engine room of an unchanged pack. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan continues at blindside flanker, captain Erin King is at openside and Brittany Hogan completes the starting team at number eight.
South Africa (15-9; 1-8): Byrhandré Dolf; Jakkie Cilliers, Maceala Samboya, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Alichia Arries; Mary Zulu, Unam Tose; Yonela Ngxingolo, Lindelwa Gwala, Xoliswa Khuzwayo; Vainah Ubisi, Danelle Lochner; Sizophila Solontsi (capt), Catha Jacobs, Aseza Hele. Replacements: Anushka Groenewald, Anuschka Ekron, Thandile Mazwi, Nomsa Mokwai, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Lerato Makua, Insaaf Levy, Maria Tshiremba.
Ireland: Niamh Gallagher; Béibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilís Cahill; Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall; Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan. Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Niamh O’Dowd, Sophie Barrett, Grace Moore, Jemima Adams Verling, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood
