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France vs England prediction, best bets & Women’s Rugby World Cup odds: Bet on Breach of French defences
Follow our rugby betting tips as England face France in the women’s World Cup semi-final
France vs England best bets
England face France in the women’s World Cup semi-final on Saturday at Ashton Gate with betting sites making them strong favourites to reach a fourth successive final (3:30pm, BBC One).
The hosts won the competition in 2014, beating Canada in the final, but they have been beaten in the last two deciders by New Zealand, who they could face again this time around.
France are looking for their first-ever final appearance after being knocked out at this stage in the last six tournaments, dating back to 2002.
The French will be without two key players, though, with second row and co-captain Manae Feleu banned for a high tackle against Ireland, while back row Axelle Berthoumieu is also suspended for biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer in the same game.
The 25-year-old was initially banned for 12 matches, which was reduced to nine on appeal.
The news is better for England, though, who welcome back the World Player of the Year, Ellie Kildunne, who was forced to sit out their quarter-final win over Scotland with a concussion sustained in their final pool-stage game against Australia.
France vs England betting preview: Hosts to reach another final
The 34-31 defeat by New Zealand in the 2021 World Cup final is England’s only defeat in 62 matches, dating back to 2019.
It’s no surprise that John Mitchell’s side were the favourites before the tournament, and they are the favourites for Saturday’s match with the rugby betting sites, who favour the Red Roses by 23 points on the handicap, despite some close battles between these sides recently.
France have provided the toughest opposition for England since that 2021 defeat and came the closest to ending their unbeaten run in a pulsating 43-42 win for England in this year’s Six Nations Grand Slam finale.
When they met in the warm-up for this tournament, the score wasn’t as close as England ran out 40-6 winners in Mont-de-Marsan.
We expect a tougher match this time around, and France know they have to perform better than they did against Ireland too, when they came from behind to beat them 18-13 last time out.
It might be the semi-finals, and England will not take anything for granted, but they have won their last 16 matches against Les Bleues, with their last defeat coming in the 2018 Six Nations.
England’s narrowest 2025 Rugby World Cup win so far has been by 32 points against Scotland last time out, and we can’t see things being much better for France on Saturday.
France vs England prediction: England to win by 21-30 points - 13/5 Bet365
France vs England best bets: Breach to cross again
Jess Breach has scored six tries so far in the competition, with the game against Scotland the only time she has failed to get on the scoresheet.
She scored two against the USA, three against Samoa and one against Australia, and you wouldn’t bet against her adding to her tally this weekend.
She’s available at 4/7 on betting apps to score at any time, but she has scored first and last so far too, and the odds are way better.
France vs England prediction: Breach to score the last try - 7/1 Bet365
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