"Jess Breach vs Desiree Miller" 3 Key Battles: England vs Australia - Women's Rugby World Cup

England have already booked their place in the last eight, having racked up two thunderous bonus point wins over the USA and Samoa so far in the competition. All Australia need is a losing bonus point to ensure their safety through to the next stage, as the USA chase down the Wallaroos for the second placed spot. Should the stars and stripes beat Samoa by an eye-watering 135 points, and Australia fail to pick up a single point against England, then the United States will snatch the runners-up spot for an all-time unforgettable Women's Rugby World Cup comeback.

Plenty on the line for both sides as we head into this clash in Brighton, with the American Express Stadium set to hit an fever-pitch as the Red Roses and Wallaroos come to town. Here are the three biggest battles that could well swing the outcome of this blockbuster clash upon the English south coast.

If it’s tries you’re after, look no further than the wings at the Amex Stadium this evening. England’s Jess Breach and Australia’s Desiree Miller are neck and neck in the race to be the tournament’ top try scorer, with five scores each heading into this crunch Pool A clash.

For Breach, this World Cup has been a statement of longevity and class. The Saracens star marked her 49th cap with a hat-trick against Samoa, taking her tally beyond 50 international tries and underlining her status as one of the most lethal finishers in the women’s game. Blessed with searing pace and clinical instincts honed since her unforgettable six-try debut back in 2017, Breach’s strike rate is jaw-dropping with a try in every second run so far at this tournament. With her 50th cap tonight, she remains the Red Roses’ deadliest weapon in open play.

Across from her, 23-year-old Desiree Miller has risen to the World Cup stage with the swagger of a star-in-the-making. A former gymnast, she has brought that same explosive power to the Wallaroos jersey, tearing through Samoa for a hat-trick before doubling up against the USA. Already a fan favourite back home in the land down under, Miller’s blend of raw speed and fearless finishing, makes her a nightmare for any defence and one which the Red Roses will be deathly aware of.

The contest at No. 8 carries extra significance as both skippers go head-to-head in Brighton. England’s Alex Matthews takes the armband with regular captain Zoe Aldcroft rested once again. Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp welcome back Siokapesi Palu from injury, for a hotly anticipated duel that promises boundless work rate and grit upon both sides of the ball.

Matthews is one of the Red Roses’ most experienced figures, having made her debut in 2011 and part of the immortalised class of 2014 who lifted the World Cup just three years later. At 32-years-old, Matthews remains a vital cog in England’s machine, with match-winning ball-carrying and the experienced nous of a icon who has won it all at the highest level. Matthews has been a fixture in five Womne's Six Nations triumphs, England's two WXV title wins, and also represented Team GB in sevens at the Olympics. Tonight Matthews wins her 70th cap and will be tasked with driving her pack forward while setting the tone as stand-in captain.

Across the breakdown stands Palu, who brings the hot-stepping footwork of a fleet-footed midfielder and the hulking carries of an imposing back row. The 28-year-old returns to the take back up the armband for Wallaroos, having overcome a foot injury which curtailed the early stages of her tournament. Palu’s power and mobility were honed in Super Rugby W, where she claimed Player of the Year honour with the Brumbies for the 2024 campaign. Palu's ability to disrupt rucks and carry with venom has made her indispensable to Jo Yapp’s side, with a sea of gold and green welcoming back their leader.

At scrum-half, England’s Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt faces off against Australia’s 21-year-old sensation Samantha Wood, a true generational clash of experience versus youthful flair. Hunt, 36, brings a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to win the biggest occassions, as apart of England's 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph and been a central figure in multiple victorious Six Nations campaigns. Hunt's also enjoyed a plethora of silverware at club level, as a three-peat winner of the PWR with the Cherry and Whites of Gloucester-Hartpury.

With decades of top-level experience across 15s and sevens, including the 2016 Rio and 202 Tokyo Olympics, Hunt is the calm, strategic heartbeat of the Red Roses. Opposite Hunt is Wallaroos newcomer Samantha Wood, a 21-year-old Perth native whose rise has been meteoric. The scrum-half overcame multiple back injuries and shoulder setbacks to make her international debut in 2024, after a breakthrough season for the Western Force in Super W. Wood caught the eye of the Wallaroos selectors after picking up multiple Western Force awards including the prestigious Rebecca Clough medal.

Agile, quick-thinking, and fearless, Wood’s style thrives on creativity and exploiting gaps at pace, bringing a new dimension to Australia’s attack. Wood's resilience and determination to earn a World Cup starting spot after doubts about the nine's fitness, truly underlines how mentally tough the young gun is, as she brings an undying will to succeed to the Wallaroos back-line.