Team of the Week: Women's Rugby World Cup - Round 3

England secured the top spot in Pool A after surpassing a resolved Australian side, who pushed the Red Roses through a shaky first half hour in Brighton. England prevailed with a second half blitz, with John Mitchell’s side set to face Scotland in the quarter-finals. Canada will take on the Wallaroos after topping Pool B, as New Zealand take the top seed from Pool C and Ireland progress as runners-up. France and South Africa qualify from Pool D, with the full brackets for the quarter-finals as follows.

Minuzzi lit up Northampton with a stunning hat-trick against Brazil, showcasing blistering pace and clinical finishing out wide. Her trio of tries underlined Italy’s dominance and preserved their streak of scoring at every Women’s World Cup. A masterclass in wing play, she combined speed with intelligent support lines, leaving Brazil scrambling to respond.

Honourable mention: Emilie Boulard (France) – two tries in her side’s 57-3 rout of South Africa.

The 18-year-old winger announced herself in spectacular fashion, scoring three tries in a 40-0 thrashing of Ireland. Sorensen-McGee’s combination of speed, agility, and fearless running broke the Irish defence repeatedly, including a solo effort that defined New Zealand’s clinical first-half display. A true breakout performance, she cemented her status as one of the tournament’s most exciting young talents.

Buso’s second-half brace against Brazil highlighted her power and timing in the red zone after coming off the bench some 51 minutes into the match. Both tries ensured that Italy extended their dominance and crossed the whitewash with ruthless efficiency. Her work rate and support lines were impeccable, and she exploited defensive lapses with poise and precision to be one of Italy’s standout performers in Round 3.

Neihamu ran amok for Fiji in Exeter, bagging a brace that kept the match end-to-end against Wales. Her quick hands, footwork, and ability to find space under pressure made her almost unstoppable by Sean Lynn's side. Fiji’s attacking rhythm often revolved around the midfielder, and her two tries proved decisive in sealing a deserved 28-25 victory over the favourites.

Granzotto’s hat-trick was a mix of strength, support play, and opportunism, as she consistently found gaps in Brazil’s faultering defence. Granzotto's pace on the wing, coupled with clever lines, made her impossible to cover, and she finished off Italy’s dominant performance with flair.

Honourable mention: Joanna Grisez (France) – two tries in 57-3 demolition of South Africa.

Holmes controlled New Zealand’s backline with precision, distributing cleanly and kicking accurately to relieve pressure. Her positional awareness kept Ireland pinned in their half, while her calm under pressure allowed the Black Ferns to maintain a relentless tempo. An unsung orchestrator, she was central to her team’s 40-point dismantling.

England’s scrum-half pulled the strings against Australia, linking forwards and backs seamlessly. Hunt’s quick delivery from the breakdown, tactical awareness, and support lines helped her side to a commanding 47-7 win, including providing the assist to Sadia Kabeya second try. Hunt controlled the tempo, keeping Australia on the back foot throughout the second half.

Clifford scored twice as a replacement, exemplifying England’s forward depth and dominance against Australia. Her power in the maul and ability to finish under pressure showcased her as a real weapon off the bench, as the Red Roses rallied back following the injury to Hannah Botterman. Clifford was introduced at the 24th minute and emptied the tank with a barnstorming performance.

Honourable mention: Hope Rogers (USA) – two tries against Samoa.

Tuttosi was unstoppable against Scotland, scoring twice and anchoring Canada’s set-piece dominance. Her lineout throws were accurate, scrummaging solid, and she made key carries that turned defence into attack, ensuring Canada topped Pool B.

Honourable mention: Adiana Talakai (Australia) – early try against England.

Kassil’s power and precision in close quarters led to a crucial score, helping Canada maintain control over Scotland. Her tackling and ball-carrying set the tone in both attack and defence in what was a memorable win for the Maple Leaves.

Honourable Mention - Sarah Bern (England) - Lifted the tempo in the second half with a try vs Australia

Ward’s physicality and intelligence were on full display versus Australia. She powered over for a first-half try and constantly disrupted opposition ball, while linking well with her back row, underpinning England’s commanding win.

Castelo’s try in the first half against Japan was a rare moment of brilliance for Spain. She timed her runs perfectly, exploited defensive lapses, and demonstrated strong ball-carrying that kept Spain competitive despite defeat.

Tafuna ran riot against Samoa with four tries, showcasing an uncanny finishing ability from the back row. The flanker's relentless drive from the breakdown and support play highlighted why she remains central to USA’s attacking threat, even in a season-ending pool exit.

Kabeya’s brace against Australia confirmed her as one of the tournament’s most exciting forwards. Quick off the mark, she linked well with Hunt and exploited defensive gaps, scoring two clinical tries and cementing England’s pool-top status.

Gallagher’s second-half try against Canada brought Scotland back within touching distance and illustrated her knack for intelligent running lines and finishing under pressure. The back-row's work across the field combined sheer grit in defense with some astute touches in attack, with the Red Roses marking her amongst Scotland's top threats for the quarter-final stages.