Feaunati and Moloney-MacDonald hoping to make an impact in World Cup quarter-finals

Red Roses back-row Maddie Feaunati and Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald have been selected on the bench for their respective countries as they head into the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup.

First up on Sunday will be France v Ireland at Sandy Park (KO 13:00). Ireland will be without their co-captain Edel ‘Tricky’ McMahon but Aoife Wafer has worked her way back to fitness to bolster the pack.

Sam Monaghan, McMahon's fellow co-captain, said: "“Edel is one of the most phenomenal leaders I have had the chance to work with. She puts everyone else before herself. She does everything she can, whether she is playing or not playing, to get this team in the right place. That is why I have so much love for her, she’s one of those people who you would die for. We are all playing for her on Sunday and she is such an inspiration to this group. We are gutted she can’t be out with us but we will get her back for the semi!”

Ahead of Sunday’s game, Ireland kicking coach and former Exeter Chiefs fly-half Gareth Steenson said: “It’s about being brave and believing in what we’re going to do. Last week was disappointing but it’s gone now. We talked about getting to the quarter-final months ago, so this where we want to be.”

On being back at Sandy Park, he added: “I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it!”

Following on from this game, attention will switch to Ashton Gate where the Red Roses will take on Scotland. England captain Zoe Aldcroft will return to action after missing the second and third pool stage matches due to injury. She is one of four changes to the team that started the victory over Australia last time out in Brighton.

Fresh from two tries as a replacement versus the Wallaroos, Kelsey Clifford has been named at loosehead prop in the only other alteration in the forwards. Holly Aitchison earns a first start of the tournament at fly-half, with Helena Rowland coming in at full-back. 

This game will be shown on screens in bars around the ground at Sandy Park.

Tickets for France v Ireland are available here. There are also limited tickets available for the Black Ferns v South Africa here. The winners of both these games will play each other in second semi-final at Ashton Gate.