20 - 17

20 - 52

Tomorrow

15:10

Saturday

08:30

Saturday

10:10

Saturday

10:30

Saturday

10:30

Saturday

10:30

Saturday

10:30

Saturday

12:40

Saturday

15:05

Saturday

15:10

Sunday

08:40

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10:00

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11:10

Sunday

15:05

WXV 3

WXV 3: Opening weekend team news as Spain, Fiji ring changes

By Martyn Thomas

55 days ago

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 24: (L-R) Sarindra Sahondramalala of Madagascar, Linde van der Velden of The Netherlands, Pun Wai Yan of Hong Kong China, Sui Pauaraisa of Samoa, Karalaini Naisewa of Fiji and Laura Delgado of Spain pose for a photo during the Captain’s photocall ahead of WXV 3 2024 on September 24, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Madagascar will make their WXV 3 debut on Friday when they face Spain, who narrowly missed out on the 2023 title, in the United Arab Emirates at 19:00 local time (GMT+4).

The action at The Sevens Stadium will continue on Saturday as Fiji take on another debutant, Hong Kong China (kick-off 18:00), before the Netherlands become the third team to play their first match in the competition, against Samoa at 20:30.

Get all the team news for the opening weekend of WXV 3 matches below as and when it drops.

Spain v Madagascar

Spain head coach Juan Gonzalez Marruecos has made seven changes to the team beaten by South Africa in their final warm-up match in Cape Town last week.

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Props Inés Antolínez and Sidorella Bracic form a new front row alongside hooker and captain Cris Blanco, while flankers Lía Piñeiro and María Calvo start either side of Gloucester-Hartpury number eight Carmen Castellucci.

In the backs, there are starts for scrum-half Anne Fernández de Corres and outside centre Claudia Cano.

Fixture

WXV 3

Spain Women

83 - 0

Full-time

Madagascar Women

All Stats and Data

Madgascar head coach Alain Randriamihaja has made one personnel and several positional changes to the side beaten 63-19 by Kenya in Nairobi last Friday.

The one personnel change comes in the pack where tighthead prop Fenitra Razafindramanga returns to the front row and lock Felana Rakotoarison drops out.

However, there are three positional switches up front. Laurence Rasoanandrasana moves from hooker to number eight, while Nanou Razafializay wears two instead of three and Sarindra Sahondramalala moves into the second row from the base of the scrum.

Spain: 15. Claudia Peña, 14. Claudia Pérez, 13. Claudia Cano, 12. Zahía Pérez, 11. Clara Piquero, 10. Amalia Argudo, 9. Anne Fernández de Corres, 1. Inés Antolínez, 2. Cris Blanco (captain), 3. Sidorella Bracic, 4. Nadina Cisa, 5. Lourdes Alameda, 6. Lía Piñeiro, 7. María Calvo, 8. Carmen Castellucci.
Replacements: 16. Marieta Román, 17. María del Castillo, 18. Laura Delgado, 19. Elena Martínez, 20. Alba Capell, 21. Lucía Díaz, 22. Maider Aresti, 23. Martina Márquez.

Madagascar: 15. Tiana Razanamahefa, 14. Claudia Rasoarimalala, 13. Veronique Rasoanekena, 12. Valisoa Razanakiniana, 11. Zaya Fanantenana, 10. Marie Bodonandrianina, 9. Joela Mirasoa Fenohasina, 1. Mamisoa Rasoarimalala, 2. Nanou Razafializay, 3. Fenitra Razafindramanga, 4. Oliviane Andriatsilavina, 5. Sarindra Sahondramalala, 6. Sariaka Nomenjanahary, 7. Delphine Raharimalala, 8. Laurence Rasoanandrasana.
Replacements: 16. Miora Rabarivelo, 17. Nomenjanahary Rakotozafi, 18. Eleonore Rasoanantenaina, 19. Felana Rakotoarison, 20. Volatiana Rasoanandrasana, 21. Vonjimalala Ranorovololona, 22. Olivia Hanitriniaina, 23. Voahirana Razafiarisoa.

Fiji v Hong Kong China

Fiji head coach Mosese Rauluni has made nine personnel changes to the team that was beaten by WXV 3 rivals Netherlands last week.

Bitila Tawake, Vika Matarugu and Ana Korovata form an all-new front row, while Mereoni Nakesa comes in at lock to partner Asinate Serevi. Sulita Waisega moves to openside flanker, meanwhile, and is joined in the back row by Nunia Delaimoala and captain Karalaini Naisewa.

Scrum-half Evivi Senikarivi and fly-half Salanieta Kinita come into the back line, with Ivamere Nabura moving to inside centre alongside Adita Milinia. Luisa Tisolo comes in at full-back and lines up between Kolora Lomani and Repeka Adi Tove in the back three.

Fixture

WXV 3

Fiji Womens

38 - 3

Full-time

Hong Kong Women

All Stats and Data

Winger Lucia Bolton will make her Test debut, while replacement front-row forward Shun Ka Lee will become Hong Kong China’s most-capped women’s player if called upon in Dubai.

Bolton’s inclusion is one of four personnel changes to the team that secured their place at the tournament with a 22-0 defeat of Kazakhstan in June.

Micayla Baltazar comes into the second row in place of sister Chloe, who is on the bench, while Jessica Ho is set for her first appearance since May 2023 at scrum-half and Sabay Lynam has been given the nod at full-back.

Replacement back Haruka Uematsu will win her first cap if called upon from the bench on Saturday, while Lee is in line to win a record 34th.

Fiji: 15. Luisa Tisolo, 14. Repeka Adi Tove, 13. Adita Milinia, 12. Ivamere Nabura, 11. Kolora Lomani, 10. Salanieta Kinita, 9. Evivi Senikarivi, 1. Bitila Tawake, 2. Vika Matarugu, 3. Ana Korovata, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Asinate Serevi, 6. Nunia Delaimoala, 7. Sulita Waisega, 8. Karalaini Naisewa (captain).
Replacements: 16. Keleni Marawa, 17. Salanieta Nabuli, 18. Tiana Robanakadavu, 19. Aviame Veidreyaki, 20. Alfreda Fisher, 21. Ema Adivitaloga, 22. Setaita Railumu, 23. Litiana Lawedrau.

Hong Kong China: 15. Sabay Lynam, 14. Chong Ka Yan, 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne, Gabriella Rivers, 11. Lucia Bolton, 10. Fung Hoi-Ching, 9. Jessica Ho, 1. Lau Nga Wun, 2. Tanya Dhar, 3. Kea Herewini, 4. Roshini Turner, 5. Micayla Baltazar, 6. Pun Wai Yan (captain), 7. Chan Tsz Ching, 8. Shanna Forrest.
Replacements: 16. Fion Got, 17. Tsang Hoi Laam, 18. Lee Ka Shun, 19. Chloe Baltazar, 20. Karen So, 21. Wan Tsz Yau, 22. Zoe Smith, 23. Haruka Uematsu.

Netherlands v Samoa

The Netherlands have made just two personnel and one positional change for their WXV debut from the team that beat Samoa’s Pacific Island neighbours Fiji.

Hooker Julia Morauw comes in for Anoushka Beukers, who starts on the bench, while in the backs, Pien Selbeck comes into midfield with Linneke Gevers shifting to outside centre and Isa Suzanne Annemijn Spoler dropping out of the squad altogether.

Fixture

WXV 3

Netherlands Women

8 - 8

Full-time

Samoa Women

All Stats and Data

Exeter Chiefs second row Linde van der Velden will captain the team.

Samoa head coach Ramsey Tomokino has made five changes to the side that lost the final match of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship to Fiji in June.

Loosehead prop Ti Tauasosi and hooker Lulu Leuta come into the front row, while Ana-Lise Sio partners Easter Savelio at lock.

The other two changes come in the back three, where left winger Davina Lasini and full-back Drenna Falaniko are handed starts.

Netherlands: 15. Lieve Stallmann, 14. Kika Mulling, 13. Linneke Gevers, 12. Pien Selbeck, 11. Gaya van Nifterik, 10. Pleuni Kievit, 9. Esmee Ligtvoet, 1. Anouk Veerkamp, 2. Julia Morauw, 3. Nicky Dix, 4. Linde van der Velden (captain), 5. Inger Jongerius, 6. Elisabeth Boot, 7. Mariet Luijken, 8. Isa Prins.
Replacements: 16. Anoushka Beukers, 17. Sydney de Weijer, 18. Jara Bunnik, 19. Mhina de Vos, 20. Noah Demba, 21. Morgane Ter Cock, 22. Lisa Egberts, 23. Emma van Traa.

Samoa: 15. Drenna Falaniko, 14. Linda Fiafia, 13. Tyra Boysen, 12. France Bloomfield, 11. Davina Lasini, 10. Cassie Siataga, 9. Ana Afuie, 1. Ti Tauasosi, 2. Lulu Leuta, 3. Ana Mamea, 4. Easter Savelio, 5. Ana-Lise Sio, 6. Utumalama Atonio, 7. Sui Pauaraisa (captain), 8. Nina Foaese.
Replacements: 16. Avau Filimaua, 17. Denise Aiolupotea, 18. Tori Iosefo, 19. Sydney Niupulusu, 20. Joanna Fanene Lolo, 21. Saelua Leaula, 22. Harmony Vatau, 23. Lutia Col Aumua.

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Comments on RugbyPass

OM 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

On behalf of New Zealand, I apologise for Ben Smith.

18 Go to comments

Mitch 2 hours ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

No doubt they liked Rennie but a 38% win record is hard to defend.

16 Go to comments

Red and White Dynamight 2 hours ago

Pablo Matera returns from ban as Argentina change 3 for Ireland

Incorrect. Matera plays mostly on blindside incl for Crusaders when they won title in 2022. Pumas tend to play their flankers left and right rather than 6/7 but Matera is involved in set pieces mostly on blindside channel.

3 Go to comments

Cantab 2 hours ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

It is true that some of the ABs losses were unlucky but it must also be conceded that some of their wins were equally fortuitous and even out overall. I firmly believe that provided the team takes stock of their shortcomings and remedy them while building on the positive, they will return to being the juggernaut of past glories. They are not that far off and Razor has largely developed a side which is capable of not only winning a world cup but returning to the top of world rankings. Boks beware as uneasy the head that wears the crown.

18 Go to comments

DrinkAwayTheConcussion 2 hours ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

As if we’d let such an obvious double agent ploy work on us lol.

Tell me, who was just appointed head coach of Australia’s Men’s 7s…???

15 Go to comments

PA 2 hours ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Campo , why don't you try Coaching?

Give Schmidt a chance to prove himself. Schmidt is a professional Coach who has done the hard yards. Give him the opportunity to prove himself. At present he's on the right track and getting better all the time. Don't bring the fact that he's a Kiwi, that's irrelevant. What's relevant is getting the best performance and results for rugby and Australia.

16 Go to comments

DrinkAwayTheConcussion 2 hours ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

None. Aussie coaches suck. But who are the 6 Australians better than Schmidtoh?

16 Go to comments

Jen 2 hours ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

You Bok fans must get sick of reading this stuff, honestly. They're a great team. Our ABs just need to play better and take the ref out of the equation.

18 Go to comments

Jen 2 hours ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Our rivalry with the Boks is special. I can live with getting smashed by an excellent SA side. NOONE ELSE THOUGH. Losing to Engerland is not okay.

18 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

PS, the only thing I could find on SA contractual changes was a while ago. I'm sure I was reading something more recent that was saying SARU are only involved with their PONI players. And as per above, 'private' doesn't mean billionaire owners in my book, just independant.

286 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.

Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').

LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.

For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.

He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?

As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

286 Go to comments

Longshanks 3 hours ago

The Wallabies have a serious problem

No love for Ollie Hoskins? Decent Aussie tighthead playing for Saracens

11 Go to comments

DrinkAwayTheConcussion 3 hours ago

Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat

I don’t agree with everything there, but I fear you may be right about Ardie.

Moana Pasifika are not a New Zealand franchise officially, which means they can play Ardie for 80 minutes each week if they want to.

And they’ll want to.

And it is rare to see players come back from Japan in equal or better form when they left.

Jerome Kaino and Michael Hooper are the only two I can think of.