Prince William and Kate will be cheering on home nations teams in the Women's Rugby World Cup group matches today.
The royal couple are both keen sports fans and the Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, will attend the clash between Wales and Fiji at the Sandy Park stadium in Exeter. While Kate, patron of the Rugby Football Union, will attend the match between England and Australia at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium. The Wales match kicks off first at 2.45pm with England's game starting at 5pm.
If top seeds England win Pool A they would face a quarter-final against the runners-up from Pool B, who were expected to be either Scotland or Wales going into the competition - but the latter have had a dismal World Cup.
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England so far have won both their games but Wales lost their opening matches and now will be hoping to at least go out with a victory.
John Mitchell’s England team are already assured of their place in next weekend’s quarter-finals and will be joined by the Wallaroos if they secure at least a bonus point on the south coast.
With England expected to complete their rampage through Pool A by registering another heavy win, Australia’s best chance of reaching the knockout phase at the expense of the USA is by running in four tries. Mitchell believes the need to score will present his side with openings at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium.
“It’s a great opportunity to build on what we’ve already established and we’re looking for a strong performance,” head coach Mitchell said. “Australia have definitely improved since we last played them and it will be interesting to see whether they kick or run. Either way they have to play, which is a great opportunity for us.”
Meanwhile, Wales boss Sean Lynn has asked his players to leave the pitch against Fiji “crawling” as the curtain comes down on their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Both sides are playing for pride alone in Exeter after losing their opening two Pool B games, with Canada and Scotland having progressed to the quarter-finals. But Lynn wants Wales to finish with a flourish and leave everything out on the Sandy Park pitch.
“It looks like both teams are going to throw the kitchen sink at each other,” said Lynn. “It’s going to be a brilliant battle and I’m hoping we come out on top, but I’ve asked the girls to come off (the pitch) crawling.
“I thought they (Fiji) put in a really strong performance against Scotland. They’re very exciting when they’ve got the ball in hand. It’s just making sure that when we’ve got the ball, we’re looking after it, going through the phases and testing them in defence as well.”
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