Rhys Edwards’ side already knew who they would face in Pool C – Australia and South Africa are the other opponents – but they only found out the draw when it was made earlier this week.
Having had time to digest the draw, Edwards said that in an ideal world he would have preferred to tackle France in their last game of pool play, but on the plus side they can now fully focus ahead to the first game of the tournament.
“Taking on France on their home patch in the World Cup will definitely set the tempo for the remaining two pool games against Australia and South Africa,” said Edwards.
“At least we go into the game against opposition we are familiar with. France will start as firm favourites but we know that in the Six Nations we competed well against France for 60 minutes and it was only once we went away from our game plan that France took control.
“It promises to be a spectacle in front of a packed house and hopefully we can kick off the tournament with a good performance which will stand us in good stead for the remaining two games in the pool before the play-offs are decided,” he added.
The pinnacle of the Women’s Fifteens Game will be held at Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) headquarters in Marcoussis for the pool stages, before moving to Stade Jean Bouin – the home of Stade Français – for the semi-finals and final.
The 12 teams that will compete at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 will meet during the pool stages on August 1, 5, 9, with the semi-finals on August 13 and the finals on August 17.
Women’s World Cup
Pool A: England, Canada, Spain, Samoa
Pool B: New Zealand, USA, Ireland, Kazakhstan
Pool C: Australia, France, Wales, South Africa.
Friday August 1: France v Wales KO 2045
Tuesday August 5: Australia v Wales KO 1500
Saturday August 9: Wales v South Africa KO 1700
