It's going to be a dirty day in Exeter.
The wind is set to blow in off the estuary of the ancient city on the southeast coast of England. The rain may fall sideways.
A disruptor for both teams or a leveller?
We’ll know at 3pm today.
On paper, this is France’s game to lose and there is little or no pressure on Ireland, 20-point underdogs, who haven’t defeated Les Bleues in eight games since the Six Nations tie in 2017.
Ireland have been getting closer, most notably in last spring’s 27-15 loss in Belfast with Scott Bemand’s side right in the mix in the last 10 minutes.
Also notable is that Erin King and Dorothy Wall played that day, alongside Aoife Wafer, who makes her much-awaited comeback today.
King and Wall, who last night presented the matchday squad with their jerseys, are long-term injury absentees, while Wafer has not been road-tested.
The 22-year-old Six Nations player of the tournament (below) suffered two separate knee injuries since April and questions marks surrounded her fitness until she was named to start at 7 by Bemand on Friday.
The Wexford back row is one of two changes, along with Fiona Tuite for Edel McMahon, to the team beaten 40-0 by New Zealand.
Ireland maintain that they quickly got that loss out of their system, and lessons have been learned.
If, on the other hand, they didn’t want to show France much about their tactical approach to this game, they succeeded.
Ireland have conceded tries far too easily in this block. Including the two warm-up games, they’ve leaked 23 in their last five matches.
Out-half Dannah O'Brien, according to Stats Perform, was the only player to make 30+ kicks in play (51) or gain 1000+ kicking metres (1559) during the pool stages.
Ireland retained possession from four of her kicks.
World Cup knock-out rugby has not been a happy hunting ground for Ireland's women’s and men’s team – but France on Sunday provides the chance to change the script.
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"We are very focussed on one kicker, Dannah O’Brien, and we saw, without the balance and shape around her to take the pressure off her, it is easy for a good defensive side, like New Zealand or potentially France, to really put pressure on that," former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman told RTÉ Sport this week.
"If you take that away and we kick badly, our defence just hasn’t looked anywhere near as strong as it needs to be and that’s a hard thing to fix in a week."
France under joint coaches Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz have had an easier run through as they topped Pool D.
They scored 26 tries in wins over Italy, Brazil and South Africa.
Scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus sat out the opening clash but registered player of the match performances in the last two.
They have made two changes to the side that beat the Springbok Women.
Full-back Morgane Bourgeois replaces Emilie Boulard, while Kelly Arbey starts on the left wing, with Marine Menager moving to the centre.
"The weather could have a big influence," said Ortiz
"And we know one of their x-factors, O’Brien, has a clinical, surgical kicking game that’s central to their strategy, so that could tip the scales.
"We’re aware of that, but we’re sticking to the foundations we built in the pool phase – set-piece and defence. We’ve got to make our plan work."
A number of former Ireland internationals have retreated to the old cliche about today's opponents, that one about not knowing which France team will turn up.
There’s very little recent evidence of this phenomenon against Ireland, ranked fifth in the world, one below France, in any case.
The side that came closest to losing, six months ago, also had to do so with 14 players for 20 minutes as well.
Whichever team that turned up was good enough to repel the Irish assault.
This will be the fourth World Cup meeting between the teams, with France winning all three, so far.
They come into this meeting boasting the fewest defensive 22-metre entries in the World Cup with 11, while they also top the charts with lineouts stolen (6).
Ireland have to take their chances when they come.
"We feel prepared," Bemand told RTÉ Sport.
"The game against New Zealand tees us up really well. I believe we go into this battle-hardened."
Ireland are building depth but it’s a real pity that they go into this battle without King, Wall and Edel McMahon.
There’s a lot of responsibility on Wafer and France may just have too much power today.
Verdict: France.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (capt); Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Clíodhna Molony-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Joanna Grisez, Marine Menager, Gabrielle Vernier, Kelly Arbey; Lina Queyroi, Pauline Bourdon Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Agathe Gerin, Rose Bernadou; Mane Feleu, Madoussou Fall Raclot; Axelle Berthoumieu, Lea Champon, Charlotte Escudero.
Replacements: Manon Bigot, Annaelle Deshaye, Assia Khalfaoui, Hina Ikahehgi, Seraphine Okemba, Teani Feleu, Alexandra Chambon, Emilie Boulard.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
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