Saturday’s Women's World Cup predictions and rugby union tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for New Zealand v Wales and Italy v France in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup.

Where to watch

France v Italy
ITV 4, 4.30am Saturday

New Zealand v Wales
ITV, 7.30am Saturday

Best bets

Italy +26 4.30am Saturday
1pt 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes

Wales +21 first-half handicap 7.30am Saturday
1pt 10-11 bet365

World Cup quarter-final preview

Wales have already been handed one thrashing by New Zealand at the Women’s Rugby World Cup and bookmakers are expecting a repeat of their pool-stage encounter when they reconvene in the quarter-finals.

The Pool A adversaries have been paired together in the knockout phase via the tournament’s seeding system and the top-ranked Black Ferns are 44-point handicap favourites having meted out a 10-try 56-12 hiding in the group encounter.

That was Wales’ worst result of the tournament, coming between a win over Scotland and a narrow loss to Australia, and Ioan Cunningham's team have proved a resilient bunch on the whole.

They began the first clash with New Zealand well, keeping them scoreless for 17 minutes, and are worth backing on the first-half handicap to frustrate the hosts again.

New Zealand have been slow out the blocks on occasions at the World Cup - they trailed Australia at the break in the pool stage - and it may take them time to wear down Wales.

Saturday’s other quarter-final is an interesting heat with surprise package Italy worth chancing to cover the handicap against France.

The Azzurri won two of their three pool-stage games to qualify for the last eight as fifth seeds and beat France in a pre-tournament warm-up game.

The French have lacked their usual flair and a more pragmatic approach could help Italy hang around.

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