France enter the fray on match-day two of the Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019, having had a watching brief during an eventful opening round of action in San Diego.

The 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam winners will be keen to get their campaign off to a winning start when they take on defending champions Canada on Tuesday, and have been able to welcome back a couple of star names for the occasion.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be eager to build on a hard-fought victory over the Canadians last time out as they come up against hosts the USA knowing that a win of any sort will take them above England in the fledgling standings.

France v Canada

France are “eager” to start their Super Series campaign on Tuesday, according to captain Gaëlle Hermet, having sat out match-day one.

It proved a fruitful time to have a bye as the French moved up one place to third in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings, leapfrogging Canada despite their spirited performance in a 35-20 defeat to the Black Ferns.

Maëlle Filopon, who features in World Rugby’s #TRYANDSTOPUS campaign, returns at outside-centre for the first time since picking up an injury while scoring a try in France’s 30-27 win over New Zealand in November.

Jessy Trémoulière, World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year 2018, is in line to make her first test appearance since last year’s Six Nations having been named on the bench against Canada.

“[We] are eager to start the tournament because we will play the best,” Hermet said. “This allows you to calibrate and gauge yourself. It's a great tour waiting for us.”

Canada would provisionally reclaim third place in the rankings with victory in San Diego, and head coach Sandro Fiorino has made eight changes to the side that battled gamely against the Black Ferns last Friday.

Gillian Boag replaces Laura Russell, who captained Canada against New Zealand, at hooker, while Tyson Beukeboom, Jacey Grusnick and Fabiola Forteza also come into the pack.

In the backs, Lori Josephson forms a new half-back partnership with Taylor Black, while Sabrina Poulin is named on the left wing and Amanda Thornborough starts at outside-centre. Elissa Alarie, who has shifted to full-back, will captain the side with Russell on the bench.

France shade the head-to-head between the sides 8-6 but Canada have won the pair’s last three meetings. The most recent of those came three years ago when a 29-10 win for the North Americans helped them secure the 2016 Super Series title (main picture).

New Zealand v USA

Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore has made two personnel changes and one positional switch ahead of New Zealand’s meeting with the hosts in San Diego.

Prop Phillipa Love and winger Natahlia Moors both come into the starting line-up as Toka Natua and Selica Winiata make way, while Renee Wickliffe has moved to full-back.

Pia Tapsell retains her place at number eight having impressed on debut in the opening round victory over Canada, and Moore has included three more uncapped players on the bench for the game against the USA.

Hooker Forne Burkin, second-row Joanah Ngan-Woo and back-row Kennedy Simon will all win their first Black Ferns cap should they be called on from the bench. Kelly Brazier has also been named among the replacements, having not been involved in 15s since the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 final.

New Zealand, who have lost only once in 12 tests against the Women’s Eagles, could provisionally surrender top spot in the rankings if they lose by more 15 points.

“We watched the match between USA and England, and the Americans brought a lot of physicality and made some big hits so we need to be ready for that,” Moore said. “We've put strategies in place to counter what we expect them to bring and are ready.”

USA's sole victory over the Black Ferns came at Women’s Rugby World Cup 1991 and coach Rob Cain has made 10 changes to his side – and a further five on the bench – as they bid to secure a second.

Experienced hooker Katy Augusty has been recalled and will feature for the first time in this tournament while centre Amy Talei Bonte will win her second test cap, four years after earning her first.

Five players who began the 38-5 defeat to England on the bench – Nick James, Alycia Washington, Elizabeth Cairns, Katana Howard and sevens star Kris Thomas – start on Tuesday, while captain Kate Zackary moves to number eight.

Photo: Neil Kennedy