Eighty minutes against France stand between England and another Rugby World Cup final, a game everything has been geared towards since their defeat by New Zealand in the finale of the last edition in 2022. France have been one of the few nations to threaten the Red Roses during a subsequent 31-game winning streak and the world No 1 side will not underestimate them in Saturday’s semi-final.

While away games in the past three years have brought big wins for England against France, most recently a 40-6 World Cup warm-up victory, it has been a different situation at home, where games have come down to the wire.

England staved off a French comeback at Twickenham in the 2023 Six Nations – the final score was 38-33 – and in April this year a comeback and a last-minute try left England clinging on in the grand slam decider before coming through 43-42. The Red Roses know a complete 80-minute performance is needed to ensure a shot at lifting the World Cup next week for the first time since 2014.

“On home soil it’s about that second half,” the England attack coach, Lou Meadows, said. “We know that France are a team that will come out and throw the kitchen sink at you and will literally give you everything they’ve got. That tenacious threat that they bring in the second 40 is going to be really important.”

The biggest criticism aimed at England this tournament is that there has not been free-flowing rugby across 80 minutes. The loosehead prop Hannah Botterman says the team are aiming for as close to perfection as they can: “We know when we get it right, our game and how we want to play it works and I don’t think we have probably seen a full performance from us yet. You are always chasing perfection, no game is going to be perfect but we want to be as close to that as possible in all facets of the game.”

England may not have reached perfection but they are favourites for the semi-final. The Red Roses have been impressive, particularly at the set piece and have scored 248 points, while conceding only 25. France have racked up 183 points, conceding 28, and while they are also unbeaten in the tournament their week has been full of disruption.

They lost the flanker Axelle Berthoumieu who received a nine-match ban for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer in their quarter-final, and the co-captain Manaé Feleu has been handed a three-match ban, reduced to two if she completes a coaching programme, for a dangerous tackle against Ireland. Both will be missed by the underdogs at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

France’s selection headaches did not stop there with their fly-half Lina Queyroi out with concussion and the wing Joanna Grisez a late change; Carla Arbez and Kelly Arbey, replace them, respectively.

Kelly Arbez replaces Joanna Grisez on the wing for France. Photograph: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

The difficulties made France pull together as a group, according to the centre Gabrielle Vernier: “Once we got the results and weren’t in limbo anymore, everyone switched straight on to prep. This squad is mentally tough, full of character both on and off the field. We’ve got just one thing in mind: this weekend’s match.

“When leaders are sidelined, it pushes others who maybe had less of a leadership role to step up – and sometimes that brings out some really good things. That’s part of rugby, you adapt.”

With all the disruption experienced by France this week the England head coach, John Mitchell, is expecting a fierce response. “What does a team do when they have a challenging week like they have had? They are going to respond,” he said. “We are hunting them as well. It is always nice to know what your opponent is going to come with and we don’t expect anything less and we can’t wait.”

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England welcome back two players from injury with the full-back Ellie Kildunne and Botterman returning. Mitchell has been clear he believes his matchday 23 is “reliable but effective”, which will be key as the stakes and pressure only increase as the tournament heads towards its climax. The England No 8 Alex Matthews is competing at her fourth World Cup, and in her fourth semi-final, and the pressure is something she has learned to deal with through experience.

“I used to be very anxious, an overthinker,” Matthews said. “It feels like another game, to be honest. Same process, same prep. It’s just a game, it’s what I have done all of my life, it’s like another Sunday with the boys when I was younger. Turn up, be where my feet are, enjoy being in the present and hopefully the result will take care of itself.”

The 32-year-old added the Red Roses have created an environment to ease potential fears for the younger players in the squad.

“We came together as a player group early on. Just opened up for questions, if anyone had any concerns, thoughts, anything like that. We have created that environment for girls to speak up and be comfortable. They have all been taking it in their stride, to be honest. They have all got experience, if it’s in the PWR, if it’s for England, it’s no different really.”

The final has been England’s destination for three years but the same can be said for France, who were eliminated in 2022 with a missed last-minute penalty in their semi-final against New Zealand. Redemption is on the line for both: 80 minutes, two rivals and one spot in the final.