The semi-finalists have been known for quite a while; in finishing order Saracens, Quins, Wasps and Loughborough Lightning. A little too predictable? According to the rules No 1 plays No 4 and No 2 plays No 3, so the line-up is:
Quins v Wasps at Twickenham Stoop KO 12.30
Saracens v Lightning at the StoneX Stadium KO 14.30
Both matches are set for 22 May. That gives players a fortnight to get over bumps and bruises. It would have been a pleasant change to see different teams involved, but that’s easier said than done.
Who’s going to win?
Theory One
Packs win matches. The strongest In order are Sarries, Quins, Wasps, then Lightning. And that was the finishing order too.
Theory Two
Backs win matches. A less popular theory, but in that case, Wasps would run away with victory.
Can either of the two outsiders beat the favourites? Lightning have the harder task of course. Even when they are deprived of squadrons of their sixteen English internationals, Sarries have enough firepower to take the day. Lightning have always had excellent players to rely on, but like Gloucester-Hartpury they are based on a university, which means that they have lacked that last degree of resource when it is most needed.
They nearly achieved one of the memorable results of the season in going down to Sarries only 19-24 away. At home they lost 29-38. Two valiant efforts, but victory remained elusive. In the simplest terms it means stopping Sarries’ back row, and not even France have managed to do that recently. Then once you have blocked Poppy Cleall, Marlie Packer and Vicky Fleetwood, you have other talents storming round the corner. And Sarries are happy to place their trust in experience; the trio of Sonia Green, Rocky Clark and Tamara Taylor must be unparalleled in the history of women’s rugby.
Wasps have a better chance of downing Quins, who haven’t been at their consistent best through the programme. Sarah Beckett has returned from a long injury absence to restore their back row to something near the power of last year (perm any three from Beckett, Franco, Caplice and Konkel), and they boast a complete England front-row with Abbie Ward in between.
Without the injured Rachael Burford in the centre, they have looked dependent on forward power to beat strong opponents. But in their latest outing against DMPDS Jess Breach could happily run in for a hat-trick.
Quins beat Wasps 31-19 away, but in the delayed return match scraped home 20-19. A Wasps win will depend on the pack holding their own; against Bristol recently they succumbed to one driving maul, and the Bears’ forwards created their other score. Quins’ pack may be even more productive.
But Wasps are the winners of the unofficial try-scoring competition. In the last three rounds they’ve had to do without their 7s stars, Abi Burton, Amy Wilson Hardy, Celia Quansah and Meg Jones. Their replacements were quite strong enough to top 60 points against Bristol, but Giselle Mather must be hoping to regain those four from the GB Sevens camp for the semi (and the final, of course).
GB 7s have announced a three-way tournament for the weekend 15-17 May with France and Ireland involved. That makes it distinctly tricky for the quartet to make themselves available, however much they would like to take part in this end-of-season extravaganza.
New Additions to the English Dictionary: ‘Fan’ and ‘Spectator’
Both home clubs have announced that the hateful term ‘behind closed doors’ will NOT apply. This is excellent news for the treasurers and the game in general.
Prediction
Yet another Sarries-Quins final, I’m afraid. A change is as good as a holiday.
