On the eve of the Black Ferns’ first appearance on these shores for their autumn series, Brendan Gallagher wrote a splendid piece in The Rugby Paper reflecting on their remarkable history. The headline ran: TREAT TO SEE RETURN OF GLORIOUS BLACK FERNS.
As we look back across the past month it’s salutary to remember just how daunting it has always been to face the world champions. Till now.
The tables have turned. The Ferns returned home without a win; France registered their fourth consecutive win against them; England have run up their eighteenth consecutive win.
But those four matches formed only a part of the fullest and most tumultuous series of autumn internationals yet seen, and we still have a reappearance of the Barbarians at Twickenham to look forward to (see below).
Number of games
For tier-1 nations alone there was a vast increase in the number of games undertaken, as if to make up for the barren period of lockdown. Nations undertook major tours abroad: Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA all came to Europe.
Other games were fitted in which showed how willing people were to help one another. For example, the two training sessions the Red Roses put on at Worcester with the Springboks; then the match between England Under 20s and a representative South African side at London Irish.
Turn of the tide
Much the most anticipated and dramatic tour concerned the Black Ferns, anxious to get some game-time under their belts after a long imposed lay-off. The severity of the series underlined the importance they attached to it.
It proved to be a wake-up call, one that may have come too late to provide the medicine needed to ensure a sixth World Cup next autumn.
They lost heavily to England then France in matches that had more coverage and more public response than any outside an RWC. They shipped a total of 166 points, the average of over 40 being unparalleled in Black Fern history.
They suspected they were lagging behind before they set off; no-one could have imagined how far.
Over the past two years England have moved to another level, beating all their opposition except France by wide margins. Ireland recorded the lowest, losing 27-0 in the 2020 Six Nations. Simon Middleton repeated his call for other unions to match the backing the RFU gives its players.
Steps are slowly being taken. Many commentators see this slowness as mere foot-dragging. Both Wales and Ireland have undertaken reviews which are the source of much acrimony. Kiwi critics rebuke NZR for allowing the most successful women’s programme in history to fall so far behind.
In my view a certain caution is justified. The professionalising of the women’s game involves huge undertakings, not so much for the authorities who have to fund the contracts, as for the players themselves. The nature of the contracts offered is crucial. None of those thus far awarded can be viewed as a job for life. It’s the period post-contract that is central to the problem.
The French are the living proof that part-time contracts can work. But the players still have to make significant sacrifices along the way.
Attendances
Time was when a women’s international match was attended by family and friends plus the proverbial two men and a dog.
France has led the way in changing perceptions; they now regularly post 5-figure gates. Other nations struggle to follow their example. Even England has failed to match the 10,545 who watched the Italy game of 2019 at Exeter. The gates this month have been between 9,748 (Exeter) and 6,310 (the Stoop). Can London go on defending its right to hold Red Roses matches when the north and south stands remain so obstinately bare?
Coverage
The best way to increase crowds is to let people see a match on a home screen which impels them to go and watch in person next time. This is where France has taken the lead with long established coverage on national television. England has at last followed suit, BBC2’s viewing figures of the four Red Roses games rapidly rising beyond a million. Even the final match against the sixth-ranked USA registered 800,000 viewers.
The press and social media outlets keep extending coverage of matches and players. And the willingness of the players to make themselves available for interviews and post-match link-ups with the fans (especially the young ones) adds enormously to the exposure the women’s game is getting.
A Glance across three Home Nations
Wales
Under new management Wales set about restoring confidence by playing three games. They beat Japan and South Africa, but finally went down to the third-ranked Canadians 7-24. Improvements were obvious, but the Maple Leafs’ second-half domination showed the progress still to be made.
Wales’ path to the RWC is assured. The announcement of new contracts is coming soon; they must help immensely to provide a much needed advance in the 2022 6 Nations.
Scotland
Scotland allowed themselves only one game, a win against Japan 36-12, but they have more important matters to attend to. In February they fly to Dubai to play Colombia in a set of matches which will decide the final place in the World Cup line-up. They are hot favourites to pull through. This would be their first appearance at the top table since 2010, so they and their management deserve huge congratulation.
Ireland
The Irish have suffered a painful series of blows, worst of all going down by 2 points to Scotland in the final RWC decider in Padua.
In recent days they have had to withstand the statements made by Anthony Eddy, the Director of Women’s and Sevens Rugby, and then the early retirement of their respected captain, Ciara Griffin.
They won their matches against the USA then Japan, but must now wait for the 6 Nations at the end of the season for a chance re-establish their former levels of excellence.
Still to come
The Barbarians have another fixture – against the Springboks at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 27 November. The committee has selected another imaginative squad.
This will be the first time they have hosted a double-header at the headquarters of rugby.
The one doubtful feature is placing the women’s game after the men’s (they play Samoa). A 5.15 kick-off is not the most publicity-wise decision. Experience tells us* that it is better to place the women’s game first.
*Examples: cricket’s The Hundred and the only previous Baa-baas double-header at Twickenham against England.
