After the concentrated drama of the Six Nations the summer opens up before us like an unknown country. In the far distance is the destination all eyes are glued on, the World Cup. But in between?
Head coaches have been very coy about their plans. Some may not even have known what their union was preparing for them over their heads.
A few solid details have trickled out.
Canada will play two test matches against Italy and Wales.
The dates:
24 July: Canada v Italy (Starlight Stadium, Langford)
27 August 27: Canada v Wales (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax)
This will also be Italy’s very first summer trip abroad, another sign of how women’s rugby is spreading its wings. On the other hand, it reminds us how restricted it has been in the past, how early in its development it remains. The FIR is planning more fixtures for the Azzurre.
Another area where facts can replace guesses: the Pacific-Four Series. Australia, Canada and the USA will travel to New Zealand to join in a series of matches that will provide a foretaste of what is to come in October.
The dates:
6 June: Canada v USA
6 June: New Zealand v Australia
12 June: USA v Australia
12 June: Canada v New Zealand
18 June: Australia v Canada
18 June: New Zealand v USA
While the Black Ferns will enjoy the great advantage of home matches, the schedule fits in well with the needs of the visitors. They will be anxious to experience playing in Aotearoa – many for the first time.
Equally, it will serve as a useful trial run for the RWC Organising Committee, to put their arrangements to the test.
It’s not at all easy to forecast results.
The Wallaroos will feel much happier after staging a Tri-Nations with Fiji and Japan.They beat Fijiana 36-19, and now face Japan on 10 May. They were encouraged by the return of Shannon Parry to the Fifteens squad; she captained them from the back row. Queensland isn’t New Zealand, but both the visiting nations will feel the benefit of travelling abroad and getting valuable game-time under their belts.
As for England and France – they are keeping thie summer plans very hush-hush. Or perhaps they don’t have any yet. No, they know how to build tension.
For the players it’s quite different; both squads have returned to their clubs to sort out the final stages of their respective leagues, the AP 15s and Elite 1. They will then take a well earned rest before preparations begin all over again.
After the France-England game in Bayonne Bernard Laporte, President of the FFR, is reported to have told les Bleues exactly what he thought of them in the sanctuary of the dressing-room. ‘Very talented, but lacking in one or two areas that they can correct’ was the gist of his message – allegedly.
However the summer turns out, it’s bound to offer a series of unusual, even rare match-ups. With the chance that many of them will be available to a worldwide audience, it all makes for a tasty appetiser for the main course in October.
