A Look ahead
Fixtures (all at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
3 November, KO 19.00 local time; 06.00 UK time
Australia v Wales
4 November, KO 16.00 local time; 03.00 UK time
France v Canada
4 November, KO 19.00 local time; 06.00 UK time
England v New Zealand
WXV1 is given the privilege of appearing all on its own; the other two competitions finished last weekend.
England will be relieved that Eden Park isn’t the chosen venue. Visiting sides don’t win there.
Mount Smart’s official capacity is 25,000. World Rugby and the local organisers will hope that the occasion attracts a fraction of that total. At least the World Cup in Paris is over. It would be a courtesy if Kiwi rugby fans were willing to come and watch a team other than the Black Ferns.
Australia v Wales
The first game involves the two lowest ranked of the six nations. But ranking is so misleading; the French have beaten New Zealand and Australia have seen off France.
The overall effect is to lower Wales’ hopes of finishing with a last-round win; that must have been their unspoken aim before setting out. But the Wallaroos have shown a huge improvement in a short time. The way in which they put Les Bleues to the sword makes a second victory look more than probable.
Some of the old Welsh weaknesses still haven’t been solved. Kiwi wingers had far more room than is acceptable because the Welsh were narrowing their defensive line, as they have done for several seasons. Full-time contracts should have helped eradicate these faults.
The only concern for the Wallaroos is to ensure they regain the quality of that French match from the first whistle. Victories have been rare for them, so they must approach this game with full concentration and discipline. You can be sure they are buoyed beyond belief.
Good news for the Welsh: Georgie Friedrichs lost a game of Rock Paper Scissors with a young fan after the France game. Will she have recovered in time?
France v Canada
While most attention will be focused on the second Saturday match, to me this contest looks the most intriguing. Despite close historical connections between the nations, the rugby teams have met only sixteen times. Just as in the Canada-England game, there will be members of the same (French) club playing against each other here.
France will be feeling the same way as the Black Ferns after their unwanted loss; they will be all the more intent on avoiding a repeat upset. Much depends on the coaches’ selections. For the second round they left seasoned players on the bench, for reasons we can only guess at. But the suspicion is that they underestimated the opposition, never a wise policy. By the time Pauline Bourdon-Sansus and Gabrielle Vernier were brought on, the deficit was already too great for them to turn the tables.
The Maple Leafs must be fed up with coming so close to victory so often without final success. Kevin Rouet’s verdict after the England game was: ‘We need to have a good performance for 80 minutes, We didn’t score when we had to score and we had some issues with some aspects of our game. We know we still have work to do in order to beat England.’ Sophie De Goede recognised the positive moments her team had, but admitted they didn’t complete periods of dominance.
France have been training together far longer. They should pull through.
England v New Zealand
I’m not brave enough to call this one.
France may not have done the Red Roses any favours in gaining that famous victory over the Black Ferns in the first round. The immediate effect was felt by the Welsh, who saw twelve tries put past them, a record defeat.
The Ferns know their last opponents will present a tougher examination; the game is likely to reach the heights. Both the last two RWC finals in turn were called ‘the greatest women’s rugby international yet’. WXV is not a world cup, but it might just as well be for this game. It has been in both teams’ sights from the moment the schedule was announced.
Once more selections will be fascinating. Coaches have tried to ensure that all 30 squad members have had a chance to shine. Now comes the really tricky bit, to send out the strongest possible unit.
In late news Allan Bunting has had to call two players into the squad, tight-head prop Esther Faiaoga-Tilo and centre Grace Brooker. They replace Tanya Kalounivale and Martha Mataele, who were both withdrawn before the Wales match.
Coaches and players used the week after the defeat to take stock of their performance. Every element came under the microscope. Bunting pointed to adjustments needed, and the next game was won. Another analysis has been taking place all this week.
Ruahei Demant is looking forward to her team’s one chance to face England this year. Thanks to WXV that chance will recur annually.
Louis Deacon has big decisions to make about a few positions. I suggest: Zoe Aldcroft’s partner in the second row, No 6 and No 12.
So it’s Cath O’Donnell or Rosie Galligan at lock; Sarah Beckett of Morwenna Talling on the blind-side; Tatyana Heard or Amber Reed at inside-centre (second five-eighth, if you’re good at arithmetic). Fortunately for everyone, the selectors can ignore my preferences entirely, but they would be for the first-named in each case.
England have the permanent advantage of player depth. Most of the bench will have had plenty of experience of big-time matches, though the introduction of younger players on tour has reduced that asset somewhat. It still means three fine wingers competing for two places, but I’ll leave to them the pleasure of facing Ruby Tui and Mererangi Paul.
Once more our greatest wish must be for a card-free game. They are becoming as rare as swallows in winter.
