Simon Middleton is writing a book
That is great news. While we can expect profound insights into how the Red Roses operated, we can be pretty sure he will not be concerned with what is known in some quarters as ‘dishing the dirt’. That isn’t his way.
There is so much more coverage of the women’s game than in the past, across several forms of media outlet, but much fascinating information never escapes the four walls of a selectors’ meeting or a team talk.
Which fancy moves will the backs be attempting in the next match?
The Red Roses’ Future
There is still so much doubt surrounding the change-over from Middleton to John Mitchell. The Kiwi was spotted at the Stoop, watching Quins fail to see off the challenge of Exeter Chiefs. He has a lot of work to do, catching up on all the players whose fate he has in his hands. That means not only the 34 contracted players and the half dozen youngsters officially under observation, but every England-qualified player in the PWR.
He has a lot of homework to do over a period of three and a half months. And it’s why I assume he will keep his support staff in place. They can fill him in on so many points at issue.
Middleton, Scott Bemand and their colleagues were so assiduous. While they kept a close eye on all the Red Roses – the long break caused by coronavirus was an especial challenge – they remained aware of progress made by others beyond the chosen few. Proof came in the number of lesser known players plucked out of relative obscurity to wear the white shirt.
Changes to WXV?
We await news of any possible adjustments to WXV, the biggest single undertaking World Rugby has introduced for quite a while. While we can all agree it was largely a huge success, there were aspects of its first version that must come under the microscope.
Its scope was deliberately large, larger in numbers and geography than any World Cup. The division into three pools made sense, but it meant it was impossible to arrange a full round-robin tournament – that would have taken far too long. Instead, WR decided which nations would play which.
In the top tier there was a neat division between three European nations (England, France, Wales) and three others (Australia, Canada, New Zealand). The splits were more arbitrary in tiers 2 and 3. The points system chosen gave an unfortunate advantage to teams who by chance faced the nation destined to finish bottom. The points they could pile on there left them sitting above their opponents in the final order.
Few could have imagined New Zealand and France finishing fourth and fifth out of sixth, but that’s how the cookie crumbled.
WR may well have second thoughts about this. It has relevance beyond WXV, since it has a close bearing on the following World Cup.
The question of attendances is far more problematic. Somehow WR must find a way of attracting bigger crowds to matches great and small.
Six Nations Sponsorship
In a surprise move the Six Nations board reveals that Guinness will return as the main sponsors of the Women’s 6N, bringing it into line with the men’s version. This resumes a pattern last seen in 2019.
Of course it is far better to have the same sponsor for both competitions; it brings an important sense of unity. But TikTok is a brand especially favoured by those who are young and female, precisely the audience the women’s 6N was trying to attract. It had two years left of its agreement, but its board has decided on a policy shift. We can be pretty sure it never imagined adding the men’s 6N to its portfolio.
Now we are left wondering which of the two sponsors fits the image of the women’s 6N better. In other words, will more pints of Guinness be drunk on big match day than punters will offer a few seconds of dancing on TikTok?
A Rugby book to answer a thistly problem
The latest book on women in rugby is announced: ‘Why is Mummy so Muddy?’, written and illustrated by Sally Myers. The question assures the reader of a humorous approach to life. It’s written with a Scottish accent.
For further information, contact whyismummysomuddy.com
