The second WXV has moved a step closer; we now have the full fixture-card. You can view it on here.
This is how things look in WXV1. I’ll take the six nations in order:
England
They play USA first, New Zealand second and Canada last. That might look like undeserved luck, but it reflects finishing positions last year. The Maple Leafs came second, the Black Ferns fourth. So the Red Roses have the chance to get the rust out of the system by starting against the Eagles. And that encounter has proved profitable in recent times.
English player-depth remains a central advantage. Of course we hope that every first-choice player of all eighteen nations will be fit to take part. But if the Red Roses do miss the odd face, it will effect them less than all their opponents.
Once again, it will be fascinating to see who John Mitchell picks to represent the colours. He was distinctly cautious last spring during his first Six Nations. We’ll discover soon enough whether that’s par for the course or an understandable reaction to taking on the most successful side around at the moment.
So Vancouver will have the privilege of seeing two great matches six days apart. Can either their favourites or NZ get the better of the top-ranked team?
New Zealand
One of the great fascinations will be to see how far the Black Ferns have recovered from their unpleasant shock last year at home. It’s perfectly possible that they will present the biggest challenge to England once again, but Canada keep on improving.
The BFs’ latest game, yet another drubbing of Australia, proves very little for their critical fans. They know that it’s only games against the top world teams that really count, so the September date with England at Twickenham will be the real marker of their progress. Will the pack have advanced sufficiently to counter England’s strengths?
For WXV they have a nice warm-up against Ireland to get the feel of things. But it may be an indication of their fall from grace that they play England next, not last, as a grand finale.
Their co-captain, Kennedy Simon, has recently won a 4-year contract, the longest yet. While that can be seen as a fitting reward and a sign of better support ahead, it leaves unanswered the questions: why this single award now; is Ruahei Demant deemed too old to receive the same grant? Will others follow? If so, why not announce a group at one time?
Canada
This is one of the success stories of current women’s rugby. Kévin Rouet has built a formidable squad. His one big task is to find reserves in the pack for the older generation, who have served the cause so admirably. My one worry is whether he can find a replacement front-row to match the quality of DeMerchant-Tuttosi-Menin. Olivia DeMerchant debuted in 2013, Emily Tuttosi in 2018 and DeLeaka Menin in 2015.
They possess the best all-rounder in the world, Sophie De Goede – that is everyone’s opinion, except the panel that chose the Dream Team after the last RWC.
It will help them greatly if scrum-half Olivia Apps is able to join in after her Olympic exertions. That’s an issue facing several players across the board.
Their schedule places the easiest contest, against ireland, in the middle. For the rest, they must concentrate on beating France a second time (29-21 in New Zealand), before they come to face the Red Roses. At least they may be sure of loud support.
France
We might have expected it, but les Bleues completed a bizarre first WXV. They defeated the Black Ferns away for the first time (albeit by the tightest margin), then lost to Canada and Australia. The co-coaches retained their posts – we can’t know how close to the guillotine they came – so now their challenge is to ensure this talented bunch of players really produces the goods.
They have the doubtful pleasure of facing the hosts first, so that may well prove to be the decisive game for them. They should then see off the Eagles with a lot to spare, before facing the Black Ferns, who will be only too aware of their previous meeting. That may not be a match for the weak-of-heart to watch.
Basic French principles lie beneath the surface. Which, if any, of their 7s players will be called to action? Will they continue with their policy of including a lot of their younger generation in the squad?
I suspect these grave questions are being hammered out at this moment – between Brigitte Jugla, head of development;, David Courteix, head coach of the 7s squad; the two co-coaches, Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz; and any senior member of the FFR board who wants to stick a finger in the pie. Much will depend on the conclusions reached.
USA
I fear the Eagles are in danger of being left behind once again. Ever since the departure of Rob Cain there has been a lack of consistent structure to their programme. Interim coaches have come and gone; there’s been little sign of a guiding hand overseeing their advance.
The Australian, Sione Fukofuka, was appointed full-time this year, but, given the lack of regular training sessions and test matches, he won’t have had the necessary time to refine the team’s systems.
They face the daunting prospect of meeting the Red Roses first, Les Bleues second. Whether he expresses the thought aloud or not, Fukofuka may see the third game against ireland as the real litmus test of progress. A loss for Ireland would be less damaging than for the Eagles. They at least have a bunch of international matches to look forward to. Where can the USA find meaningful fixtures beyond another inevitable encounter with their northern neighbours?
Of course they have fine players in their midst, but the lack of training time together gets exposed in high-scale competition. For one thing, I’d like to see a really strong, confident half-back combination.
Ireland
It’s still very early days in the history of WXV, but our findings from its first staging show that the side qualifying third in the Six Nations may face the toughest challenge of all. That was Wales’ fate last year; Ireland may well follow.
That’s not to overlook the qualities they possess fore and aft, merely to recall the standards required of every team. WXV1 is the closest we can get to the knock-out stages of a World Cup.
Scott Bemand is still in the early days of his reign in Dublin. His team did well enough to come third in his first 6N in charge, but lack of depth in pivotal positions may remain a hindrance to them.
The IRFU is intent on building sensible pathways. The U20 6N series and the Celtic Challenge are helping to unearth talent, but a first entry into WXV1 probably comes too soon for success. So the old problem – whether to include 7s players or not – will loom large.
