The second edition of WXV1 comes within shouting distance.
The six nations involved are: Canada (the hosts), England, France, Ireland, New Zealand and USA.
World Rugby has just published an updated rankings list. The top ten look like this:
England 96.90
New Zealand 89.32
Canada 89.13
France 87.27
Scotland 76.78
Australia 76.28
Ireland 75.25
USA 74.97
Italy 74.34
Wales 73.49
There is no change among the top four. Below them it’s uncomfortably tight, but Scotland can take pride in rising to their highest position ever, while Ireland leap two places after their demolition of the Wallaroos. It wasn’t quite enough for them to claim sixth place, but they’ll be well pleased.
As for the six in WXV1, they lie 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th. It says a lot for the way WXV qualifications work that neither Scotland nor Australia will play in Vancouver. In other words it’s not a closed shop; each year nations can reap their reward.
This year’s matches have an extra piquancy, acting as preparation for the coming RWC. You could say the sixteen qualifiers will merely be flexing their muscles.
The Top Tier newcomers are Ireland and USA. They are the two successes to pull through from the Six Nations and the Pacific Four.
Let’s glance at the six in turn.
Ireland
It has been an extraordinary comeback for the Irish. From internal dissension and neglect their house has been restored to something like order, but they face a mighty challenge. In turn they play sides ranked second, third and seventh. In other words they will be expecting a win over the Eagles, but will do well to get any change out of the Black Ferns and the Maple Leafs.
The new head coach, Scott Bemand, has worked wonders, but he will know the player base is still narrower than he would like. Missing players present a handicap, especially co-captain, Sam Monaghan (yet another ACL).
Despite this Edel McMahon, now full-time captain, is pleased to see the competition for places, and the recent win over the Wallaroos 36-10 was a timely boost. So was the return of several Sevens players who have shown their 15s mettle in the past.
World Rugby’s hope might be that Ireland will manage at least one victory; that will surpass Wales’ winless run last year, and help reduce any sense of inevitable results.
USA
Sione Fukofuka has inherited a tough job. The Eagles, once the leaders in women’s rugby have languished a long while behind their main rivals, and are finding it hard winning games to re-establish confidence. They rank lowest of the six teams, so have a hill to climb.
There are fine players in their midst, many of whom play well in the English PWR, but lack of time together remains a stumbling-block. Here’s one indicator of their strengths and weaknesses: Hope Rogers continues to produce outstanding displays in the front row, but she’s already appeared in three RWCs, and there are few signs of competition for her place in the squad.
The Eagles’ first two opponents are England and France, so hard facts tell them they must hope for a win in round three against the other newcomers, Ireland.
France
‘Constant underachievers’? That may be a harsh verdict for one of the finest squads in the world, but Les Bleues keep falling at the final hurdle. They have yet to appear in an RWC final, and that run of fourteen losses to England is a millstone around their necks. It will be fascinating to see precisely who the co-coaches pick for the opening match against the hosts.
Selection has been a source of disquiet among French supporters ever since Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz took charge. There comes a time when “building for the future” must come face to face with the present.
In the 23 they sent out against England recently we saw Pauline Bourdon Sansus wearing 22 not 9, and Gabrielle Vernier 23 not 12. So their replacements were being given a chance to show their paces. Will that turn out to have been the right psychological decision? Hardly. Beating the English away from home should have been a prime target.
Their schedule: the crucial match will be the first, against the hosts. It’s a great pity the Maple Leafs play them so seldom. After all, any Canadian side is likely to contain a number of French-speaking players and Kévin Rouet is French-born. Then Les Bleues have a banker against the Eagles; finally they take on the Black Ferns, whom they beat 18-17 last year in a great triumph.
I can’t help feeling this tournament may be the last-chance saloon for the people in charge. They have now mirrored their own shared responsibility by nominating Manaé Feleu and Marine Ménager as co-captains.
New Zealand
For the last three years, ever since their European tour, the Black Ferns have realised they are no longer the automatic top dogs. They arranged one warm-up match against England last weekend and lost for the second time running, though it was far tighter than last year’s WXV contest.
They still have outstanding players in their midst, but now depend on the quality of a younger generation coming through. Most of the greats of recent times have retired or devote themselves to Sevens (gold medallists in Paris).
In my view, much depends on their half-back and first five-eighth (half-backs to the rest of the rugby world). Ever since the retirement of Kendra Cocksedge they have been searching for a 9 to equal her. Ruahei Demant seemed to be the answer at 10, but Allan Bunting prefers using her at 12, so at Twickenham he chose Hannah King. She is highly promising, but not yet the finished article.
The Black Ferns are fortunate to face Ireland in the opening round. This will give them the chance to test their wings before taking on France then England in two of the powerhouse contests Vancouver will offer. But longer memories may recall a certain 17-14 defeat in 2014.
It’s astonishing to recall that the Ferns finished fourth out of six last year at home.
England
Some team, some time, is going to beat the Red Roses. It could happen in Vancouver, but I won’t risk any money on it.
There were a lot of rough edges in their latest game at Twickenham, enough to disturb John Mitchell and his staff. Nobody is perfect, but some of the errors committed were quite out of character. It will need close attention to detail to ensure they don’t recur.
They are fortunate to face USA first. If the wheels need oiling, this is the ideal opportunity to get maintenance sorted. It’s the home nation’s privilege to play them last, after England have had to withstand another blast from the Black Ferns. Both those games should be crackers.
England are one of the teams not yet announced. There will be an unusually large number of disappointed players; Mitchell called up so many hopefuls for the series of training sessions.
Canada
Everything in the Canadian rugby garden is blooming at present (bar the men’s side!). the Sevens squad won silver in Paris, and the 15s are flying high. They have home advantage, but they won’t plan relying on it, that’s certain. Rouet has built a formidable squad that saw off France and New Zealand last year. Their toughest games come first (France) and last (England).
They keep on giving the Red Roses a hard ride, but victories have become rare. That’s where a working knowledge of the English game (the PWR) can be a double-edged sword. Many of their leading players are familiar with the standards required, but they have to leave any thoughts of English supremacy in the changing-room.
We’ll see how far home support will help their cause. Will Vancouver provide larger gates than New Zealand last year? We must all hope so.
