New Zealand are going to win a seventh world trophy.
That is what hundreds of Kiwi pundits are telling us, and the Black Ferns’ performance against the Irish (40-0) adds strength to their contention.
But first the schedule:
Saturday 13 September
New Zealand v South Africa KO 13.00*
Canada v Australia KO 16.00
Sunday 14 September
France v Ireland KO 13.00*
England v Scotland KO 16.00
* played at Sandy Park Exeter; the others at Ashton Gate Bristol
All times BST
Anyone moaning about one-sided games will have to be patient. The seedings ensure that the strongest get the most favourable treatment. So the two surprise quarter-finalists, Scotland and South Africa; face the favourites and the world champs respectively.
You can expect the wide margins. The way the Black Ferns demolished the Irish (40-0) was a signal warning to all the other pretenders to the crown.
Scotland last beat the Sassenachs in the last millennium. After the Red Roses’ halting performance against the Wallaroos the Scots can expect few mercies.
Dame Fortune has not smiled on England so far as injuries are concerned. Ellie Kildunne is out at least until any semi-final the team may achieve. Doctors will be monitoring her state of health closely.
Are you an expert on back-spasms? Good, then you’ll know how quickly Hannah Botterman is likely to recover. Her replacements, Kelsey Clifford and Mackenzie Carson, are fine players, but neither has the all-round skills of England’s most tattooed player.
Other nations will be waiting anxiously for health bulletins too. It’s a long hard haul.
In the two tighter contests availability will be key. Ireland suffered worrying departures last weekend, including Tricky McMahon, Emma Higgins and Stacey Flood. The choices left to Scott Bemand may well decide how close they can stay to the marauding Bleues.
They were back to their scintillating best against South Africa. They gave the lie to the strength of the Boks’ pack, and the backs gave them the run-around. Even the selections worked like a treat; Emilie Boulard preferred to Morgane Bourgeois at the back, and she played one of her finest games.
The fourth match, between Canada and Australia, may yet prove to be the tightest. But much will depend on Jo Yapp being able to report a blank injury list. The Wallaroos have nothing like the reserve depth enjoyed by their opponents.
So the likeliest semi-final line-up is: England v France and Canada v New Zealand.
Where have we seen that permutation before? All too often, I fear.
But before we say it’s high time the rest of the world caught up, we need to recall the hurdles placed in their way: funding and the attitude of the union; the number of licensed players; the popularity of the game; the competition from rival sports; even the shape and size of the nation.
After all the excitement of the tournament so far, let’s hope for a few surprises and delights in the west country next weekend.
And Kiwis will be able to rejoice in the finest haka they have ever enjoyed – once again.
