World Cup – 4 The Love Of Sport http://4theloveofsport.co.uk Champions Of Women's Sport Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:03:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.16 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cropped-4tlos-iconw-32x32.png World Cup – 4 The Love Of Sport http://4theloveofsport.co.uk 32 32 RWC Retrospective – Part Six http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/20/rwc-retrospective-part-six/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/20/rwc-retrospective-part-six/#respond Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:03:17 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58985 Continue Reading →

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Legacy

This is the fashionable word without which no major sporting event can look the world in the face. In everyday language it means ‘follow-up’.

England learned hard lessons after a rare World Cup win in 2003. The RFU didn’t ensure it built on the feel-good factor.

It didn’t repeat the lapse this time. The moment the final curtain came down various initiatives were launched: long-term to “power women’s and girls’ rugby to 2030”; short-term a ‘Love Rugby Showcase’, a Rugbyfest (where clubs up and down the country opened their doors to a variety of events) and a Champions Party at Battersea Power Station.

Far more important were plans put in place for less well funded nations.

World Rugby announced a new version of WXV, now termed ‘WXV Global Series’.

It ensures that the top 12 nations will enjoy more regular fixtures. Fine, especially for such teams as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA. My concern is for the next in ranking order: Brazil, Fiji, *Hong Kong, *China, *Netherlands, Samoa and Spain. (* did not qualify for RWC 2025).

The top six will meet at an unspecified location. Will attendances be any higher than in the two previous iterations? And the programme lasts from 2026 to 2028, which means that other ambitious nations will be left out in the cold while the favoured sextet can advance mightily. I keep recalling the fate of Colombia: here today, gone tomorrow.

One of the biggest bonuses of the latest RWC was the increase in fanbase of players, who went out of their way to mingle, especially with the young.

Building foundations

This brings practical problems. How do unions cater for the hoped-for increase in playing numbers? They need clubs, established or newly formed, coaches with the right qualifications and support facilities. They do not grow on trees.

France has a stated strategy of increasing player numbers from 48,000 to 100,000 by 2033. The game is sufficiently well established there for that target to be reached; not so elsewhere.

PWR

Even this pounding heart of women’s rugby has its challenges. The board issued a totally optimistic view of the coming season. The increased TV coverage is a huge plus, but other issues I’ve mentioned before remain unresolved, professionalisation at their head.

Longing for leagues

A thriving national league is a vital element; there are few enough of those at present. One ambitious example is the American WER. A few Eagles who have played in the PWR (Alivia Leatherman and Keia Mae Sagapolu for example), have returned home to join in. We must hope the enterprise goes from strength to strength.

France’s Elite 1 has acquired a sponsor, AXA. Excellent. But far more important is the growth of leagues in other nations, meaning that ambitious players no longer feel it necessary to move to English or French clubs. Italy and Spain come to mind. The arrival of three prominent Black Ferns in the PWR is a sign of the times.

Rivalries

Each nation has its own favourite sports. In many of them rugby union has to fight hard to gain a footing. Australia is a prime example, where Rugby League is a strong competitor. Rugby Australia faces a double challenge with a men’s RWC coming in 2027, followed by the women’s version two years later.

New Zealand also has to fight off the financial power of RL.

Sevens

Then comes the awkward relationship with Sevens. In the run-up to the 10th RWC we were offered an outline of the coming SVNS Series. So WR is keeping both its eggs in one basket.

Many of the 16 nations competing in England had included 7s players in their training squads, but only a chosen few were retained when the final squads of 32 were announced. Several of them made a massive impact, Jorja Miller to name but one (or three?).

Since then both New Zealand and USA have set up new programmes for 7s squads. It would be fascinating to know precisely how NZ sees this Janus-like existence. Allan Bunting went ao far as to say his team had let the nation down (when they lost to Canada). Only Kiwis could say something like that, but local critics doubt whether the All Blacks and the Black Ferns can afford to retain both formats and expect to walk off with Olympic gold medals and world cups.

Much will change over the coming four years. Three head coaches have announced their retirement from post, Jo Yapp, Bryan Easson and Sione Fukofuka. There have even some announcements of player retirements, not very many as yet, though more may well follow later.

The biggest secrets will be the post-tournament reviews. Will any heads fall? It’s perfectly possible.

But while change is inevitable, we can look back on the most successful RWC ever. Indeed, the records it has established make a repeat well-nigh impossible.

We managed to avoid another England-New Zealand final, but can rugby forunes shift sufficiently for two quite different nations to dispute a coming final? Brazil v Fiji would be huge fun.

Not within four years, I fear.

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RWC Retrospective – Part Five http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/18/rwc-retrospective-part-five/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/18/rwc-retrospective-part-five/#respond Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:23:17 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58951 Continue Reading →

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A look at the final, before and during

The Top Tier

Regular readers will know I had severe doubts about filling that third and top tier of the stadium.

It’s a huge tribute to the organisers that their ambition was proved fully justified. Indeed, we knew back on 19 August that every seat had been claimed. (By the way, it’s a long way up there; opera-glasses recommended).

The match-up was less predictable, though not if we were happy to accept world ramkings. Canada had put the Black Ferns to the sword in their semi – a game that history may well tell us was the greatest of the tournament.

Unlike the Maple Leafs England had not been all-convincing against France. With so many players aboard with unhappy memories of one and even two losing finals, could they cast off dull care?

Both head coaches opted for unchanged sides; continuity was the key. The Red Roses had the historic advantage: they hadn’t lost to their opponents since 2016. Would their nerve hold?

The build-up

There’s a famous shot of the England team returning through the triumphal arch from their 2014 win in Paris. But in 2025 the numbers had swollen almost to bursting point. Many fans were unable to catch a glance of their heroes, so dense were the crowds.

For the second time National Rail was pleased to have rebuilt Twickenham Station for a women’s game. The excitement was palpable.

The game in brief

Canada had been intent on victory from the start of preparations. They opened the scoring with another cut-throat move completed by Asia Hogan-Rochester on the left. The crowd grew thoughtful.

But for the first time in the tournament Canada came up against an implacable defence. Time and again they were clasped in double tackles or thrust rearwards.

Ellie Kildunne offered the crowd what they had been hoping for, a quick response; dancing feet and opposing arms grasping thin air let her dot down under the posts. That put the home team ahead 7-5. From there the outcome was secure, despite Canadian efforts to alter history.

In the long term it’s noteworthy that the English backs couldn’t contrive another try; the pack did the scoring as well as the heaving.

But the group as a whole couldn’t care less, nor could most of the crowd. Eleven years of pain were behind them.

The ungenerous pointed to the vast difference in backing the two sides had. The one, offered millions of ££ by their union; the other having to top up what their union had been able to afford through crowd funding.

The Canadians’ performance all through the six weeks was a massive tribute to them and their staff.

I’ll leave thoughts on possible outcomes for a last instalment of this series.

But for the moment it was glory, delight and relief for the hosts. They basked in national headlines and the adoration of their fans.

Result: England 33 Canada 13

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RWC Retrospective – Part Three  http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/11/rwc-retrospective-part-three/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/11/rwc-retrospective-part-three/#respond Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:20:19 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58885 Continue Reading →

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The Quarter-finals

The eight qualifiers were Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa.

To most jaundiced eyes there were four clear winners and four who were delighted to be at the party. Hindsight is a wondrous thing.

That is how things panned out across 13-14 September. Only one game proved tight, justifiably so, since France and Ireland were ranked 4th and 5th.

Ireland v France

The green shirts were all over les Bleues in the first 40. They took a 13-0 lead; it should and could have been more. Massive pressure just before the lemons failed to produce the extra points that were to prove vital at the end.

A yellow for Grace Moore didn’t help, but the French were still happy to call up Morgane Bourgeois to kick two penalties. A glorious run by Joanna Grisez added the vital 5 points that were to prove decisive.

This was heartbreak for the Irish who had come so close, but the narrowness of the French victory was a worrying augury for them.

Result: Ireland 13 France 18

New Zealand v South Africa

It looked like an upset in the first half; the Boks pack was all over the Ferns, who found themselves defending for their lives. Both sides crossed twice to offer an unfamiliar 10-10 half-time score.

It wasn’t to last. Even the introduction of a second bomb-squad could in no way hold a Ferns’ assault that knew it was high time they produced the goods.

The spectators had the pleasure of watching them unwrap some sublime rugby on a ground where they had started their disastrous 2021 tour.

The final score looks far from the grinding struggle it had been earlier. But should world champions have conceded three scores and looked in such discomfort against a strong pack?

Result: New Zealand 44 South Africa 17

England v Scotland

This Bristol game was as close to a home banker as you could get.

When Rachel Malcolm summoned Helen Nelson to aim for the posts in the opening moments, there were two reactions: that was clever! Get ahead, get points on the board to show we mean business. Or: why so defensive? Why not kick to the corner and do an “English” to the English? 0-3

The remaining 70-odd minutes pointed that way. The weather was foul, so it was natural for the Red Roses to rely on their pack for the bulk of their scores.

Holly Aitchison hoisted a pinpoint cross-kick for Abby Dow, then, much later, Zoe Harrison offered Aitchison a gilt-edged reverse to let her slip through to the line.

The Scots earned great credit for mounting a strong attack at the close. Rhona Lloyd writhed her way over in the right corner, for the English to concede their third try of the tournament.

Result: England 40 Scotland 8

Canada v Australia

Canada’s performance was an indication of what was to come.

Australia may have thought they could topple the second-ranked nation; they had been developing well. But the further the Exeter game went, the greater the distance set between the two teams.

For once in this tournament the side scoring first did go on to win. A Caroline Crossley break led to another try by Asia Hogan-Rochester down the left. The Wallaroos responded delightfully; slick handling gave Desiree Miller the chance to prove she was the equal of the other No 11.

But from there the Maple Leafs took charge. As they compiled 46 points, the sole consolation for the Wallaroos was limiting them to 15 second-half points.

With one eye firmly on the following weekend, Alex Tessier was happy to eat up time taking a late penalty.

The Canadian method, ultra quick recycling and all-round efficiency were the best preparation for the semis.

Result: Canada 46 Australia 5

So the stats guys who work out the fine details of the ranking system can put in for a rise. The four semi-finalists were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

All too predictable? Some critics thought so, but the quality of the rugby had been undeniable and the size of the crowds quite remarkable.
The two published attendances were 12,116 at Exeter and 25,285 at Bristol.

Sandy Park had been the first English ground to boast a 5-figure gate. Now there even more people in attendance, but no England team.

The road ahead – another agonising week’s wait for four teams, their staffs and their fans.

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RWC Retrospective – Part Two http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/07/rwc-retrospective-part-two/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/07/rwc-retrospective-part-two/#respond Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:30:35 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58840 Continue Reading →

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The filling in the sandwich

This was the Big Show, big crowds, painted faces, all the fun of the fair.

You’ll recall Gaelle Mignot screaming at her troops: “Six weeks, six weeks!” Looking forward, they looked like an eternity. Looking back, they were gone in the blink of an eye.

There were three pool rounds to come first. If people were hoping for a giant-killing act, it seemed unlikely. Each pool of four was divided strictly according to rankings. The only possible upsets might come where two nations were relatively closely placed in merit.

That’s how it turned out on the first weekend. Italy held France to a modest 24-0 win.

In the second round we had extremes. England put 92 points on Samoa, but before doubters could pour scorn on such an unequal contest, the Manusina invited the Red Roses to a midfield dance post-match. They were so delighted to be at an event of this scale.

Two characteristics of the English are their willingness to watch neutral nations playing together and their support for the underdog. The penalty scored by Harmony Vatau just after half-time was greeted with rapture. Likewise Bianca Silva’s solo try for Brazil against France brought the biggest cheer of the day.

It remains to be seen whether future RWCs (Australia then USA) can repeat this warming feature.

There were counterbalancing shocks. Observers hunting for “new” teams to break through could marvel at South Africa’s defeat of Italy 29-24. At last the SARU was giving them decent support.

A second big shock came when Fiji beat Wales 28-25. They played with the inbuilt joy and freedom that marks their game.

It was a triumph for a squad so underfunded; for Cymru yet another nail in WRU’s coffin. Efforts are now being put in place to rectify matters, but resources are thin.

Wales became the only home nation not to progress to the knock-outs.

By the end of the second round seven of the eight quarter-finalists were already known – the sides to win both matches. But the riveting 31-31 draw between the USA and Australia meant their fate hung on results in the third round. The Eagles seemed to hold the trump cards: there were to play Samoa while the Wallaroos had to face the English. But the points-table was right against them.

And so it proved. The teams to progress were Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa.

Of them four were delighted to extend their stay; the other four had expected it.

My one ongoing quibble: only one of the eight does not have English as an official language. At the highest level women’s rugby is still not international enough for my liking.

The most engaging feature was the immense crowds watching. For example, the gate at Northampton to see the South Africa-Brazil game was 12,116.

The one unavoidable drawback for viewers at home was trying to digest eight matches in two weekend sittings. But we shouldn’t really complain; there was excitement and tension everywhere.

From here things would grow tougher – for players, their staffs and their supporters.

Special moments

In the first round Julia Schell (Canada) scored six tries against Fiji. What made this sextet special was that they came inside 23 second-half minutes; indeed the first trio were completed in three minutes!

She wasn’t alone in scoring in threes. Also in the pool-stages came Francesca McGhie (Scotland), Desiree Miller (Australia), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Italy), Jess Breach (England) and Braxton Sorensen-McGee (New Zealand) twice! – on her way to being named Breakthrough Player of the Tournament.

Breaking news

Last night, 6 September, France’s glamorous Nuit du Rugby was held at the Olympia, Paris.

The winner of the outstanding player in Elite 1 (a new award) was Madoussou Fall Raclot. The award of outstanding female international player came to Teani Feleu.

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The World Cup – a Retrospective http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/04/the-world-cup-a-retrospective/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/10/04/the-world-cup-a-retrospective/#respond Sat, 04 Oct 2025 19:12:27 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58814 Continue Reading →

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Part One – Preliminaries and Structures

This topic is so vast that you could write a book about it. You could, but I’ll restrict myself to a series of topics.

This was the tenth of the series and the second to be held in England. From the start the organisers, backed by World Rugby, the RFU and the UK government (no less!), decided above all to be ambitious.

The people who mattered most were the organising committee, led by Sarah Massey, the MD, and Yvonne Nolan, the Competition Director.

Their work turned into a monumental success. Almost every record you can think of was broken. Crowds increased beyond most people’s imaginings; viewers on TV and live stream grew exponentially. If, post-tournament, you attempted to watch and listen to all the blogs and vlogs, interviews, discussions and one-person opinions made public, you might not be able to stand up and walk again.

The Build-up

Advance publicity was carefully handled. Every so often we learned of the number of tickets already sold. They took our breath away, and went on climbing.

A lucky few could spot a poster on London Underground stations featuring Jess Breach.

People with no interest in women’s rugby were being made aware of the coming event.

Structure

WR saw it as vital to increase the number of competing nations to 16. This was a risky step as it made unequal games inevitable. But that had been the story at every preceding RWC. The scoffers had their say.

The justification came with the way the minnows, Brazil, Fiji and Samoa, reacted. They sang, danced and smiled. They were overjoyed just to be there.

The Red Roses, having put 92 points on the Manusina, found themselves joining in a dance mid-pitch.

Schedules

Matches were set for weekends only. That would allow players proper time for rest and recuperation, and it ensured more people would be free to attend.

It was decided to hold a big premiere on a Friday evening, ahead of the other Round One matches . One team had to be the Red Roses; the draw determined their opponents would be the USA. The next question was, where?

Venues

The organisers learned from New Zealand’s experience in 2022. There,4 matches had been limited to a small region in the far north.

This time the grounds chosen would cover a vast expanse of England. One problem was the lack of rugby stadiums big enough to suit the planners’ purpose; only Twickenham could house more than 30,000. Hence the use of football grounds.

Sunderland’s Stadium of Light was the unlikely choice for the opening night, slap bang in the middle of football territory. It turned into the first huge success. Attendance: 42,723. That was already the highest figure for any women’s rugby match.

From there in the north-east matches were to stretch right down to Exeter in the south-west. The organisers claimed no-one would need to travel more than two hours to see a match.

Media coverage

It was on a more massive scale than anything previously known. In the UK the BBC had obtained the prized contract. That meant free-to-air TV would ensure the biggest viewing figures.

Nations around the world obtained their own access.

Welcome

Exeter Cathedral Photo: Harry Trump – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Each national squad was given a special welcome in a special place. Bigwigs were on hand to make speeches; every player was given a special RWC cap which she wore for a smiling official photo.

The French, no strangers to English shores, were highly impressed by their welcome, inside and outside Exeter Cathedral.

This was a great start.

Curtain up!

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Champions Party celebration for Rugby World Cup winning Red Roses http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/28/champions-party-celebration-for-rugby-world-cup-winning-red-roses/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/28/champions-party-celebration-for-rugby-world-cup-winning-red-roses/#respond Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:27:33 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58744 Continue Reading →

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England Rugby’s Red Roses will celebrate their historic home Women’s Rugby World Cup win with fans during the Champions Party at Battersea Power Station, London, on Sunday 28 September from 2pm.

The event will take place at North Park along the riverside area of Battersea Power Station.  Details about transport to the event can be found here.

The Champions Party, hosted by Katy Daley-Mclean and Topsy Ojo, will be broadcast on BBC1 from 3pm and England Rugby’s YouTube channel.  The event is free to attend and those joining will be able to listen to live music before welcoming the Red Roses, experiencing the trophy lift and interacting with the players as they walk through the crowd.

Event hosts, England Rugby, would like to thank UK Government, The National Lottery and O2 for their support in staging this celebration event.

Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO said: “We are so proud of our world champion Red Roses for their historic win in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final.  To achieve this in England and at Allianz Stadium, the home of England Rugby, makes this victory even more rewarding.  Our congratulations go to entire playing squad and management team on this monumental achievement.

“We can’t thank fans, across the country, enough for their support of the Red Roses during the tournament – it’s been phenomenal.

“The Champions Party not only gives the nation the chance to pay tribute to the team, whether in person, online or on television, but also to be part of a huge moment in sporting history.”

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said: “The Red Roses’ World Cup incredible victory on home soil has filled our nation with pride. They have showcased incredible talent, relentless determination and inspirational teamwork to become an unstoppable force.

“We are thrilled to support the public celebration of this momentous achievement, giving fans across the country the opportunity to honour these exceptional athletes who have inspired the country during this tournament. But this must be just the beginning. Together with the RFU, we are investing millions of pounds in the Impact ’25 programme, ensuring more women and girls than ever before have the chance to give rugby a try at their local clubs.

“Women’s sport is going from strength to strength and we are determined that it continues to thrive, from grassroots to elite level.”

Andria Vidler, Chief Executive of Allwyn operator of The National Lottery, said: “What an inspiring performance from the Red Roses and a fitting climax to the most amazing summer for women’s sport. Through playing The National Lottery the public have been backing women’s rugby and the Red Roses for over 20 years and it’s all because of them that over £6b has been raised for grassroots sport. Therefore, we are delighted to be able to support this historic event so the public get another chance to celebrate alongside their World Champions.”

Event-goers are advised to use public transport due to limited on-site parking, allow extra time and check their travel at tfl.gov.uk and nationalrail.co.uk.

Champions Party

Location:
Battersea Power Station, London, SW11 8DD (North Park on the riverside of the power station)

Event timings:

  • 14:00 – event begins with DJ and host entertainment​.
  • 15:00 – 15:30 – the Red Roses arrive at Battersea Power Station with a series of celebration moments, interviews and spotlight moments, as well as the trophy lift.  This will be live on BBC1.
  • 15:30 – 16:00 – Red Roses walk through the crowd to meet with fans.
  • 16:00 – players depart​ with DJ continuing to entertain the crowd.
  • 16:30 event ends.
RugbyFest
To keep the festivities going, from Friday 3-Monday 6 October, clubs across the country will be taking part RugbyFest a nationwide grassroots celebration that encourages people to get down to their local club and get involved in rugby.

The entire Red Roses world cup winning squad will be out and about around the county at clubs that are hosting RugbyFest, continuing to inspire and encourage people into our sport.

RugbyFest is part of Impact ’25, the tournament’s legacy programme that is funded by Government and supported by The National Lottery. Anyone wanting to find a club taking part should check out www.findrugby.com.

With thanks to England Rugby
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The Black Ferns sweep back to earn bronze http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/28/the-black-ferns-sweep-back-to-earn-bronze/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/28/the-black-ferns-sweep-back-to-earn-bronze/#respond Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:17:10 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58740 Continue Reading →

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What a sight!

Twickenham Stadium was already over 50,000 full for the bronze medal match; the top (third) tier well stocked for the first time ever in a women’s game.

It was hard for both squads collecting themselves after the disappointments of the previous weekend. But there were medals to be won. The world was looking on.

Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (Photo)Alex Davidson – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Once more, the side scoring first was destined to finish thwarted. The French backs couldn’t complete a move on a crowded blind-side, but later their favourite ploy, a double loop across the field, worked like a charm. It still needed a deft offload by Marine Menager, but Pauline Bourdon-Sansus was there to finish the job. A delightful score.

That stung the Ferns into action. Ruahei Demant, a commanding presence throughout, started and finished a great move. (7-7)

France were looking for space behind the first line of defence. A chip over the top by Carla Arbez nearly worked, but Menager couldn’t cling on to a final pass.

The Kiwis exploited the let-off; in the space of nine minutes they added three tries to swing the balance firmly their way.

First Portia Woodman-Wickliffe profited from determined thumps at the line by her forwards; then Renee Holmes was on the end of four perfectly timed passes.

Now Laura Bayfield rewarded the staff for their trust in her by adding a try that gave her side a dominant lead.

Half-time: France 7 New Zealand 26

As the teams reappeared, we learned that Taina Maka had not passed her HIA; she was replaced by 19-year-old Marie Morland in the pack.

Her team went on leaking points. The Kiwi backs found enough space for Braxton Sorensen-McGee to add her tenth try of the tournament.

By now Demant was happy to let Holmes add three points for another penalty. Her kicking was almost faultless today.

The French came back strongly. They thought they had a try, but the TMO intervened to say that Annaelle Deshaye had had two goes at grounding the ball when on her knees.

French ongoing weaknesses were displayed as Lina Tuy, now on at 10, failed to clear promptly in deep defence. It led, almost inevitably, to a second (or eleventh!) try for the teenager BSM. (7-39)

From this sorry position Les Bleues fought back well. The Ferns may have taken their foot off the pedal, but in the last quarter they leaked three tries.

First Lea Champon went over, after a long, mostly lateral run by Tuy; next it was Gabrielle Vernier’s turn to remind the crowd of her qualities; when Emilie Boulard went over for her fifth try of the tournament (she had a fine game to justify her choice as full-back), the margin was reduced to only 13 points.

But time was growing scarce.

As New Zealand attacked again, Holmes was called up to add a second penalty and eat up the passing seconds. And that proved decisive.

Neither side could feel totally satisfied with the day’s work; that is inevitable in contests of this sort. At least the Black Ferns could retire with medals around their necks.

Result: France 26 New Zealand 42
Player of the Match: Renee Holmes
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Attendance: 50,000+ (an exact figure impossible)

Teams

France:

1 BROSSEAU 2 GERIN 3 BERNADOU 4 MAKA 5 FALL RACLOT 6 ESCUDERO 7 CHAMPON 8 T. FELEU 9 BOURDON-SANSUS 10 ARBEZ 11 M. MENAGER (captain) 12 VERNIER 13 KONDE 14 GRISEZ 15 BOULARD

16 BIGOT 17 DESHAYE 18 KHALFAOUI 19 IKAHEHEGI 20 MORLAND 21 CHAMBON 22 TUY 23 ARBEY

New Zealand:

1 VILIKO 2 PONSONBY 3 KALOUNIVALE 4 ROOS 5 BAYFIELD 6 MIKAELE TU’U 7 MILLER 8 OLSEN-BAKER 9 POURI-LANE 10 DEMANT (captain) 11 WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE 12 BRUNT 13 WAAKA 14 SORENSEN-MCGEE 15 HOLMES

16 GREEN 17 TANGEN-WAINOHU 18 RULE 19 A. BREMNER 20 SA’E 21 JOSEPH 22 SETEFANO 23 VAHA’AKOLO

Afterthoughts

Such a disappointment for the French. The pack performed admirably, but old familiar faults remained: over optimistic passes and offloads, poor clearances and unwise options that led to sharp reverses.

I mentioned in my preview that head coaches might not survive this final examination. Allan Bunting’s position now looks much safer than his two counterparts’.

We await the post-tournament reviews with the greatest interest.

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England triumph for a third World Cup http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/27/england-triumph-for-a-third-world-cup/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/27/england-triumph-for-a-third-world-cup/#respond Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:25:12 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58738 Continue Reading →

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England fulfilled a nation’s wishes by seeing off a determined effort by Canada to topple them.

Once again the side destined to lose scored first.

When Amy Cokayne missed her line-out target, Canada exploited the error so well that Asia Hogan-Rochester flew over the line once more. (0-5)

Barely three minutes later Ellie Kildunne received a pass in an unpromising position. A couple of wriggles and she was through. She accelerated right, stepping past what seemed like half the population of Canada and scored under the posts. (7-5)

Just like that.

From there England held the steering wheel steady for most of the game. Their decisive advantage lay at the scrum; their Canadian opponents, so devastating till now, couldn’t force the issue.

Emily Tuttosi had problems at the line-out which mostly went well for the home side. Abbie Ward and Zoe Aldcroft are mistresses of that art.

Canada were finding it hard repeating their stunning ruck-speed, which had lit up the tournament to this point. England tackled like tigers, giving the dangerous Justine Pelletier few chances to show her slippery skills.

England’s next try followed a surprise move, a deliberate line-out overthrow, straight into Tatyana Heard’s hands. She galloped ahead. From the ensuing scrum the pack produced another unstoppable drive, and Cokayne scored. (14-5)

Another imperfect Canadian line-out saw England over the line, but the TMO’s verdict was ‘held up’. The 500th time this season?

More pressure brought a third try. Behind a scrum Mo Hunt sniped, was held but turned to give Alex Matthews an offload that she took over the line – eleven years since her first appearance in an RWC.

No more scores up to the break, though the TMO had to bring his new toy into play to prevent a fourth England try – obstruction at the preceding line-out.

Half-time: England 21 Canada 5

With England’s undoubted bench strength a Canadian comeback looked unlikely. But they kept fighting to the end, as everyone expected.

Another fumbled line-out almost brought a fourth try against them, but Kabeya infringed with a ‘holding-on’.

The pack hammered again, and this time Ward made up for that line-out miss at Eden Park with a try. Daughter Hallie was pleased. (26-5)

Fortunes swung as Hannah Botterman was shown the only yellow card of the day for lifting an opponent too high in a tackle.

The immediate result was a second try for the irrepressible AHR. (26-13)

Could the Maple Leafs mount a real charge? Not during Botterman’s absence, though they had several chances as they drove at the England line. Sarah Hunter can be pleased with her job as defence coach. The tackles kept thundering in.

On one occasion the Canadians were a metre short of the line in their umpteenth phase, when Aldcroft found the lying unattended at her feet. She picked it up and Hunt cleared. Another gilt-edged chance gone.

With new faces appearing, spurred on by Olivia Apps, Canada increased the pressure once more. But time was running out, and that led to unwanted errors.

At a scrum Hollie Davidson awarded England a rare free-kick (not a penalty). Zoe Harrison sent a kick sky-high that the defences failed to deal with. Quick reactions from Lucy Packer helped give Matthews her second try of the day.

“Swing low” echoed around the ground. England had won.

Result: England 33 Canada 13
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Attendance: 81,885

Teams

England: 15 KILDUNNE 14 DOW 13 JONES 12 HEARD 11 BREACH 10 HARRISON 9 N. HUNT 1 BOTTERMAN 2 COKAYNE 3 MUIR 4 TALLING 5 WARD 6 ALDCROFT (captain) 7 KABEYA 8 MATTHEWS

16 ATKIN-DAVIES 17 CLIFFORD 18 BERN 19 GALLIGAN 20 FEAUNATI 21 L. PACKER 22 AITCHISON 23 ROWLAND

Canada: 15 SCHELL 14 CORRIGAN 13 SYMONDS 12 TESSIER 11 HOGAN-ROCHESTER 10 PERRY 9 PELLETIER 1 M. HUNT 2 TUTTOSI 3 MENIN 4 DE GOEDE 5 O’DONNELL 6 CROSSLEY 7 PAQUIN 8 FORTEZA

16 BOAG 17 KASSIL 18 DEMERCHANT 19 BEUKEBOOM 20 ROYER 21 SENFT 22 APPS 23 SEUMANUTAFA

Afterthoughts

There are too many to offer here. Some must wait for later – but:

1. Top tier

I admit I never expected to see the top (third) tier of Twickenham Stadium filled. It was. So huge congratulations to the organisers for their courage and vision.

2, Even with the huge boost this tournament has given women’s rugby it’s hard to imagine any future finals day reaching over 50,000 spectators for what the French call the ‘petite finale’.

3. Awards

Player of the Match: Sadia Kabeya will be aware there was the hottest competition for that honour, but she deserved it.

Source: New Zealand Rugby

Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Photo: New Zealand Rugby)

Sophie de Goede was rightly crowned World Player of the Year. Her contributions stand out every time she plays. Her team-mates lifted her high.

Braxton Sorensen-McGee was awarded the Breakthrough Player of the Year award. It meant that her young team-mate, Jorja Miller, missed out on both honours, but she was quick to embrace her. She is in line for an award before long.

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RWC – England’s final choice http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/25/rwc-englands-final-choice/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/25/rwc-englands-final-choice/#respond Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:29:19 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58697 Continue Reading →

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Here’s John Mitchell’s squad to face Canada:

15 KILDUNNE 14 BREACH 13 JONES 12 HEARD 11 DOW 10 HARRISON 9 HUNT 1 BOTTERMAN 2 COKAYNE 3 MUIR 4 TALLING 5 WARD 6 ALDCROFT (captain) 7 KABEYA 8 MATTHEWS

16 ATKIN-DAVIES 17 CLIFFORD 18 BERN 19 GALLIGAN 20 FEAUNATI 21 L. PACKER 22 AITCHISON 22 ROWLAND

The election result: No Change!

I had suggested certain adjustments (2, 9, 10, wing); so had many pundits. Mitchell and his staff have decided otherwise.

One area that will need to click early is the back-play. That is one reason I proposed Holly Aitchison at 10. She is more flexible and unpredictable than the ever-reliable Zoe Harrison.

As usual, Mitchell has given no hint of his thinking about selection. The squad will have known their fate long ago.

England knew they would be facing a massive challenge on the big day; they may well have expected a different opponent.

Canada have all the tools needed to take the day. They have an exceptional coach in Kevin Rouet; several of them have come to grips with their opponents many times in the PWR.

One Canadian commentator has said simply: “No cards, and you’ll win”.

Certainly, recent World Cup finals have been disfigured by red cards, hence the introduction of the 20-minute card.

Let’s hope the game remains 15 v 15 all through. Seconds out!

Match details

Date: Saturday 27 September
KO: 16.00 BST
Venue: Twickenham Stadium
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Afterthought:

The result is by no means a given. It’s going to be heartbreak for one side, and not for the first time.

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RWC – who wants a bronze medal? http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/24/rwc-who-wants-a-bronze-medal/ http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/24/rwc-who-wants-a-bronze-medal/#respond Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:39:30 +0000 http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/?p=58682 Continue Reading →

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Hard to believe, but there is one game no-one at the World Cup wanted to play in: the runners-up contest.

Yes, there is the excitement of playing in what the French like to call the Temple of Rugby, but it’s the equivalent of the B film in a 1950s cinema.

This France-New Zealand game forms part of a different type of double-header, the starter before the main course.

Both squads were devastated by their loss in the semi-finals. Years of toil brought up short of the ultimate target – except for the 7s players drafted in late. They can now return to the joys of the SVNS Series.

New Zealand

The loss to Canada came as a big blow, though it didn’t surprise many Kiwi critics of the Black Ferns’ progress. Many cagey bookmakers had predicted it too.

As in the South Africa match, the Black Ferns got off to a slow start. When the margin reached 34-7 the game was past retrieving. Not even two brave late tries could save the day.

Clear-eyed Kiwis had long been aware of shortcomings, not least up front, where the pack couldn’t sustain pressure right through. Talent out behind cannot perform without a solid platform to work on.

The NZR board will take a long hard look at performances right through the tournament. Allan Bunting and his assistants will be lucky if they survive a cull. They have overseen losses to Canada, England, France and Ireland.

As with many other squads, we may have seen the last of honoured senior players, such as Brazier, Setefano and Woodman-Wickliffe.

There are several fine young players in the squad, but 2029 may seem a long way away to them.

France

Their position is different. Far from being recurrent champions, they set out three years ago to win a first place in a final and a first trophy.

Now they can’t even be sure of gaining a ninth third place.

They went into the England game minus the services of Joanna Grisez, Lisa Queyroi and the two suspended players. Even then, they came close to lowering English colours.

The French post-tournament review may prove even more fascinating than the Kiwi one.

The two co-coaches are no more certain of retaining their posts than Bunting and Co.

More basically, will the board continue with its controversial contracts policy? Many French pundits see it as the prime cause of current failures to reach the top.

Les Bleues now face the Black Ferns in an attempt to retain their remarkable hold on third place at RWCs. They have beaten them five times before; only England boast a better record against the recurrent champions.

At least one of the French team will be making her last appearance, Marine Menager.

A small recompense: one squad will return home with medals around their necks. They’re just the wrong colour.

Match details

Date: Saturday 27 September
Venue: Twickenham Stadium
KO: 12.30 BST
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)

Afterthoughts

We now know the officials for the two biggest games.

Ella Goldsmith’s appointment is a triumph for her. At 27 she is the youngest of all the ten appointed referees.

Hollie Davidson has been honoured with a second final in succession, a very rare achievement.

This gives a sharp rebuke to the many anonymous voices who quibbled at her performance in Auckland.

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