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
Canada v Scotland Canada were made to work hard for their victory, in worthy contrast to other games played today. The result was a tribute to the Scots, who are unlikely ever to build a squad with a similar depth to their opponents’. Florence Symonds made an early break to which the pack added with
Cymru were on a hiding to nothing, and even the fates turned against them. Who could imagine both their newly-minted co-captains, Alex Callender and Kate Williams, succumbing to injury? Beth Lewis took charge. As so often, they started well; they reached to two metres from the line; but Canadian confidence shone through as Alex Tessier
Kevin Rouet becomes the first coach to reveal his side for his second match. The assumption has been all along, head coaches would make wholesale changes across the three group-stage games, if only to give all 32 players an outing. It hasn’t quite worked out like that in this case. Here’s the squad to play
Contents 1. Australia v Samoa 2. Scotland v Wales 3. Canada v Fiji 4. France v Italy The RWC organisers wisely decided to restrict matches to the weekend, allowing more people to attend, and giving teams a proper break. That means seven per weekend, and with the big launch at Sunderland on Friday eight between
I’ve waxed lyrical often enough about the Canucks, but they deserve it. They sit a proud second in world rankings, a stonking 24 places above their menfolk. Until money started pouring in, in answer to their funding campaign, most of the bare necessities for success were missing: a massive country which meant resources thinly spread;
The result looks like a runaway win for the visitors, but the coaches won’t see it that way. Both will have concerns. Kevin Rouet will be asking what happened to his side for long stretches of the second half. Ireland registered three tries to add to an early success. For Scott Bemand the concerns run
The newly sponsored Affidea Stadium in Belfast (formerly the Kingspan) will host a big game between nations aiming to go a very long way in the World Cup. Scott Bemand has made ten changes to the last side he put out: 15 FLOOD 14 PARSONS 13 DALTON 12 BREEN 11 McGANN 10 O’BRIEN 9 REILLY
Here are three very varied items. Canada v USA These old foes met for the last time before the real battles begin. A record-breaking North American crowd of 11,453 provided a wonderful atmosphere. They witnessed an exciting game in which the Eagles took early command to lead 14-0. They built powerful phases to keep the
Hot on the heels of the Red Roses to appear in next month’s RWC, Kevin Rouet has named his Maple Leaf squad, the second favourites to snatch the pot. (I’ll ignore the snorts coming from southern oceans). The Squad Forwards: Kassil, O’Donnell, Menin,Tuttosi, Crossley, Forteza, Senft, Boag, Paquin, Royer, Montiel, Nelson, DeMerchant, Buisa, R. Smith,
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