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
The Semi-finals Long before the semis hove into view everyone knew the tenth RWC was an overwhelming success. In the week between the last eight and the last four the number of previews mushroomed. Every fashionable method of opinion-giving was used to the full. There were pundits everywhere you looked. A few critics moaned at
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
This is how we reached the biggest RWC final ever to take place: Canada thumped New Zealand under lights 34-19. England beat France less convincingly the next day 35-17. It means a second final between the two successful nations, with an unparalleled audience in the largest rugby stadium in the world and a vast global
Canada outplayed New Zealand for the third time in three games to earn their first entry to a final since 2014. Their all-round excellence in attack and defence was on show again in front of a packed house in Bristol. Inside ten minutes they had posted two tries. Renee Holmes made the first several errors
Kevin Rouet is in the happy position of being able to announce an unchanged side for their clash with New Zealand They saw off Australia 46-5 last time round, and have every intention of reaching a second final after 2014. This is the squad: 1 McKINLEY HUNT 2 EMILY TUTTOSI 3 DALEAKA MENIN 4 SOPHIE
Now we know the four teams: Canada, England, France and New Zealand. Cynics will say they’ve known them for years. Sadly they’re right, but there’s no short cut to glory. Each of the four has its own approach to these final stages. Once again in alphabetical order: Canada was the union to place its cards
Kevin Rouet and Jo Yapp have announced their sides to meet in the quarter-finals They are: Canada 1 HUNT 2 TUTTOSI 3 MENIN 4 DE GOEDE 5 O’DONNELL 6 CROSSLEY 7 PAQUIN 8 FORTEZA 9 PELLETIER 10 PERRY 11 HOGAN-ROCHESTER 12 TESSIER (captain) 13 SYMONDS 14 CORRIGAN 15 SCHELL 16 BOAG 17 KASSIL 18 DEMERCHANT
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
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