Women's Six Nations so far: The Red Roses are shining but it's not all rosy
This year’s Women’s Six Nations feels different. Probably because it is.
Like ripples on the most exciting pond in sport, the excitement is spreading – a proliferating buzz which has seen more column inches, chatter, and bums on seats than ever before.
I talk about the competition every day – but no longer just to colleagues as obsessed with the game as I am. Taxi drivers chat earnestly about how good the Red Roses are, my dad’s across matches I’m not covering (this is a first), and I’ve several groups of friends going to their first ever women’s rugby match at the end of the month: thrilled to be helping shatter a world record – and to be treating themselves to a day at Twickenham such good value it feels fraudulent.
You can’t move on social media for content – it’s like every timeline has metamorphosised into that purple ball pit from the launch day, and we’re all merrily thrashing about inside – and the tournament’s presence on the news, the radio, and in various publications is notable. The day I write this, I sit opposite an advert for Le Crunch on Le District Line, and Zoe Aldcroft, Claudia MacDonald, and Sadiya Kabeya dare me not to ‘rock’ HQ with them on April 29th.
It’s bigger and better than ever, but with some home comforts, too: some of the elements we’ve loved for years are still clearly visible beneath the glow-up. Rachel Malcolm still fights as though every game is her last, and you can’t take your eyes off her pre-match passion and pride. Sarah Bern still cackles at the textbook definition of a prop as she parkours her way downfield, and it just never occurs to either Abby Dow or Jess Breach that someone might be able to stop them, ball in hand. Beatrice Rigoni still sprinkles proceedings with rugby popping candy – moments of quirkiness which crackle in the consciousness for days – and no one’s scrubbed the Teflon off Chloe Rollie yet. The little boys and girls continue to stick around for hours for selfies and autographs, the Welsh are niggly and the Italians helter skelter, and everyone listens to Emily Scarratt in studio and thinks ‘isn’t it a shame that she can’t play and commentate at the same time?’
Right. Tub thump done: let’s get into what we’ve learned. With 480 minutes played, and a fallow week ahead to digest it all – here are three things which have stood out.
The kids are alright
Sarah Hunter aside, it’s the youngsters dominating headlines this year. The Celtic Challenge might have flown under the radar, but clearly had merit – and deserves to become a regular fixture. Just look at Scotland’s Thistles: coached by the brilliant Claire Cruikshank and Chris Laidlaw, improving in time for each of their return matches against the Welsh XV and Combined Provinces, and unearthing some gems.
Fran McGhie has rightfully burst onto the scene, Meryl Smith’s confidence has visibly blossomed for her time skippering on the international stage, and – whether or not we see them this tournament – Erinn Foley, Emma Turner, Rhea Clarke, and Holly McIntyre have all found themselves in a senior Six Nations training environment off the back of it. Scotland are developing unprecedented depth – Elliann Clarke, Anne Young, Evie Gallagher, and Emma Orr are huge talents, and looking increasingly comfortable at this level – which Easson’s side need, because they’ve felt the absence of Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, and Jade Konkel-Roberts keenly. The results haven’t been there, but potent foundations are being laid.
Then there’s the new face of the entire Women’s Six Nations, Sisilia Tuipulotu – whose performances have been nothing short of jaw dropping. There’s a wonderful disconnect between the way she plays (I’d honestly rather see a polar bear running at me than the 19-year-old) and her personality off-field: so unassuming and humble that the vast majority of the BBC’s feature on her had to be interviews with other, chattier, people. It would be wonderful to see similar faith soon paid in Lleucu George, who is too talented not to get a good run-out this campaign. Perhaps a start in Parma…
??????? @WelshRugbyUnion Head Coach, Ioan Cunningham heaped praise on the pack, including Sisilia Tuipulotu, for their tireless work after huge wins against Ireland and Scotland ?#TikTokW6N #OurCharge
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 4, 2023
This is a Welsh team with so much potential for growth, too: Hannah Jones is the youngest captain in the tournament, Alex Callender is only 22 (coincidentally, also her score out of ten for level of irritant on the pitch), and Keira Bevan hit her 50th cap at the weekend at the tender age of 25. Throw in the ever-rising stars of Les Bleues’ Emilie Boulard, Charlotte Escudero, and Carla Arbez – and you get a glimpse of a generation of talent who’ll light up the 2025 World Cup and beyond.
It’s all coming up Roses
You can make a really, seriously good England starting XV with the list of players unavailable for selection right now – minus one winger. Given that they almost won a World Cup final with that exact line up, these 14 absent Roses would probably still conquer the Six Nations. And, yet, the squad actually in action are flying – and they’ll very probably win the whole thing, whilst happily blooding the next crop.
Six debuts and counting, and some of their established but younger players really bedding in. Tatyana Heard and Kabeya are rightful, impressive, starters now – and Holly Aitchison looks more comfortable at ten by the minute. You can read our analysis of how the fly-half has unlocked England’s attack in rounds 1 and 2 here.
Marlie Packer’s not skipped a beat as captain, MacDonald’s my early pick for Player of the Tournament (if that knock proves surmountable), and it was special seeing Breach back scoring for fun on Saturday – after what must have been a confidence-testing World Cup. Their already fathomless depth only deepens, and their new head coach is going to have to omit some phenomenal athletes from their initial squad.
It’s not all rosy
There’s so much to love about this year’s Six Nations, but we’re nowhere near ‘job done’ – and that also needs acknowledging.
For one thing – there’s the plight of Ireland: a young and inexperienced side whose hustle and talent is obvious, but who are well out of their depth. Missing their Sevens stars, not yet seeing the benefits of their contracts, and without any of the invaluable experience the other nations gained at the World Cup. They’re headed for the wooden spoon, and I just hope the individuals involved emerge from this competition supported and motivated to go again.
Some interesting stats from the weekend's games. Ireland had more possession, territory & carries than France at the weekend, which is perhaps a reminder that defence (still) wins games, & Ireland with 43 missed tackles were never likely to get much out of it …
— Scrumqueens – Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 2, 2023
Their scoreline against England will be stark, but everyone’s will be (apart from France’s) – and that’s simultaneously the problem and the solution. In the last ten Six Nations matches the Roses have played, just one side has put more than a single try on them – which is both an objectively bad look for any tournament, and the requisite motivation for other unions to step up: to chase the excellence of the RFU’s history makers. We’re seeing it already – just look at Wales, listen to Malcolm discuss how she’s getting more out of training than ever before, or marvel at the conditioning of many of the athletes – but we’re still a long way off the level of competitiveness required.
Every metric is improving – from gate numbers to digital engagement, viewing figures to contracts signed, and kick distances to merchandise sales – but there’s miles to go, and long term success will only be secured once it’s a tournament with genuine jeopardy. Once the Wikipedia section on past winners stops looking like a string of St George’s bunting – we’ll know it’s there: a Six Nations which isn’t settled by the same fixture each year.
What’s inarguable is that the only trajectory steeper than the price of Tuipulotu in the fantasy game is that of the Women’s Six Nations itself – and that’s thrilling. This year feels different: bigger, better, and deserving of all the broken records and fanfare. If the rest of April feels like swimming around in a purple, heavily-branded, launch day gimmick – then I’m here for it.
Hop right in: the ball pit’s fine.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
9 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
9 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
9 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
9 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
5 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
2 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
2 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to comments