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Remaining Women's Six Nations fixtures cancelled, World Cup qualifiers postponed
Six Nations Rugby have cancelled the remaining three matches of the 2020 Women’s Six Nations Championship after recent government and health authority restrictions affected squad preparations and travel amid an inability to stage matches due to the sport’s amateur status
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With the restrictions making the successful completion of the 2020 Championship impossible, the three cancelled matches were Italy vs Scotland, Wales vs Scotland and France vs Ireland.
Ben Morel, Six Nations CEO, said: “This was an extremely tough decision that was only taken after we had explored every possible option to get these matches played.
“It’s especially disappointing that these cancellations come at a time when there is such positive momentum around the women’s game and for the Women’s Six Nations in particular. We will now put our focus and energy toward the 2021 Championship.”
The table for the 2020 Championship will remain as it stands with England already crowned Grand Slam winners having played and won all five of their matches, finishing with victory over Italy on November 1.
Two sensational @EmilyScarratt tries lit up this year's #WomensSixNations – @daviesGDD looks at both in our latest #LoveWatchingRugby https://t.co/MfwdTanlXT
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) November 6, 2020
The cancellation of the three matches was in keeping with the general difficulties in keeping the sport going in the current climate. In addition, World Rugby and Rugby Europe have postponed the 2021 World Cup European qualification tournament that was scheduled to take place on December 5, 12 and 19.
The tournament was due to feature Ireland, Italy and Scotland and the winner of the postponed Rugby Europe Women’s Championship. It will be rescheduled for early next year ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand. The qualifying tournament winner will proceed directly into the World Cup while the runner-up will progress to the final qualification tournament.
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Despite the disappointment for the other teams, England topped a successful campaign with Emily Scarratt crowned women’s player of the championship, becoming the first player of the championship in the history of the Women’s Six Nations.
WATCHLIST
– @alexshawsport ??? picks 7 to watch ahead of the @autumnnations https://t.co/AiynjLPmB0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments