1
Scorelines don't tell the full story on a record breaking RWC weekend
After a year’s wait Rugby World Cup 2021 has finally arrived, and if week one is anything to go by, it will be a tournament worth the wait! It would be easy to suggest that the teams we expected to win all came out on top and as such there’s not been much progress, but scratch beneath the surface and there’s lots to be positive about.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ahead of the first day of fixtures World Rugby announced a sell out crowd of 40,000 for Eden Park. Though in reality the stadium was never full, there was nonetheless a big crowd for each of the three opening day games, especially for the Black Ferns match and plenty of noise from the stands.
In the first match of the day France took the win, scoring 40 points to South Africa’s 5. It would set a trend for the day, each of the favourites winning by a sizeable score whilst the losing teams showed definite signs of progress.
For South Africa, the period between the 17th and 67th minutes will give them heart. For 50 minutes in the middle of the game France were scoreless and it was only as the clock ticked down and French fitness won out that the score line tipped so heavily to one side.
Captain Nolusindiso Booi, speaking after the final whistle, saw definite improvement in her team. “Everything that we were doing was great, it was giving me goosebumps. It takes me back to the previous World Cup – how bad things were – and shows that we are coming up with a better team. That scoreboard doesn’t mean anything for now. We are looking forward to the next game.”
After a short break England would run out to face World Cup debutants Fiji. The newcomers, whose entire starting 15 has less caps than Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter, played some incredibly entertaining rugby, but this was only going to end one way and the tournament favourites managed to break three records in one moment as Claudia MacDonald’s fourth try was simultaneously the most tries in one World Cup game for an England player, the 14th try of the game – the most England have scored in a single game, and confirmed the biggest score the Red Roses have racked up at a World Cup. Impressive stuff for a player who, just a couple of months ago, thought she might never play again!
Are you ready to witness history?@EnglandRugby attempt to keep their record 26 match win streak alive against @FranceRugby this weekend ?#FRAvENG | #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/MpBZA2t7kf
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 11, 2022
Fiji might never have looked in danger of beating their opponents, but when they did gain possession their flair and attacking ambition was a joy to watch. They were also the first team to score three tries against England in nearly a year. Pretty impressive given this was Fijiana 15’s seventh ever Test match.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the final game of the day New Zealand came back from behind to beat Australia. After 30 minutes you’d be forgiven for having thought the Black Ferns’ campaign might be over before it had really begun, but once again big game experience paid off. After the initial nerves and emotion from the most incredible haka ever seen in the women’s game had worn off, household names made their mark with Portia Woodman reminding the crowd why she’s considered one of the deadliest finishers in the game with a hattrick of tries and Ruby Tui earning a player of the match performance.
The crowd for day two in Whangarei was smaller, but even more boisterous, than the previous day. They were treated to an entertaining first game as Italy secured a strong win over the USA, scoring 22 points to the Eagles 10.
“The first half we had some problems to manage the possession of the ball,” Italy Head Coach Andrea Di Giandominico said after the game. “Just at the end of the first half we went in the USA half, we try to play more, but made many mistakes so at half-time we spoke about this and in the second half it was much better, the possession.”
Game two was better for North American fans as Canada comfortably beat Japan, scoring 41 points while their opponents had to settle for a single try. While it was a strong performance their Captain, rampaging number 8 Sophie De Goede, saw plenty of opportunity for improvement.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think we can work a bit on our finishing, some handling errors cost us. I think we just need to flip that switch a bit. We have a strong set piece, but we can’t simply be relying on that. So, I think we can improve in those type of areas.”
The final game of the weekend turned out to be the most dramatic as Scotland, making their return to the tournament after a 12-year absence, lost in the final minute.
A Kiera Bevan conversion securing the win for Wales. Scottish captain Rachel Malcolm was forthright in the post-match press conference, speaking from the heart. “I am heartbroken at the minute. The way we fought back into the game shows the character that we have within this team. We are so passionate about performing for our country and it just shows the effect of not taking points when we had pressure earlier in the game.”
Weekend one ?
Check out extended highlights from EVERY match #RWC2021
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 10, 2022
So, after six matches who were the top players? As we’ve already mentioned England’s Claudia MacDonald topped the try-scoring charts after successfully crossing the whitewash four times. Those 20 points also give her top spot on the points charts.
In terms of carries, Sophie De Goede was first among forwards with an impressive 115 metres. Black Ferns talisman Ruby Tui was everywhere for her team and that showed with her racking up 165 metres while carrying, but that was eclipsed by Red Roses fullback Ellie Kildunne who racked up a mind-blowing 193 metres ball in hand.
It’s no surprise that the leaders in those stats come from winning teams, while on the defensive side of things the tables largely flip around. Australian Atasi Lafai and USA prop Hope Rogers both made 19 tackles to help their teams’ defensive effort. Impressive stuff, but eclipsed by a herculean display by Wales’ Alex Callander. The openside flanker tackled opposition players 24 times and maintained a 100% success rate.
However, there are achievements statistics can’t measure too, and seeing Abby Dow back on the field after a horrific leg break in the Six Nations that many believed would cost her a trip to New Zealand, was something special. That she used her searing pace and scored almost as soon as she stepped out on the pitch as a replacement was a reminder of why she got a seat on the plane without playing a minute in the lead up to the tournament.
If there was one player who stood out for me across the first weekend of games, I’d point to Ruby Tui. Whether it was staring down her opponents in the haka, seemingly being in ten places at once throughout the game against Australia or lighting up the post-match interviews with a gigawatt smile and boundless enthusiasm, she embodies all that was good about a thrilling opening weekend of the World Cup!
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments