Who can step up to 'world class' status this Women's Six Nations?
Happy Sixmas! After a huge, successful Rugby World Cup in New Zealand it’s finally time for the Northern Hemisphere to watch some international women’s rugby without waking up at daft hours. The TikTok Women’s Six Nations kicks off this weekend. It’s arguably the best annual rugby event of the year.
Not only is it the beginning of a tournament, but it’s the start of a new World Cup cycle. This one is shorter than ever before, thanks to the postponement of the 2021 tournament. This means all six teams will be in a hurry to blood young players and get them ready for world domination in England, in 2025.
But which established players are looking to make one more step up to “world class” status? And for anyone who hasn’t seen much of the women’s game before, who should you be really excited just to watch? Let’s have a look at a back from each nation who might catch the eye of any new fans…
Ireland – Emma Swords
Swords’ path to the Irish squad has been unusual, to say the least. Previously capped by England, she initially declared for Wales, but didn’t get a look-in ahead of the impressive Keira Bevan and Ffion Lewis. The Harlequins scrum-half has now swapped her allegiances to Ireland, and will be keen to show Wales what they’re missing out on.
With Kathryn Dane sadly sidelined for a long time, Swords will battle with Alisha Hughes for the starting 9 jersey. At club level, she often replaces England’s Lucy Packer from the bench, and usually makes a positive impact. Swords’ strength has to be her speed of service – if Ireland’s mobile pack can be quick to get into shape late on in games, Swords could be a vital catalyst in helping her team move forward and score tries.
Wales – Lleucu George
George’s World Cup experience was limited to the final half hour of Wales’ quarter final loss against the Black Ferns – but she immediately proved to coach Ioan Cunningham that she should have been playing all along. Wales have lacked a strong kicking game in the last few years, and Lleucu George might very easily be the answer.
George is a 50/22 machine – her boot is huge and could get Wales out of trouble. She has been in imperious form at ten for Gloucester-Hartpury this season and is a huge reason why they’ve been so successful and exciting. Her succeeder Elinor Snowsill had one of her greatest games ever for Wales against Scotland in the World Cup, but it feels as though the time is right for Wales to start their 23-year-old baller prospect. Her range of attacking kicks and passes could be huge to bring the best out of this Welsh backline.
England – Ellie Kildunne
Sure, it’s strange to pick out a player who’s already scored in a World Cup final as a “one to watch” this Six Nations, following England’s Eden Park heartache, nobody has responded better than Harlequins fullback Kildunne. Her form has been exhilarating, and she’s undoubtedly one of the most exciting attacking threats in the Premier 15s.
It’s hard to watch any five-minute segment of a Quins game from this season without watching Kildunne tear it up. She’s always been light on her feet and a prolific try-scorer, but this season we’ve seen her expand the areas of her game that she’s less known for: her passing and offloading are now genuine strengths, her kicking is solid and she’s strong in the contact area. In a full-strength England side, the likes of Helena Rowland and Abby Dow feel irresistible – but Kildunne might make it impossible for anyone to threaten her starting spot this campaign.
Scotland – Caity Mattinson
Mattinson declared for Scotland last year after previously winning caps for the Red Roses, and she has slowly wormed her way into the starting XV. By the World Cup she seemed like the most solid option at scrum-half, and Head Coach Bryan Easson quickly realised he could scarcely afford to bring her off.
If the Worcester co-captain keeps growing as she has done thus far in her (second) international career, she’ll enter this tournament as a senior leader in the squad and upgrade to top-end international level nine by the end of the campaign. Mattinson has all the skills you’d want from a world-class halfback: a quick pass, a strong boot and most importantly, the ability to mouth off at her forwards! I know it’s forbidden to talk about Lions XVs on non-Lions years, but Mattinson would no doubt love to establish herself in that conversation when it does come around.
Italy – Veronica Madia
Madia often sits in the shadow of the self-proclaimed “Number One Player” Beatrice Rigoni, who is undoubtedly the star of this Italy team (if you’re coming across as a fan of the men’s game – get to know Rigoni!), but in last year’s World Cup she really established herself as one of Italy’s calmest yet also flashiest players, pulling the strings from ten.
Italy’s midfield of Madia, Rigoni and Michela Silari is one of the most balanced combinations in the tournament – all three have excellent hands and the flair to run from anywhere. If Madia’s kicking game is sharp, she could play a huge role in transforming Italy into massive over-achievers. After a big win in Cardiff last year, Italy will be targeting wins over Scotland and Ireland in the coming weeks.
France – Jessy Trémoulière
Okay – this one’s a bit of a cop-out. Trémoulière’s birth certificate describes her as “experienced”, but if you’re a converted fan from men’s rugby, get to know France’s overpowered utility back. Every time Trémoulière goes to sleep, she accidentally finds herself kicking a dozen 50/22s per hour, then wakes up wondering how she does it. She’s an addict, as are all fans to watching her.
What’s so special about this tournament for her, I hear you ask? The sad thing about this Six Nations is it is Trémoulière’s last tournament as a French international. So, let’s enjoy her while we still have her, eh? It’s probably fair to say she’s the best kicker in the history of women’s rugby. It’s bizarre that France left her out of the starting 23 for last year’s semi-final against the Black Ferns – Trémoulière could have knocked the eventual champions out with a last-minute kick. One hopes France make the most of her while they can, and that they can find a similar talent in their reserves.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
35 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
35 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments