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WXV 3: Spain on the verge of World Cup qualification

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 05: Claudia Pena Hidalgo of Spain is tackled during the WXV 3 2024 match between The Netherlands and Spain at The Sevens 2 Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Spain need only two points from their final match in WXV 3 2024 to secure their place at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, having made it two wins from two in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

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Las Leonas found it difficult to break down a spirited Netherlands side at The Sevens Stadium and led only 3-0 at half-time, thanks to an Amalia Argudo penalty.

However, three tries in 13 second-half minutes wrapped up a 14th successive victory against the Dutch and put the Spanish on the verge of World Cup qualification.

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Hooker Cristina Blanco scored the opening try at the back of a driving maul in Dubai before fellow forwards Lourdes Alameda and Carmen Castellucci crossed the whitewash from close range.

Although they had 20 minutes to find a bonus point-clinching fourth try after Castellucci went over, Spain had to settle for the four-point victory.

That result is enough to keep them top of the WXV 3 standings, on nine points, two points ahead of Samoa who beat Pacific Island rivals Fiji 45-17 earlier on Saturday.

It means Spain will wrap up the title with victory against Fiji next Saturday but they need only avoid defeat or pick up two bonus points in defeat to book a return to the World Cup, having missed out on the last tournament in New Zealand.

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Fixture
WXV 3
Netherlands Women
0 - 20
Full-time
Spain Women
All Stats and Data

That is because Fiji have already qualified for the World Cup as Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship winners, and the race for the two tickets up for grabs in WXV 3 is now down to four teams.

Madagascar are out of the running having suffered their second defeat of the tournament on Friday, losing 38-7 to Hong Kong China in Dubai.

With one round to play and fifth-place Netherlands now seven points adrift of Spain, Las Leonas can only be caught by Samoa and Hong Kong China (of those in contention).

Hong Kong China can get to a maximum of 10 points if they beat Netherlands with a bonus point next Saturday meaning Spain will make sure of their progress if they pick up two points against Fiji.

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Fixture
WXV 3
Fiji Women
17 - 45
Full-time
Samoa Women
All Stats and Data

Samoa, who end their campaign against Madagascar on Friday, are also in a great position for one of the two tickets to England following their defeat of Fiji.

Manusina led their regional rivals 21-7 at half-time thanks to tries from Linda Fiafia and Ana Mamea and nine points from the boot of Cassie Siataga.

Fijiana full-back Luisa Tisolo scored the first of her two tries early in the second half to threaten a comeback but was shown a yellow card soon after and Samoa took advantage.

Karla Wright-Akeli and France Bloomfield crossed the whitewash while Fiji were down to 14 players, and the latter added a second try before Easter Savelio had the last say in the dying minutes.

Fixture
WXV 3
Madagascar Women
7 - 38
Full-time
Hong Kong Women
All Stats and Data

Meanwhile, Hong Kong China made history on Friday and kept their hopes of World Cup qualification alive with a comfortable 38-7 defeat of Madagascar.

Gabriella Rivers scored Hong Kong China’s first-ever WXV try in the opening quarter and Shanna Forrest and Tanya Dhar followed her over the line before half-time.

Zoe Smith, who ended the match with 13 points, Fion Got and Sabay Lynam all crossed the whitewash in the second half.

Madagascar did have something to cheer in the final quarter as Delphine Raharimalala became the first Malagasy try scorer in WXV but the result was well out of reach by then.

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f
fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

9 Go to comments
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