Women's Rugby Thread

[eldanielfire]

The female commentators on the England/France game are quite hard to listen to. Very excitable and overly descriptive.

She's awful. She also constantly commentates on what she thinks will/should happen rather than what is happening. And that is before she announces in a laboured way what every players club is.

[Blackmac]

England being allowed to fringe at will here. Way past time for a card. Try.

[tabascoboy]

Africa 7s - though I maybe the only one interested...

Unlucky Madagascar, lost 14 - 15 to South Africa in the final, they led most of the game but South Africa stuck at it to get the winning try with the last play of the game. Very competitive game and both teams should grace the RWC finals in September

[Ovals]

Deacon has certainly improved our set piece - very impressive improvement from last year. France had their chances but England's defence was pretty solid. Not one of the better games to watch but England won the forwards battle and that was always going to be the key to a win.

[eldanielfire]

Deacon has certainly improved our set piece - very impressive improvement from last year. France had their chances but England's defence was pretty solid. Not one of the better games to watch but England won the forwards battle and that was always going to be the key to a win.

Yeah, been a while that the England scrum matched the French, which the starting front row combo did well.

The work-on's for England ahs to be to get that back line firing more often, they get the quick but it's to static players. It's telling that only Scarrett does anything different with her switch plays and when she does the team themselves are not expecting it. They need to learn to hit those lines into gaps from deep and miniplate the players in defence.

[laurent]

Poor / terrible game by France

Sochat was dreadful and stayed on 65 minutes. :/

England had nothing but mauls as expected but that was way too much for that french team.

[Niegs]

For all England's dominance at XVs, they're still pretty shit at 7s! (Meg Jones would be the perfect 12 for the XVs right now, imo!)

Lost 0-31 to NZ, 5-38 to Fiji, 24-31 to the USA (who also got blanked in a rout by NZ, but just narrowly beat Fiji).

Tomorrow's quarterfinals...

[Niegs]

Wonderful kick, this!

[eldanielfire]

For all England's dominance at XVs, they're still pretty shit at 7s! (Meg Jones would be the perfect 12 for the XVs right now, imo!)

Lost 0-31 to NZ, 5-38 to Fiji, 24-31 to the USA (who also got blanked in a rout by NZ, but just narrowly beat Fiji).

Tomorrow's quarterfinals...

I do wonder what the England set-up is like. Last I checked they were talking about getting the rucks right and they see to play it like XVs.

[eldanielfire]

[Niegs]

Makes sense that the Wallaroos were going to be much stronger than NSW and QLD suggested, but was hoping Fijiana were going to cause some shockwaves. Next up, Japan, and then it'll be interesting to see if the Wallaroos have jumped Canada and the USA... https://wallaroos.rugby/fixtures-result ... b=Fixtures

[eldanielfire]

Next 3 world cup hosts confirmed:


Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby
@ScrumQueens·1m
As expected - England will host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2025, Australia in 2029 and USA in 2033. Officially confirmed this morning.

[tabascoboy]

This one seems to have flown under the radar

May 10th, Bond University, Robina: Australia 10 - 12 Japan

https://www.world.rugby/match/29748


The Wallaroos tumbled 12-10 on the Gold Coast tonight as the victims of impatience, flustered errors and the inspirational tackling of the Japanese.

[Niegs]

This one seems to have flown under the radar

May 10th, Bond University, Robina: Australia 10 - 12 Japan

https://www.world.rugby/match/29748


The Wallaroos tumbled 12-10 on the Gold Coast tonight as the victims of impatience, flustered errors and the inspirational tackling of the Japanese.

Wow, the author of that was pretty scathing for an article on the official national union site! Usually those are full of 'unlucky', 'credit to the opposition', etc cliches. The author also managed to bring in this classic [often bullshit] cliche:

Instead, the Wallaroos were mesmerised by the few inroads they made out wide and kept flinging the ball hopefully without first earning the right by punching runners hard at the line up the middle.

Maybe they should have used this woman more:





... but I read that Japan beat the Aussie Barbarians 24-10 also beat Fijiana 28-14. Head coached by a Canadian woman, too.

[eldanielfire]

The Premier XVs league ends with Sarries, Exeter, Bristol, Quins.

Should be some interesting semi's.

[laurent]

French stafff being rejigged

Gaelle mignot brought in as scrum/ruck coach

David Ortiz brought in for lineout and defense

https://actu.fr/sports/rugby/pro/xv-de- ... 13571.html

Lineout sure can use some work after the mess against England. (still baffled they left the hooker on for 60 minutes while she was having a poor game.

[eldanielfire]

French stafff being rejigged

Gaelle mignot brought in as scrum/ruck coach

David Ortiz brought in for lineout and defense

https://actu.fr/sports/rugby/pro/xv-de- ... 13571.html

Lineout sure can use some work after the mess against England. (still baffled they left the hooker on for 60 minutes while she was having a poor game.

I think sometimes hookers get to much blame for poor lineout throws. Communication and opposition pressure have a fair effect.

[eldanielfire]

Saracens vs Exeter in the XVs final. I felt Bristol were idiotic to give away that penalty at the end of the game against Exeter. Why peel off the back of a maul to run into forwards isolated when all you need to do is keep possession ? Madness.

I was speaking with some Sarries players early in the season. They said then they wanted to show Exeter's mass numbers internationals (or a ridiculous number of mercenaries) whose boss. I expect them to be well up for this.

[ASMO]

Saracens vs Exeter in the XVs final. I felt Bristol were idiotic to give away that penalty at the end of the game against Exeter. Why peel off the back of a maul to run into forwards isolated when all you need to do is keep possession ? Madness.

I was speaking with some Sarries players early in the season. They said then they wanted to show Exeter's mass numbers internationals (or a ridiculous number of mercenaries) whose boss. I expect them to be well up for this.

I can't see Exeter getting close to them to be honest, they were ruthless against Quins and beat them with plenty to spare.

[Niegs]

I don't know if there are stats from previous years, but did find something from before Covid saying women's 6N had on average about 15 kicks per game. Men's would be up near 30, with Australia in last RWC being down around these levels. I do think women are kicking more, though, than in the past (2012 Women's Six Nations says 12-18 per game, can't find recent stats).

People continually talking about Wales' need to have good kickers and not about increasing their ability to run the ball out of their end.

[eldanielfire]

This tweet brings me joy:

Abby Dow@abbydowberg
·
13m
Made a step forward in rehab - just walked without crutches for the first time!

[eldanielfire]

The RFU have been noticing that teams, "coff coff Exeter coff coff", have been padding/overfilling their teams with foreign internationals and are looking at taking action.

I'm surprised a foreign player limit is not applied (I've been told mixed things on this, there was a limit of 5 or there never was) considering all it's doing is improving rival nations and limiting development of English players. I know Poppy Cleall had some strong words on the issue.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61642997

Premier 15s final: Focus on England-qualified players to increase in future

By Sara Orchard
BBC Sport
Last updated on4 hours ago4 hours ago.

Exeter's recruitment of overseas international players has helped them reach the Premier 15s final in just their second season

Allianz Premier 15s final - Saracens v Exeter
Venue: Sixways Stadium, Worcester Date: Friday, 3 June Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Coverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app; live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.
The Rugby Football Union says the next Premier 15s cycle will have a "focus" on the number of England-qualified players in the league.

Exeter are expected to field a squad of mainly non-English internationals when they face Saracens in Friday's Premier 15s final at Sixways.

Sides must currently have an average of at least 16 England-qualified players in a matchday squad.

Clubs who fail to do so miss out on £7,500 in additional RFU funding.

The current Premier 15s cycle has one more season to run, and the RFU is still deciding on the criteria for clubs to be considered for inclusion from 2023-24.

The RFU said: "Like with all minimum operating standards and regulations these are reviewed on a season-by-season basis and are always under review and this [England-qualified players] will be a focus area ahead of the next cycle."

Given their relatively weaker domestic leagues, Welsh and Scottish internationals make up the majority of non-English Premier 15s players and the number of players from around the world has doubled since last season.

'Every club is made up of internationals' - Appleby
Exeter have built a highly successful squad in less than two years.

Head coach Susie Appleby used her contacts across the global game to entice some of the biggest names to the West Country, including United States captain Kate Zachary and Spain's Patricia Garcia.

"My directive from (Exeter chairman) Tony Rowe was to be competitive," explains Appleby.

"I did have numerous conversations with English contracted players, but no-one was willing to move.

"Yes, we have some overseas players, but Sarries have loads of England players, so what's the difference?

"They also have Welsh, we have Welsh, every top club in this league is made up of different international players."

'No reason to throw mud at Exeter' - Austerberry
Conversely Saracens, and the 2021 Premier 15s champions Harlequins, have enjoyed a duopoly on some of the best England talent since the league's inception.

Red Roses players Marlie Packer, Poppy Cleall and Zoe Harrison have helped lead Sarries to five finals and three trophies so far.

England are favourites to win October's World Cup and are top of the world rankings - success Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry attributes to the strength of the league.

"We've got a world-leading league and a world-leading Red Roses team, we have to defend and promote that at all times," he said.

"I don't think there is reason for me to throw mud at Exeter's programme - it's different to ours, fair credit to them.

"It's got them to a final and they are worthy of being in a final."

"Yes, we have some overseas players, but Sarries have loads of England players, so what's the difference?"

This has to be the most disingenuous piece of bullshit on the issue I could have read

I think in the case of Exeter who plunged half a million in setting up the team, a £7.5 grand fine won't mean much. I say put hard limits on non-English qualified players in match-day squads. Points dedications if needed. Though I have no problem with such measures being staggered into give clubs time to evolve their squads. Likewise I have no problem with clubs on borders (Like the Welsh or Scottish ones) being allowed to recruit a few extra foreign players given their geography is limited in some directions to recruit.

[Niegs]

The RFU have been noticing that teams, "coff coff Exeter coff coff", have been padding/overfilling their teams with foreign internationals and are looking at taking action.

I'm surprised a foreign player limit is not applied (I've been told mixed things on this, there was a limit of 5 or there never was) considering all it's doing is improving rival nations and limiting development of English players. I know Poppy Cleall had some strong words on the issue.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61642997

Premier 15s final: Focus on England-qualified players to increase in future

By Sara Orchard
BBC Sport
Last updated on4 hours ago4 hours ago.

Exeter's recruitment of overseas international players has helped them reach the Premier 15s final in just their second season

Allianz Premier 15s final - Saracens v Exeter
Venue: Sixways Stadium, Worcester Date: Friday, 3 June Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Coverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app; live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.
The Rugby Football Union says the next Premier 15s cycle will have a "focus" on the number of England-qualified players in the league.

Exeter are expected to field a squad of mainly non-English internationals when they face Saracens in Friday's Premier 15s final at Sixways.

Sides must currently have an average of at least 16 England-qualified players in a matchday squad.

Clubs who fail to do so miss out on £7,500 in additional RFU funding.

The current Premier 15s cycle has one more season to run, and the RFU is still deciding on the criteria for clubs to be considered for inclusion from 2023-24.

The RFU said: "Like with all minimum operating standards and regulations these are reviewed on a season-by-season basis and are always under review and this [England-qualified players] will be a focus area ahead of the next cycle."

Given their relatively weaker domestic leagues, Welsh and Scottish internationals make up the majority of non-English Premier 15s players and the number of players from around the world has doubled since last season.

'Every club is made up of internationals' - Appleby
Exeter have built a highly successful squad in less than two years.

Head coach Susie Appleby used her contacts across the global game to entice some of the biggest names to the West Country, including United States captain Kate Zachary and Spain's Patricia Garcia.

"My directive from (Exeter chairman) Tony Rowe was to be competitive," explains Appleby.

"I did have numerous conversations with English contracted players, but no-one was willing to move.

"Yes, we have some overseas players, but Sarries have loads of England players, so what's the difference?

"They also have Welsh, we have Welsh, every top club in this league is made up of different international players."

'No reason to throw mud at Exeter' - Austerberry
Conversely Saracens, and the 2021 Premier 15s champions Harlequins, have enjoyed a duopoly on some of the best England talent since the league's inception.

Red Roses players Marlie Packer, Poppy Cleall and Zoe Harrison have helped lead Sarries to five finals and three trophies so far.

England are favourites to win October's World Cup and are top of the world rankings - success Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry attributes to the strength of the league.

"We've got a world-leading league and a world-leading Red Roses team, we have to defend and promote that at all times," he said.

"I don't think there is reason for me to throw mud at Exeter's programme - it's different to ours, fair credit to them.

"It's got them to a final and they are worthy of being in a final."

"Yes, we have some overseas players, but Sarries have loads of England players, so what's the difference?"

This has to be the most disingenuous piece of bullshit on the issue I could have read

I think in the case of Exeter who plunged half a million in setting up the team, a £7.5 grand fine won't mean much. I say put hard limits on non-English qualified players in match-day squads. Points dedications if needed. Though I have no problem with such measures being staggered into give clubs time to evolve their squads. Likewise I have no problem with clubs on borders (Like the Welsh or Scottish ones) being allowed to recruit a few extra foreign players given their geography is limited in some directions to recruit.

Aren't many of Sarries' England players 'local' too?

Bris v Glos is like a Welsh training run is it not? DMP must really hate them all.

Maybe setting a really strong cap would put the onus back on Wales, Ireland, Scotland to improve their domestic leagues? .... maybe?

[laurent]

Laporte has now sacked the remainder of the French team staff.

Only Annick Heyraut the manager is left.

Laporte actually put the previous staff in place sacking the team put in place by the previous administration.

[Niegs]

Laporte has now sacked the remainder of the French team staff.

Only Annick Heyraut the manager is left.

Laporte actually put the previous staff in place sacking the team put in place by the previous administration.

So weird with just a handful of months until the World Cup. If you're boosting the assistant to the head's job, what was going on inside the setup that the assistant didn't have influence over the head coach?

[eldanielfire]

Laporte has now sacked the remainder of the French team staff.

Only Annick Heyraut the manager is left.

Laporte actually put the previous staff in place sacking the team put in place by the previous administration.

What's Heyraut's actual job details? It seems to be neither a coach nor fully in charge.

[laurent]

Laporte has now sacked the remainder of the French team staff.

Only Annick Heyraut the manager is left.

Laporte actually put the previous staff in place sacking the team put in place by the previous administration.

What's Heyraut's actual job details? It seems to be neither a coach nor fully in charge.

Manager

Laporte cannot stop meddling. The French team has made small progress under the previous setup whereas their main opponents have gone fully pro. You can't catch up by reorganising the staff.

The French are currently the second or third best in the world nothing to be ashamed of. However until the French league goes pro they won't be able to overtake England, they also need to have the players and talent

[Niegs]

Speaking of French rugby, I didn't know that Sansus and Bourdon were halfback partners at ST!



Beat Bordelais, which has some French as well, along with a Scot on the wing, Canucks and 9 and flank (and their new head coach on the coaching staff!?)

[eldanielfire]

Laporte has now sacked the remainder of the French team staff.

Only Annick Heyraut the manager is left.

Laporte actually put the previous staff in place sacking the team put in place by the previous administration.

What's Heyraut's actual job details? It seems to be neither a coach nor fully in charge.

Manager

Laporte cannot stop meddling. The French team has made small progress under the previous setup whereas their main opponents have gone fully pro. You can't catch up by reorganising the staff.

The French are currently the second or third best in the world nothing to be ashamed of. However until the French league goes pro they won't be able to overtake England, they also need to have the players and talent

I think the French team has made plenty of progress, the results against the Black Ferns confirm this. Remember also England's run of wins against France pre-dates them turning full time professional and not every player has been professional. Abby Dow and others wasn't pro until the last year because she studied.

As for the leagues, the French League is as developed as the English one. Neither s professional, despite the claims, neither pays players anything more than match fees or similar and top teams in both offer perks and incentives in some ways.

[laurent]

The French league is a basket case. I should not have to remind you that you know sweet nothing about it.

You were not too long ago arguing it was fully professional.

In reality it's run so badly that Perpignan and Bayone have both closed shop mid season.

Bayone this year and Perpignan a few years back.

[Niegs]

The French league is a basket case. I should not have to remind you that you know sweet nothing about it.

You were not too long ago arguing it was fully professional.

In reality it's run so badly that Perpignan and Bayone have both closed shop mid season.

Bayone this year and Perpignan a few years back.

I've never followed, but looking how stacked the teams were in the semis, was there a case of top players moving to the 'big' clubs? I vaguely remembered seeing a thing years ago showing clubs around the country ... or was it a list of internationals with their club listed ... and don't remember seeing ST and ASM listed that much?

Yeah, this ... none of this year's semi-finalists are there, I think?

[laurent]

The French league is a basket case. I should not have to remind you that you know sweet nothing about it.

You were not too long ago arguing it was fully professional.

In reality it's run so badly that Perpignan and Bayone have both closed shop mid season.

Bayone this year and Perpignan a few years back.

I've never followed, but looking how stacked the teams were in the semis, was there a case of top players moving to the 'big' clubs? I vaguely remembered seeing a thing years ago showing clubs around the country ... or was it a list of internationals with their club listed ... and don't remember seeing ST and ASM listed that much?

Yeah, this ... none of this year's semi-finalists are there, I think?

It's rather old (Perpignan have been in D2 for a few years now (and nowhere near the title even longer)
USAT was merged with Perpignan and is gone (ladies) and Bayonne ladies are gone this year.

Blagnac and Toulouse are in the Final this year there was a lot of movement with mergers and clubs going bust since these 2 were not in .

A lot of players were recruited by Montpellier a few years back however now Toulouse is doing it.

[Guy Smiley]

NZ is hosting a Pacific Four Series with the first round of matches next week...

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news ... -world-cup

World Rugby has announced that New Zealand will host the 2022 edition of the Pacific Four Series in June as four of the world’s top teams go head-to-head ahead of Rugby World Cup 2021.

Contested by New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA, the cross-regional, annual international competition acts as one of the principle annual qualification routes for the top tier of WXV from 2023 and will also serve as crucial preparation for Rugby World Cup 2021 which kicks off on 8 October, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Monday, 6 June – KO 12:15 local time
Canada v USA
Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

Monday, 6 June – KO 14:45 local time
New Zealand v Australia
Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

Sunday, 12 June – KO 12:15 local time
USA v Australia
The Trusts Arena, Waitakere, Auckland

Sunday, 12 June – KO 14:45 local time
Canada v New Zealand
The Trusts Arena, Waitakere, Auckland

Saturday, 18 June – KO 13:30 local time
Australia v Canada
Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei

Saturday, 18 June – KO 16:00 local time
New Zealand v USA
Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei

[eldanielfire]

The French league is a basket case. I should not have to remind you that you know sweet nothing about it.

You were not too long ago arguing it was fully professional.

In reality it's run so badly that Perpignan and Bayone have both closed shop mid season.

Bayone this year and Perpignan a few years back.

I never said it was fully professional at any point. I did argue that some players were getting generous perks and compensation to play to draw and keep players. Quite generously back in 2017/18 or thereabouts. Which currently puts it on par with the English league in terms of structure and level of compensation.

The organisation of it is of course another matter, but there's a difference between structure and management. Plenty of men's English clubs were basket cases when the league went professional, going professional does not mean it's always better run.

As for the French league, I'd love for more updates and even links as to how to follow it. or watch games/highlights where possible. It's always good to get more educated on it and be able to follow it.

[eldanielfire]

The 2022 Allianz Premier 15s final is today at KO 3pm. It will be broadcast live on BT Sport, BBC iPlayer and Premier15s.com.

[Niegs]

Botterman is so annoying. Sarries hold up a try in goal and she’s patting the Ex prop on the back to rub it in (and gets an elbow for it).

[eldanielfire]

Sarries smash the all star internationals off the pitch.

[laurent]

The Final for the Elite1 will be in TV (france4) the only game as far as I know except for French team.

I'll likely miss it along with the Nationale1 final (on L'équipeTV) as I'll be with our mini's all afternoon.

On Coverage there is hardly any. Midol paper has results and short summary, and local news paper may have more...

[ASMO]

Sarries smash the all star internationals off the pitch.

There was never a doubt it would happen

[eldanielfire]