Girls’s Rugby World Cup 2022: group-by-group preview | Girls’s Rugby World Cup 2022

October 6, 2022

POOL A

New Zealand

Coach Wayne Smith
Captain Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon
World Cup greatest Winners 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017

As hosts and five-time champions, the Black Ferns have been favourites till the pandemic hit and disrupted their sport time. Their Checks towards England in 2021, the place they suffered two successive file losses to the Pink Roses, have been their first worldwide fixtures in two years. However New Zealand are again in firing type with staggering scorelines of their warm-up matches. The winger Portia Woodman has notably stood out, scoring seven tries within the 95-12 demolition of Japan final month. They’re undoubtedly able to efficiently defending their title and will come out as pool winners with a tasty deal with coming towards Australia.

Portia Woodman of the Black Ferns makes a break during the International Women’s test match between the New Zealand Black Ferns and Japan at Eden Park on 24 September, 2022.
Portia Woodman (left) scored seven tries in New Zealand’s 95-12 warm-up win towards Japan final month. {Photograph}: Hannah Peters/Getty Pictures

Australia

Coach Jay Tregonning
Captain Shannon Parry
World Cup greatest Third place, 2010

Australia aren’t heading into their opening sport towards New Zealand with outcomes on their facet. They’ve received as soon as since Jay Tregonning was appointed in September 2021, the victory coming towards Fiji in Could. They’ve gone on to lose six video games in a row, three by the hands of New Zealand. They could wrestle to complete third within the group and with solely two third-placed groups going by to the quarter-finals, decided on competitors factors, their marketing campaign may finish on the pool stage. The wing Bienne Terita may very well be their secret weapon, although, after she scored two tries on her debut towards New Zealand in August.

Wales

Coach Ioan Cunningham
Captain Siwan Lillicrap
World Cup greatest Fourth, 1994

This would be the first World Cup Wales play in as professionals. Full-time and part-time contracts have been launched in January with extra supplied later within the yr. The impression was instantaneous as Wales completed third within the Six Nations – their greatest outcome since 2009. Nevertheless, they haven’t registered a victory since beating Scotland within the Six Nations in April, dropping each warm-up matches towards Canada and England. They are going to be pleased to get out of the group and with gamers such because the wing Jasmine Joyce and flanker Alisha Butchers, who was named Wales Girls Participant of the 12 months in June, they’ve an excellent probability of doing so.

Scotland

Coach Bryan Easson
Captain Rachel Malcolm
World Cup greatest Quarter-finals, 1994

Scotland’s response to qualifying for the World Cup in September informed you every part you might want to find out about what this event means to them. It’s their first time competing on the world stage since 2010 and the likes of No 8 Jade Konkel shall be wanting to make it a event to recollect. Whereas they did lose their final match, a pleasant towards the USA in August, they confirmed promise. Will probably be a direct contest with Wales and Australia for second place within the pool with their greatest match prone to be towards Wales. The ladies in purple claimed the win over them within the Six Nations.

Scotland’s Jade Konkel plays against Japan in a Women’s International on 14 November, 2021.
Scotland, whose facet embrace Jade Konkel, shall be taking part in of their first World Cup since 2010. {Photograph}: Lee Smith/Motion Pictures/Reuters

POOL B

Canada

Coach Kevin Rouet
Captain Sophie de Goede
World Cup greatest Runners-up, 2014

Canada ought to prime their pool and so enhance their probabilities of reaching the semi-finals as they might most likely keep away from New Zealand and England within the quarters. Whereas they’ll face fierce opposition of their pool, Canada are ranked third on this planet and have World Cup closing expertise on their facet that ought to enable them to clinch prime spot. The staff can also be stacked stuffed with seasoned gamers with 9, together with the scrum-half Brianna Miller and flanker Karen Paquin, having World Cup expertise. Additionally they head into the event off the again of a promising summer season, together with a win over the USA.

Karen Paquin of Canada scores a try during the 2020 Sydney Sevens semi final match between Australia and Canada at Bankwest Stadium on 2 February, 2020.
Karen Paquin is one among Canada’s most proficient gamers and has earlier World Cup expertise. {Photograph}: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Pictures

USA

Coach Rob Cain
Captain Kate Zackary
World Cup greatest Winners, 1991

Kate Zackary steered the USA to a pair of nice warm-up wins, regardless of their thumping loss to England. They bagged victories over Australia and Scotland in the summertime with defeats to the Pink Roses and New Zealand difficult them earlier than looking for their means out of a difficult pool. Their greatest job shall be towards Canada, who’re three spots increased than them on this planet rankings with the USA sixth. The Individuals shall be focusing on a prime pool spot as they search their first World Cup silverware since 1991.

Italy

Coach Andrea Di Giandomenico
Captain Elisa Giordano
World Cup greatest Ninth place play-off, 2017

Italy had a disappointing 2022 Six Nations ending fifth, their worst outcome since 2016. They’d extra hassle in the summertime with a 21-0 defeat to France however bounced again to assert a 26-19 win towards their neighbours, which took them to fifth on this planet rankings, their highest place. On prime of this confidence-boost, the veteran Manuela Furlan has been named of their squad after sustaining an harm. Her versatility and management shall be invaluable to the facet as they navigate a tough pool.

Japan

Coach Lesley McKenzie
Captain Saki Minami
World Cup greatest Quarter-finals, 1994

The bottom-ranked facet may have the hardest time getting out of the pool. Japan are thirteenth on this planet however are able to shock upsets, so shouldn’t be under-estimated. Within the build-up to the event they beat Eire, Australia and Fiji. Lesley McKenzie, a former Canadian worldwide, made it clear what the staff wish to obtain: “I’m actually trying ahead to seeing performances from the staff that make the rugby world rise up and take discover of what this staff can do.” The squad is comparatively inexperienced, with back-rower Seina Saito essentially the most capped with 31.

POOL C

England

Coach Simon Middleton
Captain Sarah Hunter
World Cup greatest Winners, 1994 and 2014

The Pink Roses are the favourites and something however a trophy win shall be a disappointment as they boast a 25-game successful streak. They turned the primary Take a look at staff to succeed in that mark of their warm-up matches, the file win coming towards Wales final month. With abilities reminiscent of vice-captain and centre, Emily Scarratt, and the World Rugby’s Participant of the 12 months, Zoe Aldcroft, their dominance over the previous few years ought to see them sail to the ultimate. First up, although, may very well be their hardest take a look at towards outdated rivals France, the final staff to beat them.

England’s lock Zoe Aldcroft (centre) passes the ball as Ireland’s lock Aoife McDermott (right) prepares to make a tackle during the Six Nations international women’s rugby union match between England and Ireland at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 24 April, 2022.
Zoe Aldcroft is the present World Rugby Participant of the 12 months. {Photograph}: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Pictures

France

Coach Thomas Darracq
Captain Gaëlle Hermet
World Cup greatest Third place 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2014

France ought to comfortably get out of the pool, albeit behind England. Le Crunch would be the greatest match for each side however the Pink Roses ought to crush the French. The problem for France is to transform the alternatives they create for themselves and use the person brilliance of scrum-half Laure Sansus to full benefit. Sansus scored six tries on the 2022 Six Nations, essentially the most of any participant, and shall be counted on much more so after the shock omission of the wing Caroline Boujard. Whereas they head into the event with the shock defeat to Italy in the summertime, France actually have the boldness to muscle their approach to the quarters.

South Africa

Coach Stanley Raubenheimer
Captain Nolusindiso Booi
World Cup greatest Ninth place play-off, 2010 and 2014

South Africa’s match towards Fiji is their greatest within the pool with the facet aiming to safe third spot behind France and England. South Africa come into the event with some stable outcomes: a sequence draw towards Japan and two wins over Spain. Additionally they boast experiencein captain and lock Nolusindiso Booi and fly-half Zenay Jordaan, who will each be competing of their third World Cups. Stanley Raubenheimer says: “We’ve our aims and one among them is to not solely make the nation proud with our effort, however ourselves as effectively.”

South Africa’s Zenay Jordaan during the Autumn International match at Twickenham Stadium.
South Africa’s Zenay Jordaan shall be participating in her third World Cup. {Photograph}: David Davies/PA

Fiji

Coach Senirusi Seruvakula
Captain Sereima Leweniqila
World Cup greatest Debut

Fiji are competing at their first World Cup and so are considerably unknown. The unpredictability of their matches is heightened, too, as it is going to be the primary time they’ve performed any of the groups throughout the pool. They arrive into the event off a title-winning Oceania Championship after they set a file 152-0 win over Papua New Guinea. One to look out for specifically is the lock Asinate Serevi, daughter of sevens participant Waisale, who switched to Fiji underneath World Rugby’s new legal guidelines after taking part in for the USA.

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