New Zealand’s Black Ferns proved too good in the Rugby World Cup final and, with the 15-a-side players’ contracts up in favour of the Olympic format of sevens, it is all changeIt had all the drama of the women’s cricket final at Lord’s last month. But this time there was no happy ending for England. The Red Roses learned New Zealand can always spoil that beauty with plenty of thorns of their own. For the fourth time the Black Ferns have overcome England in a World Cup final.England’s powerful pack were more than a match for New Zealand and their wing Lydia Thompson scored a brilliant second-half try that on any other day would have won the World Cup but...
New Zealand have a standout player in Portia Woodman but Simon Middleton’s side are a well-oiled machine as they target back-to-back triumphsTwo enormous yellow shipbuilding cranes dominate the Belfast skyline and are impossible to miss. Situated in the Titanic quarter and looming large over the city, they are known locally as Samson and Goliath, and considering England versus New Zealand is the final the Women’s World Cup has been craving, pitting by a distance the two giants of the game against each other, it is an apt backdrop for Saturday night’s showdown.It is also a match-up that has a familiar ring to it – while the men’s game must make do with verbal sparring from Eddie Jones and Steve Hansen...
Comparing men’s and women’s rugby can be dangerous but the stark contrast between huge financial incentives and guaranteed loss of contracts highlights even more the great divide in sportAs England’s women face the prospect of their successful defence of the World Cup this month being met with the end of their professional contracts, it is worth recalling the £6m shared jackpot on offer to the men in 2015. Comparing men’s and women’s sport can often be dangerous ground but such a stark contrast highlights the backdrop against which Simon Middleton’s side head to Ireland – a P45 rather than a payday awaits.The decision has been widely criticised by former players and MPs, staunchly defended by the Rugby Football Union who...
Billy Vunipola’s return should boost England, while Ireland are likely to struggle without Conor Murray and France may be distracted by domestic mattersThe significance of Billy Vunipola’s return for England cannot be overstated. Not only does he lift those around him, he also brings formidable carrying that Eddie Jones’s side lacked in the early stages of the competition. As the Championship has worn on, however, Maro Itoje has grown into his role at blindside flanker and Courtney Lawes now finds himself in his best ever international form. Itoje and Lawes swap at scrum time and so you could argue Lawes is effectively playing at No6, regardless of the number on his back. His carrying was relentless against Scotland and while...
Leigh Halfpenny looks in the mood to give England a kicking, Italy’s discipline will be tested by Ireland and France know they must not lose to ScotlandThere were times during the autumn when one could not help but feel for Leigh Halfpenny. It used to be the case that anything in the opposition half was within his kicking range but it seemed his lengthy troubles might have changed that for good. And as an attacking threat he was a fair way below the level he showed with the Lions four years ago; all the while Liam Williams was continuing to shine. Against Italy, however, Halfpenny was one of Wales’s brightest players and his kicking was also on the money. Shaun...