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England desperate to get it over the line – Maggie Alphonsi on RWC 2025 chances

133 days ago

YORK, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Maggie Alphonsi and Jodie Ounsley pose during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 ticket applications launch at City Cruises York on November 5, 2024 in York, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes - World Rugby via Getty Images)

Former World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi believes England will be “desperate” to get over the line and win next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The Red Roses are competing on home soil at the 2025 World Cup and will be aiming to go one step further following a difficult loss in the 2021 final, where New Zealand came from behind to clinch their sixth title with a 34-31 victory at Eden Park.

The Black Ferns have been a constant thorn in England’s side at World Cups, beating them in five finals since 2002.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

With exactly one year to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 kicks off
in Sunderland, excitement is sweeping across the host nation in anticipation of what
will be the biggest and most accessible celebration of women’s rugby ever.

England’s World Cup opener at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light is now only nine months away and the team are in a strong position having not tasted defeat since that 2021 final loss and currently ranked number one in the world.

Additionally, they recorded victories over New Zealand in September and October this year and Alphonsi hopes England can channel some of that success for the World Cup, which has already seen over 130,000 tickets sold through pre-sales.

“England definitely need to take and harness all the success they’ve had against New Zealand in between World Cups,” Alphonsi told the PA news agency.

“Some might say they have a mental block when it comes to playing New Zealand in a World Cup because England, even the teams I’ve been part of, have never beaten New Zealand in a World Cup.

“England have to really channel that success and confidence of beating New Zealand in between to harness that for the World Cup.

“But at the same time, England can’t think about New Zealand, because if you spend too much time thinking about them then all of a sudden other teams sneak through.

Ticket demand reaches new heights 🎟️
More than 100,000 tickets have been requested in just the first week of the #RWC2025 application phase, adding to the 130,000 tickets already sold in the presale
Don’t miss out, apply for tickets at the link below 🔗 #ThisEnergyNeverStops
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 13, 2024

“Canada, we played them in the final in 2014 and at one stage I think they probably could have knocked us out of that tournament.

“I think for England it’s all about that mentality as well as physical strength and fitness, have they got the mindset to get it over the line?

“That’s going to be the big thing because they’ve missed out so many times, they’ve been in every final, but it’s been 10 years since we last won a World Cup. They’re going to want to desperately get it over the line this time around.”

England’s last taste of World Cup glory came in 2014 when they claimed a 21-9 victory over Canada in Paris.

Alphonsi was part of that team and announced her international retirement shortly after the triumph, admitting it was a “relief” to finally secure the trophy.

Brighton is gearing to play a big part at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 👀
The beachfront city will host @RedRosesRugby vs @WallaroosRugby and @BlackFerns vs @IrishRugby 💫
Apply for tickets now at https://t.co/wiftbbRu2B 🎟️ #RWC2025 | @BrightonHoveCC pic.twitter.com/oJiKPIrA9q
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 13, 2024

“It was amazing because it was a tournament in France and I think I’d started to see women’s rugby get much more attention,” Alphonsi added.

“When we won it in 2014, for me personally it was a relief. For me and my teammates it was 12 years on that journey of trying to get to that point of winning that World Cup and we finally did it.

“It was a really amazing occasion because family and friends were able to come out and see France, it was very special.”

The Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 gets underway at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday, August 22 and runs until September 27. General sale ticket applications for all matches are available until 11am (GMT) November 19 2024.

Comments

1 Comment

SadersMan 133 days ago

A bit arrogant to start selecting the finalists this far out. We only need look at the semis in RWC2021 (2022) to know that the Final could just as easily have been CAN v FRA. Or CAN v NZL, or ENG v FRA.

Also, drawing on pre RWC2025 wins will mean nothing. You have to start the campaign from the floor. Otherwise, you subconsciously create an entitlement mentality. Good luck to all teams, esp the Black Ferns.

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Comments on RugbyPass

BC 3 minutes ago

How centurion Sara Barattin helped propel Italy to new heights

It’s fascinating how all 6N teams think they are really improving. It is making for some great matches. Barattin has been a great servant and role model through thick and thin during her career.

2 Go to comments

BC 10 minutes ago

How John Mitchell is giving Red Roses a purpose in 2025

Yes, I’ve read those plaudits too and along with many others who have also commented on various sites cannot understand it. She played ok but seems to have become the darling of the media perhaps because she is a good player who would be picked in most teams but is down the pecking order for the Red Roses. Sing would be much easier to shut down than EK due to her lesser speed. My understudy for EK is Helena Rowland, very talented and as quick as Dow, and after that Dow herself. Perhaps though Rowland will have nailed down another starting position by RWC. She can play 12, 13 and 15 with equal aplomb and would do so at 10 given a run of matches. I cannot see the logic for breaking up the best back 3 in the world to accommodate a good kicker but lesser all round player. I can understand having to make a tough choice between MacDonald and Breach but EK’s potency would be much reduced if put out on the wing. Still we are all entitled to our opinion and we can agree to differ. I just want the very best as I see it for the Red Roses and although Sing wouldn’t let them down there are better options. I have faith in Mitchell now (after being a sceptic) to make the right calls.

3 Go to comments

MS 23 minutes ago

Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question

I can understand negotiations for Kinghorn, White, and Ribbans. All three are playing very, very well at the current time. Kinghorn has been a leading contended for some time now; Ribbans looks as powerful as he’s ever been; while on the evidence of the most recent Six Nations, White benches behind JGP at Scrumhalf.

However, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.

As for Farrell, not only has he been plagued by poor form and injury since moving to Racing, even the much vaunted ‘kicking record’ has long since been debunked as a USP with a percentage that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. That leaves only the intangible (desperate…) claim he would add ‘leadership’, which in a Lions squad resplendent with talent and international caps is I’m afraid, much like Farrell, a complete non-starter.

Willis is the elephant in the room…a leader and standout option for one of the best club teams in the World. Yet still a relative unknown at Test Match level. I could well see him being included on the tour - and it would prove quite the headache for the RFU if he delivers. But Back Row is so competitive across all three positions, and with genuine World Class talent there too. I’m just not sure the Lions need him.

2 Go to comments

CV 27 minutes ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Football always had ‘detached’ leagues. So do most other sports. Unions or federations never dictated who plays and how often like in NZ. Would be unheard of. You need independent clubs that really compete with each other in NZ but that would never happen because NZR would have to relinquish control over players. Rugby’s model is an exception in professional sport, not the rule.

SA in the 6N? Never. Most want promotion/relegation to the REC and many want to keep it as it is. Much better for the game here when countries can finally get into the 6N. It will lead to more investment in REC nations because they can finally get ahead. Tier 1 nations do very little to grow the game outside their countries.

SA should grow the game in Africa. Plenty of potential there.

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Touring NZ is a golden opportunity for every one of the French players that take the field to nail themselves into the squad. What better opportunity is there than to stand out for all the right reasons than a Test match in NZ? Any that manage to achieve that will only enhance the pool of talent available for ‘27.

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

NZR knew exactly when the Top14 final was when they signed the tour contract.

95 Go to comments

CN 1 hour ago

How centurion Sara Barattin helped propel Italy to new heights

Lovely, lovely player. At her peak she was dynamic and difficult and always played with a smile. You got the feeling that as well as her teammates the opposition also respected her.

2 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Partially correct. NZ needs to get on with being the lead in developing the Pacific 6N and monetising Japan - and developing their competitiveness. That will enable all the financial support you mention.

As for France, it’s not about “caring”, it’s about money and the club owners provide their money to drive their club agenda. Period. French rugby is a beast and your JIFF point is well made but SA is a beast also that’s now awake and England is a sleeping beast that is financially stricken. SA will make up a 7N and that will drive all 3 to new levels. The Irish, Scottish and welsh clubs are all union owned and will continue to struggle keeping up but the 7N revenue boost will help, as the SA involvement in the URC is doing currently.

EPL is entirely different, football has followed its own path in allowing the league to detach and is an extreme example of what happens when the clubs are allowed to call the shots across the board. Not a path that rugby will follow fortunately.

95 Go to comments

CN 2 hours ago

How John Mitchell is giving Red Roses a purpose in 2025

I’m not sure many agree with you on this one, Rugby Pass made her their player of the match last week and the comments on the BBC website, although mixed, were lauding her attributes. Her running lines are really good and incisive, very good passing range and her defence is better than ok. I do like her as an option and she would probably go to the RWC as a specialist FB and understudy. EK struggled against Canada at WXV because they doubled up on her every time and took away her space, why not give teams something different to defend?

3 Go to comments

DH 2 hours ago

Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question

Kinghorn and Willis should join after the Top14 final. O Farrell has been average all year and RC92 wants rid of him, he has no pace and is too dominant a character (like Ford) without the skills to back it up. Take the two Finns and Blair Kinghorn and all will be good.

2 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Started well but wobbled when you mentioned Irish club money (it’s all union owned with state help) and lost it completely talking about offshore accounts.

That said, NZ have been phenomenally good at what they’ve done but it’s become a lot more difficult to be out in front and that isn’t going to change for them. They need to focus on the pacific 6N and monetise Japan but SA are the powerhouse and will stay that way when they monetise their certain involvement in a 7N comp, which will also boost English and French resources!

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

No I don’t. Point me to any discontent from the French about this? Sure the players have understandably said they’d love to go but that’s the sum total of it on the NH side. Everyone understands the decision making dynamic and the factors driving it. As you’ve already conceded above, NZR were also aware of exactly what was coming.

95 Go to comments

BC 2 hours ago

Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: The first edition

Interesting comment from Pauline Bourdon that France would have lost that match at WXV1. Does that mean that France have recovered their mojo and are once again potential worldbeaters?

1 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Cooperation would be an interesting description of that relationship, the power sits with the money and that’s the club owners.