Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I think it is cool too... 30,000 people are coming here to support women'

(L-R) Rachel Malcolm (Scotland), Saki Minami (Japan), Siwan Lillicrap (Wales), Shannon Perry (Australia), Gaelle Hermet (France), Sarah Hunter (England), Kennedy Simon (New Zealand), Sereima Leweniqila (Fiji), Kate Zackary (USA), Nolusindiso Booi (South Africa), Sophie de Goede (Canada) and Elisa Giordano (Italy) pose in front of a mural specially created for the tournament during the Rugby World Cup 2021 Captains' Photocall at Eden Park on 2 October, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The captains of 12 nations competing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup met at Eden Park on Sunday with the showpiece spectacle set to kick off on the 8th October.

ADVERTISEMENT

Representatives from each country gathered for photo calls and when interviewed, all oozed excitement for what lay ahead.

Five-time winners New Zealand are on hosting duties and could oversee record-breaking crowds, with more than 30,000 tickets already sold for the opening day at Eden Park.

Video Spacer

Rita Ora to headline Rugby World Cup 2021 opening party

Video Spacer

Rita Ora to headline Rugby World Cup 2021 opening party

Fans attending will get to watch a triple header, culminating in the Black Ferns facing Australia, who they beat twice in late August to retain the O’Reilly Cup.

Eden Park last hosted a World Cup final in 2011, when the All Blacks reclaimed their world title, and the Black Ferns will hope something similar plays out this time around.

They are, in truth, the reigning champions, having beaten England 41–32 to reclaim their crown back in 2017.

But despite having home advantage, New Zealand will not enter the tournament as favourites. That title is bestowed upon England who are in red hot form, entering the competition on a 25-game win streak.

ADVERTISEMENT

As part of that run, the Red Roses did the double over the Black Ferns last Autumn, blowing them apart 43-12, before backing up that statement win with another 56-15 bashing in early November.

Related

Though none of that was playing on New Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant’s mind when she arrived at the photo call. The meaning and importance of a home tournament was her sole focus.

“I will probably feel emotions I have never felt before. You kind of dream of opportunities like this, playing a Rugby World Cup at home but you never think it would happen,” Demant said. “To be one of the lucky ones, the right time in our careers, the stars are aligned.

“I think it is cool too, just the fact that 30,000 people are coming here to support women – that has never been done before in New Zealand, never before. It is exciting to see the growth among fans and support for women’s sport in general, let alone women’s rugby.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Fellow co-captain Kennedy Simon was equally enthused and took the time to heap praises on Black Ferns head coach Wayne Smith, whose tenure only began in April of this year.

“It is really exciting that we get to play in front of our family, our home crowd. Preparations have been going awesome. We have got The Professor, Wayne Smith. He is an incredible human who just makes everyone feel at ease and makes just the environment such a hard-working, thriving place,” Simon said.

It would be an exceptional achievement if Smith’s side take home rugby’s biggest prize, but to do so they must topple an England outfit that have their eyes locked on the World Cup trophy.

Related

“It’s incredible what this team has done, the journey we’ve been on and the games that we’ve won but we take nothing for granted,” England captain Sarah Hunter said. “We celebrate those moments and significant milestones but we’re here for the World Cup and our focus is on our next job, which is Fiji and our preparation for that.”

Fiji made history by qualifying for their first ever World Cup and will relish the opportunity to make their tournament debut against England.

“It has been a tremendous journey,” said Fiji captain Sereima Leweniqila. “We are both grateful and excited ahead of our first Rugby World Cup match ever. Since before we left for New Zealand, we have received great and ongoing support, something very new for us. When we arrived in the country, we have met the local Fijian community and we hope they will show up in numbers.”

South Africa and France will open the competition on Saturday with the northern hemisphere side favourited to win. The Springbok Women are the third lowest ranked team competing and will have to fall back on their physicality and power if they are to claim a surprise victory.

But for South Africa captain Nolusindiso Booi, it is as much about inspiring investment and the next generation of players, as it is about winning.

Related

“One has to understand the significance of this tournament and how it can elevate the women’s game on a global scale, but even more so, how it can promote the game back home in South Africa,” Booi said.

“We need to prove to all of those who will take the time to watch us that we are indeed a team worth investing in, whether it is financially or emotionally.

“We have often said – and we honestly believe it – that we want to touch the lives of young girls back home, that we want to show them there is a future and a place for you if you play rugby.”

As the ninth edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup edges closer, much of the focus will be on the audience and outreach the tournament generates. If the opening day at Eden Park is a sign of things to come, this may just be the best tournament yet.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
Search