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Let the revolution commence: Your whistle-stop tour of the opening weekend of WXV
‘A revolution in the women’s global game’, we’re told, by assets in Powerpuff Girl shades, as cartoon renderings of some of the sport’s biggest stars beam out at us from grids and timelines.
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WXV is here: 18 teams, three tournaments, and a yearly opportunity for women’s rugby to dazzle on a planetary scale. A truly worldwide competition, which gets started this weekend, and feels the beginning of something very special.
It’s important to remember that this is ‘the beginning’ of the WXV era, because it’s certainly not perfect just yet. I’ve personally found the format only slightly less disorientating than Ulysses, and it’s kicking off during the business end of a men’s World Cup, which limits the resources available to it in almost every metric.
There are finite quantities of channel space, column inches, broadcasters, support staff, funding, and – critically – audience eyeballs, so this trailblazing competition can only really hope for a soft launch.
The indistinguishable-shot-of-a-new-partner-in-your-story sort of debut, rather than a collaborative snap on your mutual, loved-up profiles.
This weekend in France, we’ll probably enjoy at least one of the best World Cup quarter-finals of all time, and each and every fixture boasts jeopardy of Jurassic proportions. Fortunately, WXV organisers have been smart.
The big dogs of WXV1 don’t get underway for another week, when there’s less men’s action to vie with, and two thirds of the fixtures in South Africa (WXV 2) and Dubai (WXV 3) are taking place on Friday – seeking your undivided attention. They deserve it.
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The two slated for Saturday are wrapped up before a ball’s even been kicked in France, so – if you don’t end the weekend at total rugby saturation – something’s gone horribly wrong.
Here’s an eve-of-the-tournament digital pamphlet for you. A chronological whistle-stop tour of all six matches.
WXV is almost here! Are you ready?
Starts 13th October 2023. Buy tickets- link in bio.#WXV #WXVRugby #Rugby pic.twitter.com/dKU2zVmWFI
— WXV (@WXVRugby) October 5, 2023
WXV 2: Italy vs Japan – Friday, 1pm UK time
This one sells itself – it really does. A moment in history, as the first match of the first WXV, and the sixth meeting of two ambitious, fearless sides, whose default setting is ‘attack’ – and whose last two clashes have been historic.
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A year ago, the Azzurri extended their unbeaten record against the Sakura Fifteen in Pool B of the World Cup – and, in doing so, a ‘Golden Generation’ wrote their names into sporting legend by becoming the first Italian outfit – men’s or women’s – to reach the playoffs.
Elisa Giordano’s newly-professionalised squad impressed, as we all fell for Beatrice Rigoni’s sweet-chomping swashbuckle, and some talismanic servants of those famous blue jerseys hung up their boots after unprecedented success.
A fortnight ago, the Blossoms struck back in Parma – notching their first ever win over the hosts. A fresh-faced Italy looked shellshocked by Japan’s blistering start, and left themselves with far too much to do in the second half, as a missed conversion proved the difference.
24-25 to Lesley McKenzie’s Sakuras, which adds a little extra spice to proceedings this weekend, when Italy – who’ve recalled a few experienced campaigners – will look to reassert their dominance.
All eyes on Japan’s scrum half, fan favourite and 5-foot fizz of static, Megumi Abe – who’ll be making mischief at the heart of this curtain raiser.
WXV 3: Fiji vs Colombia – Friday 2pm UK time
Last October, Fiji versus South Africa proved one of the games of the tournament. One of the games of the year, in fact. 80 neck-and-neck minutes between two sides hurtling towards the finish line of a World Cup victory with the helter-skelter fever of a primary school 100-metre dash.
Fijiana triumphed in the most dramatic of finales, and really do entrance when they get it right: remember how spectacularly they flew from the blocks against the Red Roses? The Drua are back-to-back Super W champions, too: this is a force on the rise.
Colombia came within one victory of a spot in the World Cup, only to be dismantled by Scotland in Dubai last February. That was, incredibly, just their *fourth* ever test match, and first against a team above 18th in the rankings.
With WXV on the horizon, things have accelerated for Las Tucanes, who’ve since beaten Brazil four times, and only lost to Hong Kong by three points in a recent warm up. They’ve never faced Fiji before – nor Ireland – so the next few weeks will be invaluable.
WXV 2: South Africa vs Scotland – Friday 3:30pm UK time
What an opportunity for the Boks, who get to play all month long before a home crowd, and have spoken with such passion about their plans to capitalise on this platform. If enough show up to the Danie Craven Stadium, it could do wonders for the game in the region: any side led by Babalwa Latsha, and boasting the firepower of a fit-again Aseza Hele – who’ll put the ‘Bosch’ into ‘Stellenbosch’ all day long (sorry) – is sure attract new fans.
It cannot be overstated how significant this campaign could prove for Scotland. They snapped a twelve-match losing streak against Italy in April, at last transforming indubitable potential into a straight-up ‘dub’, and now have the opportunity make wins a regular occurrence. They won’t have it easy, but can beat every other side in Tier Two – and, if winning really is a habit, then this could prove a sea-change.
Oh – and they’ve named a McGhie-Rollie-Lloyd back three, which is pure sizzle.
WXV 3: Ireland vs Kazakstan – Friday 4:30pm UK time
It’s been a torrid few years for the Irish women’s programme. Absent from the World Cup, and thumped to the base of the Six Nations table – as the waves of off-field negativity looked to add to the pressure upon those on it.
WXV offers a precious clean slate to a side who’ve not won in a year, who’ve a new coach in Scott Bemand, and who’ve an average age of just 23. Ireland don’t want to be in WXV 3, but – for now – this feels just the environment they need.
They’ll need to hit the ground running, as Kazakstan lead their head-to-head by three wins to two, and are piling resources into their 15s set up after a couple of cycles focussing on 7s. There’s a core group training full time together, with the ultimate goal a return to the World Cup in 2025, and this a key stepping stone in that journey.
For a brilliant deep dive into The Nomads ahead of WXV, look no further than this from ScrumQueens.
WXV 2: USA vs Samoa – Saturday 1pm UK time
The question is: can the USA finally perform as the sum of their parts? The talent is there – the scything Kate Zackary; the bunchied, beaming tackle bot that is Rachel Johnson; the prodigious Eti Haungatau; the intrepid, teflon-coated Bulou Mataitoga; and the cheat code that is Georgie Perris-Redding – but the performances often fall short of all that these individuals promise.
Interim Head Coach Milton Haig has the raw materials of a WXV 1 squad, and a trio of WXV 2 tests to develop some cohesion.
Samoa haven’t featured in a World Cup for almost a decade, and might be arriving under the radar, but that’s just how they like it. The newly-crowned queens of Oceana beat Fiji to their first championship in June – and their skipper, Sui Pauaraisa, noted how much they’d relished their underdogs’ free hit. Watch out, Stellenbosch.
WXV 3: Spain vs Kenya – Saturday 2pm UK time
Sometimes niche, esoteric environments are a little daunting – the stomach butterflies are always at their most agitated when you don’t know anyone at the party – but don’t let the unknown put you off when it comes to this tournament.
Get stuck into the match-ups like Spain versus Kenya, discuss them, learn about them, and find the players and storylines which give you little footholds on the clamber towards enjoyment.
Most of us couldn’t name more than a handful of the Portuguese men’s side until last month, and I’d now probably buy a Mike Tadjer oil on canvas. What an opportunity this is to find new favourites within the women’s game.
WXV 2 and 3 will throw together sides we’ve hardly seen, in combinations we’ve never encountered, and that’s only a good thing: think of the exposure and experience they’re gaining, of the club coaches and scouts who’ll see them in action, and how much better the 2025 World Cup will be for all of this.
For all of those reasons, Las Leonas vs the Lionesses is the perfect way to round off this historic sextet, and tucks into your Saturday beautifully ahead of events in France. Let the pastel revolution commence.
You were right about the men’s World Cup quarter final matches… hope you’re right about these! A great summing up, thanks.