She had hoped. Originally scheduled for autumn 2021, the Women’s Rugby World Cup was postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will take place from Saturday 8 October to Saturday 12 November. Early risers are required to follow the meetings as the competition takes place in Auckland and Whangarei, New Zealand, and the finals are scheduled at the legendary Eden Park for men in 1987 and 2011. Overview

A new formula by introducing quarter finals

As in seven of the previous nine editions, 12 nations will compete for the final victory in this World Cup (before expanding to 16 from 2025). But unlike the last few editions, the format of the World Rugby competition was decided to be changed to introduce the quarter-finals. The aim is to put an end to the usual classification matches where the teams out of the pool play without much interest.

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So eight will qualify at the end of this first phase, during which the selections will be divided into three groups of four. First, second and second from each group will advance to the quarterfinals along with the best third-place finishers. “Having these quarter finals gives the best teams a chance to test themselves further before reaching the semi finals”Katie defended SadlerFormer Director General of Women’s Rugby in 2018.

Also, the total duration of the tournament was extended from 23 to 35 days to improve player welfare during the last World Cup in Ireland when injuries were rampant. The idea is to allow more recovery time between bouts. The numbers have also been expanded, with 32 players against 28 previously.

All lights are green English and New Zealanders rely on their audience

Given history, it’s hard to imagine anything other than a high-stakes duel between world rugby’s ogres. Apart from the first edition won by the USA in 1991, the Women’s World Cup has been defended by the Black Ferns (five titles) and the Red Roses (two titles). In the competition’s history, the two teams have played in four of the eight finals, the last of which was in 2017.

But before this month of competition, only the English had impressed. Simon Middleton’s men are unbeaten since July 2019. They would do well to continue their two wins against the New Zealanders in last fall’s Test matches.

25 Test wins in a row!@England Rugby Up to them #RWC2021 73-7 win over Wales set the tone#ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/c4sGvOl841

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 14, 2022

The XV English POur Especially relying on an experienced side like their captain third row Sarah Hunter who will have a chance to surpass Rochelle Clarke’s selection record (137 caps) this World Cup. A luxury New Zealand cannot afford.

The 2017 Black Ferns’ backbone has been greatly revamped, with just eight world champions selected from a 32-man roster. However, the tournament’s hosts will benefit from the support of their country, who have been waiting eleven years for a World Cup on home soil.

Finally a blue horizon?

Despite suffering a surprise defeat in Italy (26-19), France’s XV looks to be the only one to compete with two fearsome New Zealand sides in their final warm-up game for the World Cup at the start of September. Not only do Les Bleus compete regularly against the English, but the Blacks have taken down the Ferns twice in November 2021.

France #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/Euina9n52J

— Rugby World Cup (@RugbyWorldCupFR) September 28, 2022

The only problem: the French seem cursed at the competition. In the last four of each World Cup (except 1998), they have never made it past the semifinals, as evidenced by their six bronze medals. So they need to get a leg up on scrum-half Lor Sanses, who was recently named the best French international player of the year at Rugby Night.

groups

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales and Scotland.

Group B: Canada, United States, Italy and Japan.

Pool C: England, France, South Africa, Fiji.