Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, Week 2

It’s a rest week in the rugby championship this week, so just eight WRWC games to go. These are, again, all teams expected to reach the quarterfinals against others, but like last week, where Scotland v Wales had the potential to be an upset (even though Scotland cruised to an easy victory), this week Australia v USA is an eye-catching fixture.

One of the things I didn’t notice last week at the time, but was more obvious in retrospect: all the on-field officials are women. The TMOs are mostly men but all the referees and ARs are women, which is nice to see. Continuing that theme, at least in Britain we’re largely having female presenters around the game (before, after, halftime), with a mix of male and female guests. most of the main match commentators are male, with female colour commentators. Brian Moore, who was a huge advocate for, and supporter of, women’s rugby in the early days tends to be a colour commentator for England games but given his history with the game I don’t mind that. I imagine in years to come we’ll have more female match commentators too, there are good female commentators for other sports around, it just takes time for someone who has the interest in the game and the skill to do the job well to come through, although we’re starting to see them emerge.

Canada v Wales

This match started brightly for Wales, with basically 10 minutes of continuous pressure on the Canadian try line. However, there were no points, and in the next half an hour, Canada scored at a point a minute.

It’s tempting to say that Wales haven’t improved since last week, and whilst that could be true, the Canadian defence is appreciably stronger than the Scottish, and the Welsh were better than last week - playing faster and with more physicality, just handled by a better team. It’s also worth noting that, although it seems like Canada just cut loose, Wales actually defended pretty well, forcing Canada into silly errors or to extend to 20+ phases in attack for most of their tries.

The Welsh lineout stats will look poor but mechanically it actually functioned not too badly. The ball was straight and to the jumper. The issue was, for front jumpers, Canada competed and were often in front and higher, stealing the ball. If their jumper is just bigger and faster than yours it gets tricky… scrums were pretty even though.

I’m not sure as a percentage, with all the possession Canada had they doubtless had far more rucks, but they also had an insane number of sub-3s rucks. Over 80 in the first half alone. Ireland men's, who also play for this, rarely achieve that number in a whole match.

Wales improved in the second half. They may not have had sustained pressure on the Canadian try line, but they had several periods of extended possession, had a try denied for held up, and another golden chance come to nothing when the bounce on a cross-field kick that had a winger who was wide open turned cruel and let the defenders scramble back as the winger had to suddenly change direction and shed all her speed. Canada won the second half 14-0. Honestly 14-14 would have been a fairer reflection of the half. I have more hope for Wales next week, more worries about Canada reaching the final now.

This match was played in a strong wind down the pitch. Canada played with it in the first half, Wales in the second. The difference in length of kicks, and thus territorial gain, might go some way to explaining the difference in scoring between the halves, although Wales were much closer to 50-50 possession and territory, regardless of what the official stats show.

Scotland v Fiji

If the previous game was affected by the wind, this one was affected by both wind and heavy rain. You wouldn’t particularly tell from the handling or the ambition to throw long passes, but there were a lot of players slipping and sliding around at times. It also affected the kickers, their plant feet were not stable and kicking from out wide was essentially impossible.

This was an odd game to watch. In the first ten minutes, Scotland scored a point a minute, two wide tries but missed conversions in the wet. Then Fiji came into the game and it was much more back and forth until Fiji scored. This seemed to spark the Scots into life and they scored again, almost under the posts and they took the extras. Another Scottish try was denied by crossing, Fiji tapped and went and whilst a length of the pitch try would have been fun, the scramble defence was too good.

The Fijian forwards were messing up the Scottish lineout, which is worrying from a Welsh perspective for next week, but a Scottish one for this week and next.

Fiji opened the second half strongly, sustained pressure and eventually a try. Responded with two tries of their own, which really should have put the game out of reach for Fiji, but they didn’t read the memo, and went through 19 phases to score before the TMO cruelly (but correctly) called it back for a knock on. Even the commentator, who was Scottish, felt that it was pretty tough. Just after that, the Fijian hooker had her FPRO report come back and a red card. It always looked that way but you can never be sure.

England v Samoa

I skipped this match to give my brain some sanity. England changed 14 players and ran in 14 tries in a 92-3 victory… I may watch it if I’m bored. As reported, and shown, on the news, the loudest cheers were when Samoa scored their penalty. Even the English fans were delighted. After some of the bile we see online from rugby fans, this kind of reaction restores my faith in rugby fans.

Australia v USA

This match was played in pretty awful conditions. There were quite a few dropped passes, kicks off the side of the boot and the like. Maybe more from the Americans but some of their errors were down to poor communication and passes going to players who were moving to join the ruck instead of expecting a pass and the like.

The Wallaroos started brightly, a penalty against USA for offside at a kick was quickly converted into a try. For most of the next 15 minutes the Eagles were camped in the Australian 22 but making silly mistakes and unable to convert the points into pressure. When the Wallaroos escaped, it was their turn to fumble the ball, and get turned over by Maher and we had a scrappy few minutes in the middle third. That was broken when a lineout that was overthrown - I think deliberately, because the reaction was too perfect - took them to the 5m line and then over. Perhaps crucially, we'll see, the wind blew the ball off the tee and the conversion was timed out. Australia won the ball from the kickoff, then promptly gave it back, holding on in the tackle, and back to halfway.

All of a sudden, half an hour in, the USA big runners, all of them, were suddenly making metres, lots of metres, post contact. Probably 5-10 every time and taking several players, always at least two, sometimes four, with them. The smaller runners were still being gobbled up but Maher, Johnson and Taufoou and a few others were dragging Wallaroos along for fun.

The slippery surface denied Australia a try, Halse was going to step the fullback and lost her feet. They kept the ball but threw it into touch… some stupidity from the USA and a second Australian try.

The first half was really scrappy, but USA have a scrum that is groaning but coping and a lineout that is great on their ball, all over the Australian throws. So far Australia have been a bit more composed and accurate, that’s the difference we’re seeing. However, if USA can exploit the fatigue they had started to create and keep running their big players to suck in defenders and bend the line they’re not out of it yet.

The second half started with the Aussies giving away penalties like they were kisses at a game of Spin the Bottle. USA took full advantage and with a nice mix of power runs up the middle and speed out wide they scored a few minutes in. The adventurers with conversions continued, this time off both uprights and out.

All the Australians I know must be pleased their calls for automatic yellow cards after three, four, five penalties haven’t been implemented… the Wallaroos were up to five in the first 10 minutes of the second half, none to the Eagles. It didn’t matter much, penalty, kick to the corner, lineout, maul, try. The third time was the charm, converted! USA into the lead. But from the kickoff USA conceded a penalty and although the Australian forwards couldn’t repay in kind, their backs could score.

Shortly after this the Wallaroos scored a nice flowing try and converted it, stretching out to a nine-point lead. That didn’t feel secure with 20 minutes left, particularly as the Aussies were still leaking penalties. And then a warning for a card and a converted try. The conversion means a penalty will now win it for the Eagles.

And after lots of attempts from about 3mm, the Wallaroos forgot a guard and the Eagles 5 galloped over from a mile (well maybe 7m) out, straight under the posts. A five point lead to USA and eight minutes left.

Australia ran down the pitch, helped by a careless penalty, and scored but missed the conversion. 31-31, five minutes left! USA knocked on with four minutes to go, then won a scrum penalty, their first, for not pushing straight!

Back and forth it went, errors from both sides, until it ended with a draw.

Ireland v Spain

The last time these two teams met was in WXV3 a couple of years ago. Since then Spanish rugby has stayed in much the same position (they won the 2024 WXV3) and are still amateur, at least at the national level (several players play in the PWR and Top 14 féminin), whilst Ireland went professional, played in WXV1 and beat the Black Ferns last year. They’ve slid back a bit since then, but that close match shouldn’t be regarded as indicative of the likely outcome today.

Yesterday’s lovely summer weather had cleared and it was bright sunshine. There was just a hint of a breeze, during the anthems the flags were hanging pretty much straight down and there was just a ripple of movement along the edge.

In many ways this looked like a repeat of last week’s match, NZ v Spain. Spain turned up, on both sides of the ball, with physicality aplenty. That started with Ireland hammering away, and then going wide to open a 12-0 lead, but a couple of bits of poor discipline, some power play from the Spanish and suddenly, to rapturous applause - the neutrals were definitely supporting Spain - the scores were tied.

The momentum shift persuaded Ireland to take the points on offer. It should have been an easy kick, just wide enough the kick to the corner as also a good option, but a real sitter. But it bounced off the post. From the clearance, Ireland managed to score under the posts, eventually, and the bonus point try before half time. However hard they huffed and puffed, Ireland were not able to punch through Spain's forwards, but they could keep punching, concentrate the defence and then go around the edge. The Spanish didn’t have as many opportunities but were really dangerous in close but their backs were threatening too.

Really this is highlighting the gulf between Ireland and New Zealand more than anything. The Kiwis contained the Spanish until the final play, when there were only 13 Black Ferns on the field due to injuries. The Irish were in all kinds of bother, really throughout, maybe not looking like losing, but not containing them either.

Because Spain hadn’t exhausted themselves playing a solid half of high intensity defence the second half started with back and forth, a try each way. The Irish seemed to be stretching away, and there were hints that the Spanish might be tiring, but they came back to score their bonus point try on the hour mark.

I think the Spanish were fatigued, but not blown like last week. They slowly leaked tries, by the 70th minute Ireland were 21 points clear and the win was secure. However, with five minutes to go, Spain were about a metre away from the Irish try line and pressing hard until they knocked the ball on. The same happened again in the last minute. (Arguably it should have been a penalty to Spain rather than a scrum to Ireland but meh. Even the Irish colour commentator agreed.) Apparently the rugby gods agreed too, the Irish gave up a weird penalty with time expired, the Spanish kicked to the corner, ran a trick play at the lineout and scored. I think everyone felt justice was done.

This was fun, but Ireland have some serious issues to address before they face the Black Ferns next week.

New Zealand v Japan

A bit like last week, the Black Ferns started a bit out of sync with each other. Passes were not to hand, balls were spilt in contact or when they hit the ground. And, again like last week, after a few minutes, they tightened things up. That shift, during the game rather than with the intervention of the coach, is something that really only the Black Ferns are doing at the moment.

In their loose start, Japan scored a nice try. The Black Ferns responded by getting the ball to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who brushed aside a couple of tackles to dot down for her 50th try in a XVs match, making her the leading try scorer for New Zealand, man or woman. Jorja Miller added a second try.

The Japanese scrum was under all kinds of pressure. At best the strike was very fast, route one and gone before the pressure started to tell. Even that wasn’t assured, usually the ball was extracted from a scrum going backwards or there was a penalty. Lineouts were a bit better but hardly a secure source of ball.

New Zealand wrapped up their bonus point after half an hour, it would have been a bit faster but for a brilliant bit of scramble defence that put a toe onto the touch line. They added another two before halftime, honestly it should have been more if not for the inaccuracies.

Japan had a player carded, and New Zealand had two subbed off for HIAs in the final couple of minutes.

Although the scoreboard is all one way, Japan had moments with the ball and looking promising. The tackle count is 84-62; lopsided but not crazily so, although if you add 23 missed tackles to the Japanese total and only 10 to the Black Ferns it looks worse. But Japan has made New Zealand work defensively, even if they haven’t looked threatening since that first try. Miller has looked good, but Wakka has been smiling and killing the Japanese on both sides of the ball.

The second half started with NZ making silly mistakes again. You have to wonder what they do just before running out but it doesn’t seem to put them in the right frame of mind to start well. A silly penalty, a yellow card and eventually a try to Japan.

That seemed to wake the Kiwis up. A lovely backs move off a scrum, despite being down a player still, and a try in the corner. However the Japanese were not done and kept pressing, despite the game getting scrappy with a prolonged period of substitutions trickling on. Eventually Japan scored a penalty try and a red card (for a second yellow). Miller responded instantly, tackling the player carrying the ball up after the kickoff, turning it over and running in for a try. That seemed to crack the Japanese resolve, Sorensen-McGhee, all of 18, skipped out of tackles like most 18 year olds skip towards tea and biscuits. A minute later Woodman-Wickliffe could probably have run it in herself but drew the last defender and passed for an easier try under the posts. The Japanese reached 40 missed tackles!

I think Wakka can count herself unlucky but the hat trick from Sorensen-McGhee as well as a good coverage of the kicks won her POTM.

In the final minute, winning by ten tries to three, Japan were threatening and Wakka and Sorensen-McGhee both burst their lungs to get over and tackle the winger into touch. It seems odd to say that the team that won like this will be disappointed but they have a lot to work on. I'm sure they’re good enough to beat Ireland and whoever in the quarterfinals, but they will want to build towards the semifinals.

Italy v South Africa

This match had started by the time the previous one finished. I also had other things I needed to do and will run into the French game, so I didn’t watch live.

It looks like I should have, SA upset the odds to beat Italy and book their first WRWC quarterfinal.

France v Brazil

Pauline Bourdon-Sansus is back for France after saying naughty things about the officiating in the Top 14 féminin, and winning her 61st cap - this is the most for the French women. The most capped Brazilian woman was winning her 15th cap in this game.

The French scrum half last week was perfectly serviceable but with Bourdon-Sansus at the base of the breakdown Les Bleues just fizzed. The passes were faster, more precise and to players in better positions. That comes with experience of course and, as we’ve seen with the French men, a player like Lucu who has looked solid but unremarkable can step up to replace Dupont if given the time to develop into it.

The French started out scoring two points per minute, making line breaks for fun, and offloading like SBW had returned to play for them. There were some spills, inevitable when you’re playing such a high risk game, but fewer than the Black Ferns. Some of their success was due to weak Brazilian defence, but a bonus point try in the first quarter of an hour is still impressive.

Brazil's scrums were going backwards, honestly it looked like it was faster than I can walk on a normal day. Their lineout was better, but not great, and if they could win the ball they had to be quick because they just couldn’t maul it, that would go backwards at a rate of knots too.

Brazil didn’t concede tries to every French attack. There was good defence with players forced into touch, balls dropped after offloads, odd penalties at breakdowns for technical errors too. However nine tries and 53-0 is… ouch. England's record might be short lived.

France started the second half with a roar, it looked like the assault on the 92 points was on, but for most of the next 15 minutes Brazil had the ball, the run of the whistle and, although they never threatened the French try line, they played some really nice rugby. Then a ripped ball in a tackle, a pass, and a winger scoring under the posts. The momentum shifted again. A great clearance kick from the kickoff, a quick penalty and another try. The 92 points were under threat again: 72-0 with 20 to go.

Brazil scored! Not really against the run of play, but they weren’t looking threatening. However, Silva stepped out of a poor tackle on the wing and ran away from everyone else to score. The crowd were as happy, if not as loud (they were smaller) as at Samoa scoring against England yesterday. France responded with two converted tries in quick order, eight more points in the last ten minutes… can they do it? Sadly no, the French had won and lost focus, the Brazilians had not completely run out of energy but couldn’t string enough together to punch through the French defence, which still had pride and organisation.

Still, Brazil have now scored a try at a RWC. France unexpectedly have a challenge to come on the last weekend. I think they’re up to it, but I haven’t seen the Italy v SA game yet.

Round Up

All of the expected teams: England, France, Canada, New Zealand, but also South Africa have qualified. Australia and America are all tied up. Ireland and Scotland are through as well. Next weekend most pools have the top two teams going head-to-head (in the case of France and South Africa arguably by accident) to decide the order. It’s winner take all, or at least top spot.

However, England are playing Australia, USA face Samoa, and there are all kinds of possibilities. Most likely, USA run up a big score with a bonus point, England sweep Australia aside with fewer than four tries from the Wallaroos and far more than seven points between them. In this case, the final points difference for USA and Australia will be the deciding factor. If Australia draw of get a bonus point, or USA fail to win with a bonus point, then Australia are through. If Australia beat England then they’re through and top their pool.

Smart money is on England, Canada, New Zealand and France to top their pools. Australia or USA is a toss up.