Women"s Rugby World Cup 2014: team-by-team guide

FIXTURES

Aug 1 Canada v Spain 2pm, England v Samoa 5pm

Aug 5 England v Spain 2.45pm, Canada v Samoa 4pm

Aug 9 Spain v Samoa 2pm, England v Canada 2.45pm

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POOL B

New Zealand: Overwhelming favourites. They have won the last four

competitions and beat England three times last year. Go in to the tournament

in great form with victories over Australia, Canada and Samoa and a 3-0 Test

whitewash over England last summer as well. The Women’s Sevens team have

back-to back World Cup victories as well.

USA: Could cause problems. Beat Wales 10-7 at Cross Keys last month,

and defeated Ireland in WRWC 2010. They also pushed England close last

month. They won the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 and finished

runners-up in the following two. However, they have missed out on the

semi-finals in the last three World Cups. Their game with Ireland will be

the most important in deciding who qualifies from the group stage.

Ireland: The most improved side in women’s international rugby, having

won a first Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013. They have slowly climbed up the

world rankings since the 1990s and their highest finish in a World Cup was

seventh. Funding, however, could be a hindrance but a place in the

semi-finals is not out of reach for the Irish.

Kazakhstan: Just do not play the top sides enough to challenge. They

did, though, win the Asian Four Nations tournament in May. Have featured in

the last five World Cups, but have not progressed from the group stage in

every one. Kazakhstan have not had any warm-up games, and are arguably in

the toughest group, and will struggle to get out of it with their rivals

using them as a way of getting bonus points.

FIXTURES

Aug 1 New Zealand v Kazakhstan 12pm, USA v Ireland 4pm

Aug 5 USA v Kazakhstan 12pm, New Zealand v Ireland 5pm

Aug 9 Ireland v Kazakhstan 12pm, New Zealand v USA 5pm

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POOL C

Australia: Who knows? They were third in 2010, but have barely played

since, with the Australian Rugby Union concentrating on sevens. Because of

this they haven’t succeeded at a World Cup. Not much is expected of them, so

progression would be a bonus. However, they suffered two defeats in their

warm-up matches to New Zealand and Canada, so qualification through the group

stages will be difficult.

France: The pressure is on them; the host nation and Grand Slam winners

this year after surprisingly beating England. More comfortable playing at

home. Consistently good performers at World Cups but have never reached a

final. Out of all the nations taking part, the French are the most likely to

beat England or New Zealand if they have to play them, but would still be

classed as underdogs in those matches.

Wales: Unlikely to be in the mix. They won just one match in this

year’s Six Nations and have only beaten France three times. Always promise

great things at a World Cup but always fail to deliver. They have never

finished higher than ninth. Their disappointing Six Nations does not stand

them in good stead.

South Africa: Not the force their men are, for sure. They have beaten

Wales twice in five matches but have never beaten France or Australia. They

made their first appearance in 2006 and finished in 12th. It could be a

short World Cup for the Springboks.

FIXTURES

Aug 1 Australia v South Africa 2.45pm, France v Wales 7.45pm

Aug 5 Australia v Wales 2pm, France v South Africa 7.45pm

Aug 9 Wales v South Africa 4pm, Australia v France 7.45pm

—–

Aug 13 Semi-finals

Aug 17 Final

Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/9147218/wales-scarlets-coach-simon-easterby-hails-jonathan-davies-comeback

Women"s Rugby World Cup 2014: team-by-team guide