Women's World Cup Day 1 Round Up

Sadly I was unable to witness any of these games live, but thankfully there are copious highlight reels posted up by the IRB once the games have been finished.

• First game was the defending four time champions New Zealand, playing relative minnows Kaszkhstan. From the outset the quality of the Black Ferns was noticeable, a three woman overlap sent the outside centre Manuel through to score the first try of the match on 2 minutes. The frailties of the Kazkhstan ability were exploited by fullback Winiata to score the bonus point try before half time, breaking through a couple of weak tackle to run in under the posts. By half time the Ferns were leading 38-0. Another four tries later and New Zealand had taken an unassailable lead, but the Kazkh's didn't lie down, finding a beautiful lob pass over the outside of the defence for winger Shardina to score in the corner - much to the delight of the crowd. New Zealand kicked on to score a total of thirteen tries to record the biggest win of the day.

Final Score: New Zealand 79 - Kazakhstan 5

• Up next was Canada playing Spain. It took almost 20 minutes for the first score of the game, until an intelligent grubber by inside-centre Burk, put Harvey in for her first try of the game, to then converted it herself from the touchline. Five minutes later and Harvey was at it again, stripping the ball in the tackle before running 70 meters to dot the ball down. It didn't even take the second half for Harvey to complete her hat-trick, a suspect kick from Spain fell to the Canadian winger who with great foot control, hacked the ball on to them gather it in before avoiding two cover tackles. Another try for Canada in the second half gave them the coveted bonus point. A show of forward power gave Spain a consolation try two minutes from time.

Final Score: Canada 31 - Spain 7

• An early try from the Australians gave the suggestion that the South African's were going to be put to the sword. A clever chip by 12-Morgan, before feeding her centre partner sent Sharni Williams in under the posts. It took another 20 minutes and two penalties for Australia to score their second try, the fullback Hewson slipped three tackles on her way to the line. South Africa got their only points of the game 8 minutes left of the first half, but the score was swiftly nullified by an Australia penalty. It took another 35 minutes for Australia to score their third and final try, South Africa successfully preventing the bonus point from being achieved.

Final Score: Australia 26 - South Africa 3

• Fourth game of the tournament saw the first home nation play. USA vs Ireland, was the closest game of the day, a powerful driving maul gave the United States great field position to lead to the first try of the game by Kugler. The Irish back to full use of a yellow card to American Lock Walsh, battering their way over the line  twice just before half time giving them a 10-20 lead at the break. Back up the their full compliment the Eagles used their larger pack to grind out a try to bring them within touching distance, but a penalty from kicker Niamh Briggs gave Ireland a six point cushion to see out the remainder of the game. 

Final Score: USA 17 - Ireland 23

• It didn't take long for the England vs Samoa game to come to life, twelve minutes in England fly-half McLean made a break before feeding her half back partner Hunt. At which point in came the Samoan fullback with a typical crunching hit, before flipping the lightweight Hunt over, and Red Card was shown promptly by the referee - a decision I cannot disagree with. Hunt was lucky, she ended up over-rotating onto her back instead of her head. It didn't take long for England to make the extra player count, winger Merchant flying down the wing, breaking tackles, dancing on tip-toes down the touchline to score the first of ten tries for the Red Rose. Merchant's pace started the break for the second try, before finishing it herself. Lydia Thompson on the opposite was not to be out done, showing her blistering pace to score two tries herself. A fifth from scrum-half (and former winger) Hunt gave England a 34-0 lead come half time. A yellow card early in the second half for Samoa, allowed England to push on and score more tries to keep the crowd entertained. A late yellow for England gave Samoa something to put on the scoreboard, but it was irrelevant in the end.

Final Score: England 65 - Samoa 3
[Apologies, I am unable to obtain the video for this game currently]
[Link: England vs Samoa Womens RWC Highlights]

• Wales vs France proved to be a tentative affair in the early stages, until an interception try 25 minutes in, gave the host nation the belief to take the game. Winger, Lievre snatching a loose long pass on her own 22 before running in unopposed. Two more well worked tries by the French putting together multiple phases, dragging in the Welsh defence with their strong forward play, before spreading it wide with a long pass and a cross kick respectively, gave France a three try - 19-0 - lead at half time. The second half proved to have a lot less excitement for the crowd, right until almost the last play of the game, when France formed a powerful hulking driving maul, going forward almost thirty metres right up to the Welsh try line. The entire Welsh defence was focused on halting the rumbling of the French pack, leaving large spaces for the backline to cover, allowing France to slice Wales open and score the all important bonus point try.

Final Score: France 26 - Wales 0