All-conquering England can be pushed by the prospect of extra women’s Rugby World Cup glory after they face Canada earlier than defending champions New Zealand look to finish a shedding run towards France in the semi-finals on Saturday.
England tackle the Canadians in a repeat of the 2014 World Cup remaining earlier than the French strive to halt New Zealand, who, like the English, have blasted into the final 4 by enjoying highly effective working rugby.
A full home is predicted in Auckland for Saturday’s double-header at Eden Park, which may even host the remaining every week later.
England are on a 29-Test profitable streak — a report for each males’s and ladies’s rugby. They received the girls’s Rugby World Cup in 1994 and 2014, have performed in 5 different finals and are red-hot favourites to carry the trophy this 12 months.
England coach Simon Middleton mentioned Thursday that his facet had been trying ahead to dealing with New Zealand in the remaining, if the hosts might get previous France.
“To play the Black Ferns at Eden Park in a World Cup final in their country, when they are the holders — if you can tick that box you have pretty much ticked every box as a player,” mentioned Middleton, who believes something aside from England profitable the World Cup could be a failure.
“But that is as far as it goes. We’ve got to get there and Canada are formidable opponents.”
ALSO READ: Next 4 Tests will present how prepared Boks are for 2023 World Cup
England’s veteran captain Sarah Hunter, 37, will make her 139th Test look and is aware of her facet should include Canada’s 23-year-old all-action skipper Sophie de Goede.
“She’s a great talent. She does it all for them. She’s captain, calls their line-outs and kicks their goals,” mentioned Hunter, who was co-captain when England received the 2014 World Cup.
“They really look to her, so for us, it’s about how we can nullify that threat.”
Canada coach Kevin Rouet needs his facet to unsettle England.
“If we get success in the scrum, the maul and kicking battle, that’s where we could just make them think: ‘Oh, it won’t be easy’,” he mentioned.
‘Do or die’
Holders New Zealand have received the girls’s Rugby World Cup 5 instances. They loved massive wins on their manner to the final 4 over Australia, Scotland and Wales, twice, each in the group phases and final weekend’s quarter-final.
But France have overwhelmed New Zealand in every of their final 4 conferences, together with heavy back-to-back wins on French soil final November.
The Black Ferns have improved since former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith took charge this 12 months and playmaker Ruahei Demant mentioned New Zealand now anticipated to rating every time they bought the ball.
“I think the French should be worried,” she mentioned. “They defend with coronary heart,’ she added of a France staff who saved England at bay for lengthy intervals earlier than shedding 13-7 in their group match.
“The game plan we have to combat them will be an exciting brand of rugby to watch. That’s what this business end of the tournament is about — every game is do or die. If you don’t get this week right, there is no next week.”
France coach Thomas Darracq predicted the Black Ferns would really feel stress at residence and mentioned latest French wins over New Zealand had dented the hosts’ aura.
“I hope that the stadium will be full, which will galvanise us. In any case, the pressure will be on the New Zealanders,” he mentioned.
“For a really very long time, we at all times noticed them as ‘the New Zealand ogres’ — we didn’t play them a lot, there was the haka and all the tradition behind it, with its drive and energy.
“Today, all that has been toned down because we play them more often and because we beat them recently too.”
Source link
