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Women's Rugby World Cup review
DECLAN MURPHY
Roar Guru
22nd August, 2014
11
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DECLAN MURPHY
Roar Guru
22nd August, 2014
11

England have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup, beating Canada by 21-9. It is England’s second title, having also won the tournament back in 1994.

It was also England’s sixth appearance in the final, out of seven competitions.

Canada were making their first appearance in the final, their highest ranking previously been fourth place, which they achieved three times (in 1998, 2002 and 2006).

It was actually the second time England faced Canada in this year’s tournament, the two teams playing to a 13-all draw in the pool stages. France won the third place play-off, beating Ireland 25-18.

This was France’s fifth time placing third, while Ireland achieved their highest ever ranking of fourth.

It was a terrific tournament overall with some great matches. The biggest shock has to be Ireland beating New Zealand, 17-14, in the pool stages. The loss was New Zealand’s first in the tournament since 1994. They had won four previous World Cups, in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, and had remained undefeated throughout each tournament.

The win marks the first time that Ireland have beaten New Zealand at rugby, in either the men’s or the women’s games. Ireland’s great win meant that they topped the pool, but the victory seemed to take too much out of them and they were comprehensively beaten in the semi-final 40-7 by England.

Ireland have made great strides in the women’s game, having won the Six Nations in 2013 and now achieving fourth place in the World Cup (another thing their male counterparts have never achieved).

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Their tremendous showing has a lot to do with the influence of two great coaches in Philip Doyle and Greg McWilliams, and an inspirational captain in Fiona Coghlan.

Unfortunately, Ireland’s journey will have to continue without these three pivotal figures, with McWilliams leaving to take a job coaching in Yale University, in the United States, and Doyle and Coghlan retiring. The three have played a huge part in Ireland’s growth and success in the women’s game and they will be a hard act to follow.

Canada have also made great improvements. After not appearing in the final four at the 2010 tournament, Canada went through their pool stages undefeated, and then shocked France in the semi-final, winning the game 18-16.

During the match, Canada scored the try of the tournament, a length-of-the-field effort, finished by winger Magali Harvey. It was one of the best tries seen in the game, in both the men’s and women’s codes, and helped win Harvey the IRB Women’s Player of the Year award. Canada were unable to beat England in the final but still achieved an amazing record.

The women’s game keeps on improving and deserves more attention by the IRB and the media (Sky Sports 4 covered the tournament). More money needs to be directed towards the game as well, with most of the players being amateurs. The men’s game will have to hope that the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be as exciting as this year’s women’s tournament has been.

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