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Tag: Rugby World Cup

  • Wallabies Rugby World Cup draw revealed ahead of home tournament

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    Australia’s home Rugby World Cup campaign will kick off against debutants Hong Kong China rather than bitter rivals New Zealand, who also feature in the same pool.

    Chile return for a second World Cup to round out Pool A at next year’s hotly anticipated tournament, the first hosted in Australia since 2003.

    It will be Australia’s first match against the South American nation.

    “It’s incredibly exciting to have the schedule locked in for the Wallabies’ pool fixtures, ahead of what’s going to be a truly special tournament here in Australia next year,” Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said.

    The Wallabies will be rated favourites alongside the All Blacks, second on the World Rugby rankings, to finish in the top two of Pool A and advance to the knockout stage.

    Four of the six third-placed teams from the group stage will also progress.

    Should Australia place second in their pool, they will face the Pool F runners-up — one of England, Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe — for their first knockout clash.

    Win their pool, and Australia would face the third-placed team from Pool C, E or F in the round of 16.

    Perth will host Australia’s first pool match on October 1 next year, before the All Blacks clash in Sydney on October 9, then the match against Chile on October 16 in Brisbane.

    2027 Rugby World Cup Pools

    Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong

    Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania

    Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada

    Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal

    Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa

    Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe

    AAP

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  • Wallaroos’ World Cup hopes dashed by dominant Canada

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    The Wallaroos have missed the chance to reach the Rugby World Cup semifinals, losing 46-5 to Canada in Bristol. 

    Australia was a clear underdog for the last-eight clash, with its English coach Jo Yapp admitting before her last match in charge it was going to be a “do or die” moment against such formidable opponents.

    Canada, ranked two in the world, quickly asserted its authority by building a five-try lead by half-time.

    Despite a gutsy second-half response from the Wallaroos, restricting their opponents to just two more scores, it was Canada who deservedly secured a mouth-watering semifinal showdown with world champions New Zealand.

    Canada burst to an early lead with winger Asia Hogan-Rochester running in a well-worked try before the Wallaroos responded when Desiree Miller sprinted down the left touchline to cross for an excellent equalising score.

    Canadian DaLeaka Menin had a try ruled out by the TMO official but teammate Alysha Corrigan crossed for a dazzling five-pointer to put their side back on top.

    Corrigan scored again on 21 minutes.

    And from there it was all Canada, with Sophie de Goede touching down and loosehead prop McKinley Hunt barging over to establish 31-5 advantage at half-time.

    The Wallaroos were punished again after the restart when Canadian number eight Fabiola Forteza stretched to score under the posts just as the predicted rain started pouring down.

    With nothing to lose, it was the Wallaroos’ turn to up the ante as they began taking the game to their opponents, earning plenty of possession as Canada was forced on the defensive.

    But that momentum was swiftly halted when Canada opted to kick a penalty goal before the Maple Leafs reasserted their supremacy as 37-year-old flanker Karen Paquin glided over for a try.

    Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu admitted her team needed investment in order to challenge at the next World Cup, which Australia will host in 2029.

    “We’re looking at a group of players who are young mums, who are balancing looking after their kids,” Palu said.

    “People who are working full time, working nine to five and then having to back it up with back-to-back trainings till 9pm and then having to repeat that the next day.

    “We do need to be invested in so that we can produce good rugby.”

    AAP

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  • South Africa coach calls for a miracle in Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal

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    LONDON — Swys de Bruin preaches miracles.

    The coach has been comforting South Africa for its first ever quarterfinal in the Women’s Rugby World Cup against six-time champion New Zealand on Saturday in Exeter.

    De Bruin sacrificed a 57-10 loss to France last weekend to rest 10 front-line players for the Black Ferns, stack his bench with a 7-1 bomb squad, and urge his Springbok Women to enjoy the biggest game of their lives.

    “It’s a matter of belief,” de Bruin says. “We believe in miracles.”

    There needs to be three other miracles this weekend if the established order is to be upset.

    Canada takes a perfect 7-0 record against Australia into their Bristol clash. Canada won 45-7 in May in Brisbane.

    France has beaten Ireland in their last eight games over eight years, all by 12-plus points.

    England closes the quarterfinals on Sunday having won the last 27 games against Scotland. The Scots last beat the Red Roses in 1999.

    These are only the fourth quarterfinals in 10 RWCs. Logistics, money and limited time meant the only other quarters were played in 1998, 2002 and 2022.

    The scale of South Africa’s task can be gauged by New Zealand not having lost a RWC match in 11 years, or a knockout match in 27 years. The Black Ferns have welcomed back No. 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker and South Africa-born reserve back Amy du Plessis. Three weeks ago against Spain, Olsen-Baker was carried off in tears with a bad ankle injury and du Plessis hurt her shoulder.

    A significant difference between Canada and Australia is their attacking ruck speed. Canada has the RWC’s quickest average at 2.38 seconds while Australia’s is 3.55 seconds, 14th out of the 16 teams. Respective scrumhalves Justine Pelletier and Samantha Wood have started every match.

    France has compensated for one of the worst lineout success rates — only 65% — by stealing a RWC-high six throw-ins.

    England’s strength is all over the stats. The Red Roses’ gainline success against the United States, Samoa and Australia was a staggering 75%. Also, they conceded only two tries in total and none in the second half when the bench was unleashed.

    Whoever replaces England fullback Ellie Kildunne, the world player of 2024 who was unavailable for the quarterfinals after being concussed against Australia last weekend.

    Canada lock Sophie De Goede, the only player to make 50-plus carries in the pool stage, completed the most offloads (10), and still had poise to slot the second most goalkicks (13).

    New Zealand’s Jorja Miller and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are the only players to have beaten 20-plus defenders.

    Ireland’s Aoife Wafer, Beth Buttimer, Ivana Kiripati, Meabh Deely and Nicole Fowley, who have yet to appear in this RWC. Wafer was voted the Six Nations’ best player.

    U.S. coach Sione Fukofuka stepped down after the pool stage exit on points difference. He was in charge for two years. The former Wallaroos assistant was returning to Australia, where head coach Jo Yapp happens to be finishing up. Eagles prop Charli Jacoby retired. She switched from cheerleading at university at 20 to play rugby and appeared in two World Cups.

    Scotland is guaranteed a record attendance at Murrayfield in April. More than 10,300 tickets have been sold for the Six Nations visit by England. Scotland’s record for a standalone international is 7,774 in 2024 against England at its usual Hive Stadium home. Scotland’s seven previous appearances at Murrayfield were doubleheaders with the men.

    “It’s my last World Cup, so for me it’s about giving everything because I know that after we’re done I won’t touch a rugby ball again.” — South Africa captain Nolusindiso Booi

    “They might be English but they’re all right, I suppose …” — Scotland scrumhalf Leia Brebner-Holden on her English father and sister

    Saturday

    New Zealand vs. South Africa, Exeter, 1200 GMT

    Canada vs. Australia, Bristol, 1500 GMT

    Sunday

    France vs. Ireland, Exeter, 1200 GMT

    England vs. Scotland, Bristol, 1500 GMT

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    AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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  • Wallaroos targeting World Cup quarterfinal boilover

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    The Wallaroos have recalled hooker Katalina Amosa and lock Ashley Fernandez for their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Canada, with their coaching staff still adamant Australia can pull off the upset of the tournament.

    “The quarterfinal is what we wanted, and once you get into the knockout stages, anything can happen. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity for us,” said assistant coach Gill Bourke after the team announcement on Thursday, local time.

    “We want to go as far as we can in this now, so we’re approaching it like that, and we’re not getting too bogged down on who we’re playing.”

    The Wallaroos are outsiders to earn their first win over a Canada side ranked second in the world, but coach Jo Yapp feels she has a powerful outfit at her disposal capable of pulling off a boilover at Bristol’s Ashton Gate stadium.

    She has made two personnel changes, with Amosa and Fernandez returning to the bench.

    Amosa featured against Samoa and the USA earlier in the tournament, while Fernandez has not played since the Samoa opener.

    Tania Naden and Annabelle Codey have been dropped from the squad, while Yapp has also reshuffled her back row and centre pairing from the side that went down 47-7 to tournament favourites England in the final group match.

    Flanker Emily Chancellor has replaced veteran Ashley Marsters, who reverts to the bench.

    Centre Cecilia Smith has also been promoted to the starting XV, pushing another experienced international, Trilleen Pomare, to the bench.

    There was good news on the injury front, too, with Lydia Kavoa ready to start as prop despite having left the field against England at Brighton in the first half with an ankle injury.

    Yapp said she wanted to see the team deliver the same effort as last weekend when it led the world’s top-ranked side for half an hour, but that it would need to sustain that level for longer against the so far unbeaten Canadians.

    “We started well against England with our game management and need to show that for longer periods of the game this week,” she said.

    “The focus in training is on us. Canada is a physical team and like to move the ball, so we are excited for the challenge.”

    Star winger Desiree Miller echoed that theme, recognising the need for the team to be more consistent.

    Desiree Miller said the Wallaroos must be more consistent. (AP: Dave Shopland)

    “It’s our Achilles heel at the moment, being consistent,” said Miller. “We showed up in the first 20, 30 minutes, and we’re all over England. We had the mentality that we had nothing to lose and they’ve got a 30-game winning streak to lose; we thought we could cause an upset, and we did do that for the first 30 minutes.”

    The Wallaroos have never beaten Canada in seven attempts, and lost their last meeting 45-7 in May.

    WALLAROOS TEAM TO PLAY CANADA

    1 Lydia Kavoa, 2 Adiana Talakai, 3 Asoiva Karpani, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 5 Michaela Leonard, 6 Piper Duck, 7 Emily Chancellor, 8 Siokapesi Palu (capt), 9 Sam Wood, 10 Faitala Moleka, 11 Desiree Miller, 12 Cecilia Smith, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Maya Stewart, 15 Caitlyn Halse

    Replacements: 16 Katalina Amosa,17 Faliki Pohiva, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Ashley Fernandez, 20 Ashley Marsters, 21 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 22 Tia Hinds, 23 Trilleen Pomare.

    AAP

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  • Ireland set Women’s Rugby World Cup record in key win over Japan

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    Ireland achieved its highest Women’s Rugby World Cup score after putting down Japan 42-14 in Northampton on Sunday.

    The Irish scored six converted tries to pass their previous World Cup high of 40-5 against Kazakhstan in 2014.

    Both teams, in the same pool as defending champion New Zealand and Spain, targeted their tournament opener at sunny Franklin’s Gardens as a key step toward making the quarterfinals. Japan gave away height and weight advantages to higher-ranked Ireland but won their last matchup in 2022 and was buoyed by wins this year over the U.S. and Spain.

    Japan had eight visits to the 22, almost as many as Ireland, but wasn’t as good at protecting the ball. And Ireland’s ability to break tackles and produce almost 400 post-contact meters was also decisive.

    Ireland used its first World Cup match in eight years like it was trying to make up for lost time.

    Tries by wingers Amee-Leigh Costigan and Beibhinn Parsons, hooker Neve Jones and first-time test flanker Fiona Tuite gave Ireland a bonus point by halftime and seemingly the win.

    But Japan’s try by midfielder Haruka Hirotsu in the first half was added to by flanker Masami Kawamura to start the second and they trailed only 28-14.

    Big runs by Kawamura and wing Misaki Matsumura propelled Japan to the Irish posts again and they looked set to score their third try but Ireland center Eve Higgins intercepted and ran 90 meters to the other end for the clincher for Ireland and heartbreak for Japan.

    A penalty try to Ireland for a collapsed rolling maul and yellow card to Japan prop Sachiko Kato were ruled out after the TMO revealed Irish obstruction in the lineout.

    But Ireland scored three minutes later through replacement back Enya Breen. Dannah O’Brien nailed her sixth straight conversion.

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    AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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  • Australia thrashes Samoa 73-0 in record Women’s Rugby World Cup win

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    MANCHESTER, England — Australia racked up 11 tries and blanked Samoa 73-0 for a record Women’s Rugby World Cup score on Saturday.

    Winger Desiree Miller dotted down a first half hat trick of tries but left the field in the second half after a head-on-head collision with Samoa’s Melina Grace Salale.

    Salale became the first player in the tournament to be red-carded.

    The Wallaroos eclipsed their previous best World Cup score of 68-12 against South Africa in 2006.

    Australia took only 92 seconds to get on the scoreboard, a lineout drive finished by hooker Katalina Amosa, who made her test debut only in May.

    The Wallaroos had the bonus point fourth try by the 15th minute. Miller was in support of fellow wing Maya Stewart to get her hat-trick try in the 33rd.

    The pick of the tries was the first of two by fullback Caitlyn Halse, who at 18 became the Wallaroos’ youngest ever World Cup player — at least until the appearance in the tournament of teammate Waiaria Ellis, who is 17.

    A looparound by flyhalf Faitala Moleka fed Halse into a gap 35 meters out and she was practically thrown over the try-line.

    The entire Samoa side made its World Cup debut. The Manusina were playing their first World Cup match in 11 years.

    Despite struggling for matches and available players, they were better than the score suggested, growing into the game and matching Australia’s intensity.

    They conceded only one try while prop Ana Mamea was sin-binned in the first half, and two at the end when Salale was in the bin, before her yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red.

    Samoa enjoyed rousing passages of offloads and front-rowers Glory Aiono, Mamea, Denise Aiolupotea and Tori Iosefo were a fearsome sight in open play.

    They made Australia make a whopping 183 tackles but were let down by miscues in front of the try-line.

    Winger Drenna Falaniko had a chance to become the first ever Manusina scorer against the Wallaroos, 16 years after their only other test, but knocked on while diving over the line in a tackle.

    Australia has a likely quarterfinal-qualifier against the United States next Saturday, when Samoa faces host England.

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    AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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