Women’s Rugby World Cup: Week 2 Recap, Australia vs USA and More

Excitement at the Women’s Rugby World Cup: Australia and USA Tie, South Africa Surprises

The second week of the Women’s Rugby World Cup gave us an epic encounter between Australia and the United States, which ended in a 31-31 tie. In addition, South Africa pulled off a surprise by defeating Italy.

Now, there is only one spot available for the quarterfinals, which will be played between Australia and the United States. England, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, France, and South Africa already have their place secured.

The definition of the crosses is yet to be seen, with much at stake in the last week.Will Australia be able to beat England?

After the tie in York, the situation of Australia and the United States generated confusion. However, the rules are quite clear. The United States needs a bonus-point win against Samoa to have a chance of advancing. Australia, for its part, qualifies with a bonus point, regardless of what the United States does. If Australia loses without a bonus point and the United States achieves theirs, the classification will be defined by point difference. The pressure is on Australia, who need a good result in Brighton. England is a formidable rival, and their coach, John Mitchell, will not allow anyone to concede ground, not even with four tries.Ilona Maher in the spotlight:

Ilona Maher, after her good moments against England, stood out as a true force for her team against Australia. Her running game, gaining meters after contact, and her strength at the breakdown, where she achieved three turnovers, were key.

We were in a back and forth and then we were up near the end and then they scored again.

Ilona Maher

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England’s selection dilemma:The Red Roses avoid the narrative of having two distinct starting teams at the World Cup. However, it is likely that 14 of the 15 starters for the knockout stages will be the same as those who played against the United States. The team that faced Samoa could be looking to earn a spot.

John Mitchell asserts that the decisions are based on the knowledge acquired since he took office in May 2023, as well as on the current performance. Despite some injuries, such as that of captain Zoe Aldcroft, the team that will play in the quarter-finals can be foreseen. The main unknown is on the wings. Will it be Jess Breach or Claudia Moloney-Macdonald? Breach shone against Samoa, scoring a hat-trick. Moloney-Macdonald also performed well. It will be interesting to see who Mitchell chooses against Australia. She is expected to protect certain key players, such as Meg Jones, but Moloney-Macdonald will be looking to make her mark next week. The pack seems to be defined, but the uncertainty about England’s best team focuses on who will accompany Abby Dow on the wings.South Africa makes history:

South Africa starred in one of the most memorable moments of the tournament by qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. The Springboks surprised Italy 29-24 in York, securing their place in the next phase. They had never beaten Italy before. The excitement was overwhelming, and the celebrations marked this historic milestone. Now they will face France to define who will lead Group D.Portia Woodman-Wickliffe breaks another record:Portia Woodman-Wickliffe became New Zealand’s top try scorer, both in men’s and women’s rugby, after the match against Japan, where the Black Ferns won 62-19. Woodman-Wickliffe needed a try to surpass Doug Howlett’s record, and she achieved it at 12 minutes in Exeter. The 34-year-old player came out of retirement to seek her third consecutive world title, adding to her two Olympic gold medals in rugby 7.The future of women’s rugby:The future of women’s rugby is promising thanks to young prospects Caitlyn Halse and Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who have stood out for their performances with Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

Both 18-year-old players have shone on the world stage. Sorensen-McGee scored a hat-trick against Japan, while Halse scored two crucial tries to keep the Wallaroos in the game against the United States. Halse, nicknamed ‘the Girl’ in Australia, has been fundamental to the team, with four tries. Sorensen-McGee has become one of the most important offensive threats for the Black Ferns.Highlights to see:The historic moment of South Africa:

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