Mismatches Will Not Halt Women’s Rugby World Cup Momentum, Insist Organisers

Women’s Rugby World Cup organisers person insisted that nan precocious number of mismatches truthful acold will not dampen nan tournament’s momentum aft hailing an “electric” first week.

More than 85,000 spectators watched nan opening 8 group games, pinch England’s 69-7 thrashing of nan United States attracting a highest TV assemblage of 2.4m. Meanwhile France’s 24-0 triumph complete Italy besides collapsed records pinch 3.2m watching connected TF1 successful France.

But nan quality successful standards was besides evident pinch nan mean separator of triumph successful nan first information of matches being 47 points. There were nary adjacent matches either, pinch France’s comfortable triumph complete Italy proving to beryllium nan tightest game.

More mismatches are expected this weekend, pinch England taking connected Samoa, who mislaid their opening crippled 73-0 to Australia, and New Zealand facing Japan, who they hit 95-12 successful their only erstwhile encounter.

However Yvonne Nolan, nan title head for Rugby World Cup 2025, insisted that standards were being raised each nan clip and person games would come.

“If you for illustration free-flowing rugby and tries, you’re seeing it,” she said. “If you for illustration an limb wrestle, it will come. These matches are going to get tighter and tighter arsenic we get done nan pools and into nan knockouts.

“And portion of this is astir nan trajectory of this game. Different teams are astatine different stages of their development. They each merit to beryllium here.

“In 2006 I was portion of an Ireland squad beaten by France 43-0. Today, Ireland are classed fifth, conscionable down France. If we each get down these teams, that capacity spread will close. But surely I would opportunity watch and wait. The limb wrestles will come.”

Meanwhile World Rugby’s Sally Horrox insisted that nan wide separator of defeats did not ever show nan afloat story, and fans were seeing nan shot successful play more, arsenic good arsenic amended activity and higher accomplishment levels.

“Yes, nan apical teams really made their mark,” she added. “But those teams successful this expanded format – if you look astatine Spain, Brazil and Fiji – they really stood up. There was immoderate fearless, brave defence among those teams.”

That connection was reinforced by Sarah Massey, nan tournament’s managing director, who said that fans were enjoying what they were seeing.

“What’s really accordant crossed each nan matches we’ve seen truthful acold is nan electrical atmosphere, nan joyousness and nan vibrancy of nan fans, and that consciousness and emotion that they’re portion of thing that’s really special,” she said.

“And it’s not conscionable america saying that. We sent retired a post-match study to each of those who attended, and they are replying successful their 1000s, saying really overmuch they are enjoying nan instrumentality acquisition overall.”