England’s favorites at the Women’s Rugby World Cup break records

England’s Emily Scarratt will appear in the Rugby World Cup Finals for the fourth time

Wellington (AFP) – Confident England are the favorites, but hosts and hosts New Zealand have a point to prove when the Women’s Rugby World Cup begins on Saturday in record fashion.[expander_maker id=”1″ ]

The tournament kicks off with a mouth-watering triple bill, all in Auckland’s Eden Park, when South Africa plays France, Fiji plays England and hosts New Zealand play Australia.

More than 30,000 tickets were sold for the opening day, a record attendance for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, surpassing the 20,000 tickets that saw the 2014 final in Paris.

New Zealand organizers hope the competition will draw crowds of 47,000, another milestone for a competition that started in a low-key fashion in 1991 and saw only a few thousand fans in that final.

Two-time world champions England have had a winning streak of 25 games unbeaten since 2019, when they lost to New Zealand’s Black Ferns.

The Red Roses won their fourth consecutive Six Nations title earlier this year and confidence is high after defeating neighbors Wales 73-7 in a warm-up match.

“Yes, we have to win it,” England coach Simon Middleton replied, asking if anything other than winning the final on November 12 would be a failure.

“This is the best prepared team and the best strength in depth we’ve ever had.”

But Middleton knows the nominees’ mark is no guarantee of success, especially as defending champions New Zealand have an advantage at home and enthusiastic supporters behind them.

The Black Ferns are the most successful team in the history of the competition, winning it five times, but losing twice to both England and France on the European Tour last year.

– The all-black influence –

There will be a strong influence of all blacks on the women’s side.

Wayne Smith, Black Ferns Rugby Manager, is a very respected name with experience winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil.

New Zealander Portia Woodman scored seven attempts in the last warm-up win over Japan

He was assistant coach to Graham Henry – who was texting Smith – when the All Blacks won the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Dan Carter also helped the former All Blacks star with the Black Fires’ shots in the net.

Whitney Hansen works alongside Smith as an assistant coach.

Her father, Steve, coached the All Blacks to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

In addition to improving their playing style, Smith wants to instill in the Black Ferns the mental fortitude that helped the All Blacks deal with the pressures of hosting in 2011.

“It’s very nice to know how to calm yourself and how to stay in class, but you have to do it under pressure,” Smith said.

Outside of New Zealand and England, France are considered black horses to win the World Cup for the first time.

They gave England their toughest Six Nations match when the Red Roses won 24-12 in Bayonne in April.

Lore Sansus captured six attempts at the Six Nations Championship and was named the tournament’s best player.

The sudden defeat to Italy 26-19 in early September gave the French team an ultimatum.

“We are not worried,” said Qaqq Safi Ndiaye.

“We know what we are capable of, we know what we can do on the pitch.

“It was mentally stimulated and the group tightened.

“It’s the World Cup, it’s a new adventure. We start from scratch every time.”

The World Cup features 12 teams divided into three pools in the first stage.

The two best teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance to the quarter-finals.

Group A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Scotland

Group B: Canada, USA, Italy, Japan

Group C: England, France, South Africa.[/expander_maker]