the formula, the groups, the favorites… All you need to know about the competition

She was expected. Initially scheduled for fall 2021, the Women’s Rugby World Cup, postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place from Saturday October 8 to Saturday November 12. It will be necessary to wake up early to follow the meetings since the competition will be held in Auckland and Whangarei, in New Zealand, with a final scheduled in the legendary Eden Park, theater of those of 1987 and 2011 for men. Overview.

A new formula with the introduction of quarter-finals

As in seven of the nine past editions, 12 nations will compete for the final victory at this World Cup (before an expansion to 16 from 2025). But unlike the last few times, World Rugby opted to change the format of the competition to introduce quarter-finals. The objective being to put an end to the usual classification matches, without much interest, played by the teams eliminated in pool.

>> The 2022 World Cup calendar to download

There will therefore be eight qualified at the end of this first phase during which the selections will be divided into three groups of four. The first and second from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, accompanied by the two best third. “Putting this quarter-final gives the opportunity to test the best teams more before reaching the semi-finals”had justified Katie Sadler, theex-director general of women’s rugby, in 2018.

In addition, the total duration of the competition was extended from 23 to 35 days to improve the well-being of the players, while injuries had multiplied during the last World Cup in Ireland. The idea is to allow for longer recovery times between matches. The numbers are also expanded, with 32 players against 28 previously.

All lights green for English, New Zealanders rely on their audience

Given the history, it is difficult to imagine anything other than a high-flying duel between world rugby ogresses. Apart from the first edition won by the United States in 1991, the Women’s World Cup has remained the preserve of the Black Ferns (five titles) and the Red Roses (two titles). In the history of the competition, the two teams have also played four of the eight finals, the last of which was in 2017.

But before this month of competition, only the English impressed. Simon Middleton’s players have not lost since July 2019. Better, they remain on two victories against the New Zealanders during the test matches last fall.

25 Test wins in a row!@EnglandRugby step up their #RWC2021 preparations in style with an emphatic 73-7 win over Wales#ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/c4sGvOl841

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 14, 2022

the XV English pourra in particular to rely on an experienced team like their captain, the third line Sarah Hunter, who will have the opportunity to beat Rochelle Clark’s selection record (137 caps) during this World Cup. A luxury that New Zealand will not be able to afford.

The backbone of the 2017 Black Ferns has been greatly renewed, with only eight world champions selected from the roster of 32 players. However, the hosts of the competition will benefit from the support of their country, which has been waiting for a World Cup on its land for eleven years.

Finally a blue horizon?

Despite a surprise defeat in Italy (26-19), at the beginning of September, for their last preparation match for the World Cup, the XV of France seems to be the only team able to compete with the two scarecrows in New Zealand. Not only do Les Bleues regularly compete against the English, but they also brought down the Blacks Ferns twice in November 2021.

France #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/Euina9n52J

— Rugby World Cup (@RugbyWorldCupFR) September 28, 2022

Only problem: the French seem cursed in the competition. In the last four of each World Cup (except in 1998), they have never made it past the semi-finals, as evidenced by their six bronze medals. They will therefore have to achieve a feat during the last competition of scrum half Laure Sansus, recently elected best French international player of the year during the Night of Rugby.

The groups

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Scotland.

Group B: Canada, United States, Italy, Japan.

Group C: England, France, South Africa, Fiji.