Whilst the English Premier League football continues this weekend… the Women’s Rugby World Cup also kicks off. The Women’s World Cup is being held in England with record crowds expected and Twickenham which will host the final and holds 82,000 already sold out.
England’s Women, the very hot favourites, last lost a game in the 2021 World Cup Final (played in 2022 because of Covid) to New Zealand. England have also won the 6 Nations for the last 7 years. If England wipe the floor with all that comes before them this time out – they may challenge the tautologically sounding adage that nothing succeeds like success or that you can’t get enough of a good thing – as all sports need healthy competition, jeopardy, and unpredictability.
So for those on this side of the Irish sea who may need cover for their anybody but England (ABE) policy then here it is – for the long term health of the Women’s game – ABE it’s got to be.
There are 4 pools of 4 and the (very) likely winners of the pools are England, Canada, New Zealand and France. Ireland will probably finish 2nd behind New Zealand and should fairly comfortably beat Japan and Spain. Ballymena’s Neve Jones who plays hooker and who prides herself on her nuisance value is definitely one to watch as is Sam Monaghan, who plays second row and is co-captain. Both players play for Gloucester-Hartbury and both have previously had a crack at Gaelic Football.
Ireland kick of their campaign against Japan on Saturday(23th August) at 12 in Northampton, which is a great rugby town and they can hopefully expect quite a bit of support. If Ireland do finish second they will very likely play France in the quarter finals and the reward for upsetting the French would be a game against England in the semis…
Gwan Mná na hÉireann / Wimmen o Ireland
The route to the final is here.
Realistically, we can expect Ireland to bow out in the quarters but hopefully/possibly make it to the semis – and whilst Granny McNally would tan the arshe off me for saying it – may the best team win.
…so back to the football – given the palaver and tug of love over Alexander Isak, Monday night’s tie between Newcastle and Liverpool at St James Park looks like the pick of the crop.
Sammy Mc Nally is a Prod fictional character bestowed on us by James Young who accidentally kills his pal, who not suprisingly, given that it is Belfast, is also a Prod. The friend is sent to the after life place (Heaven/Hell) and finds it is an exact replica of Belfast – with one important difference – it is run entirely by Fenians and with the pope himself in residence in Stormo and it seems no sign of the Belgian quarefellah D’Hondt anywhere. To be continued…
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