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Author Topic: International Rugby  (Read 499562 times)

Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5130 on: September 20, 2025, 05:33:08 PM »
So England Vs Canada in the final after France gave us a real test.

Jones was exceptional in the centres and probably deserved to be potm but Kildunne is such an wonderful ball carrier that it's hard to look elsewhere when she scores a try like that 2nd.

Offline UK Redsox

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5131 on: September 22, 2025, 12:04:06 AM »
I missed both semis due to being at a music festival.

However I’ve read some pundits advocating dropping Breach, Heard and Mo.

Jess Breach must have really gone off the boil, because she had a great start to the tournament.

With Meg Jones playing so well, England could go a bit more expansive by replacing Heard.

Leaving Mo out would be a big call, but given she’s 35 it might be better to start Packer and hold back Mo’s experience for the final 30

Online dcdavecollett

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5132 on: September 22, 2025, 01:12:33 AM »
Two terrific semi-finals.

France must feel like they missed their chance in the first-half with all the half-breaks they had when they were on top.

Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5133 on: September 22, 2025, 07:58:34 AM »
I missed both semis due to being at a music festival.

However I’ve read some pundits advocating dropping Breach, Heard and Mo.

Jess Breach must have really gone off the boil, because she had a great start to the tournament.

With Meg Jones playing so well, England could go a bit more expansive by replacing Heard.

Leaving Mo out would be a big call, but given she’s 35 it might be better to start Packer and hold back Mo’s experience for the final 30

She struggled with the pace of the game and how aggressive France were at the breakdown, in the first half, I think it'd be the right call. After that I'm not sure on the other 2, Breach just never really got into the game and Heard was a victim of the messy play inside her as much as playing poorly herself.

Two terrific semi-finals.

France must feel like they missed their chance in the first-half with all the half-breaks they had when they were on top.

True, but to counter that England really should've had 2-3 more tries ourselves, we made a lot of mistakes in the 22.

Online dcdavecollett

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5134 on: September 22, 2025, 11:24:51 PM »
Yes, I don't think I've seen so many knock-ons in a top women's game.

Offline Pat McMahon

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5135 on: September 22, 2025, 11:52:02 PM »
I watched most of the England v France semi and enjoyed it, though France definitely botched some great chances in the first half.

The highlight for me was the former All Black summariser on the panel. Can’t remember her name but she was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. I loved  her passion.

Offline Skipper_The_Eyechild

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5136 on: September 22, 2025, 11:56:32 PM »
I know close to naff all about women's rugby but watched the semi and will watch the final. What is the likelihood of an upset? I know Canada shouldn't have beaten New Zealand but were NZ uncharacteristically shite or did Canada just really up their game?

Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5137 on: September 23, 2025, 07:41:20 AM »
It wasn't an upset, Canada and NZ are very close in the standings.

They won by having the better set of forwards and dominating the breakdown.

They'll find that harder against England because we have 3-4 players who are just as good in those areas but then we have Breach, Dow and Kildunne outside. That's why we went in as favourites and have got to the final despite not really hitting our top form.

Offline Skipper_The_Eyechild

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #5138 on: Today at 12:06:25 AM »
I said I knew naff all! Cheers Paul.

 


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