2021 Rugby World Cup Preview: England deserve favouritism

It might be a year later than originally planned, but the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup promises to provide the best rugby and biggest audiences the tournament has ever seen.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused the postponement, but the delay has only heightened anticipation. Hosts New Zealand will open the competition on Saturday with a match against Australia, which is set to break the Women’s Rugby World Cup world record attendance as more than 30,000 tickets have been sold for the game at Eden Park.    

A lot has changed since New Zealand claimed the trophy back in 2017. The rise of professionalism in women’s rugby has seen standards improve, particularly in the case of England, who head into the World Cup as huge favourites (1.5) after posting a world-record 25-match winning run that stretches back to 2019.

High hopes for hosts

Reigning champions New Zealand have high expectations. However, the Black Ferns lost four consecutive matches last year in double-headers against England and France. What’s more, they came by the biggest losing margins in their history.

It was a chastening moment for the winners of five of the last six World Cups, and a controversial players report that ultimately led to the resignation of coach Glenn Moore in April soured things further.

However, Wayne Smith has since come in and overseen a turnaround and the hosts enter the tournament after a morale-boosting string of victories.

Will the rampant Roses justify favouritism?

England are the favourites for numerous reasons. Ranked number one in the world since November 2020, the Roses are on a winning streak that is unmatched in international rugby history.

The 2014 world champions laid down a marker by comfortably beating New Zealand on two occasions last year, and coach Middleton told The Guardian that he holds the lofty ambition of England Women’s Rugby team being referred to as “the best team in the world, across any sport”.

France, who share Pool C with England, possess bags of talent and have pushed England more than any other side in recent years, albeit they’ve lost their last 10 head-to-head meetings. Les Bleues will be eyeing an upset and will provide an early test of England’s mettle when they meet on October 15. 

Who are the dark horses?

Australia will be hoping to catch New Zealand cold in their Pool A opener on Saturday, and their squad includes a contingent of high-flying players who won the Sevens World Cup, World Series and Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

Wales and Scotland will join them in Pool A, and their opening day meeting could be crucial to both sides’ hopes of a quarter-final spot. Only the top two from each Pool and the two best third-placed teams progress.

Pool B is the hardest to call, with Canada, currently ranked third in the world, looking likeliest to progress. However, they face a tough challenge from the USA, Italy and Japan. The Azzurre earned an impressive win over France in their final warm-up game to reach their highest-ever ranking position of fifth and could spring a surprise or two.  

South Africa will join England and France in Pool C, as well as Fiji, who have six players in their ranks who were part of their Olympic bronze and Commonwealth silver medal-winning Sevens sides.