WOMEN rugby players have often looked tough, but mostly it was an illusion. All sweatbands but no sweat, to borrow Colin Meads's dismissive phrase for one England pack. Women can clearly run and pass - quite superbly in the case of the 1998 New Zealand girls - but their game often lacked the satisfying impact and collisions that sets rugby apart from other sports. Rugby, yes, but not as we know it.
Things change, however. The defining feature of the 1998 tournament in Amsterdam was the pace and sheer athleticism of the New Zealand girls, whose "play book" was exactly the same as their senior male All Blacks counterparts. They catapulted the women's game forward about two decades and to contain their virtuosity teams across the world have had to concentrate on defence and aggressive tackling.
So it has been getting very physical under the hot Catalan sun. Tempers have occasionally flared, players have been sent off and the tournament littered with yellow cards. Samoa - making their first appearance on the women's rugby scene - clashed mightily against Scotland and two players were dismissed, but
the biggest collision of all was Australia's clash with New Zealand on Saturday. There is no love lost between these two rugby nations and it showed. The result was probably the most intense, full-on physical confrontation the women's game has seen.
It was not dirty, just brutal. The smaller Aussies were outgunned in every department except courage. Big hits, now obligatory rather than simply desirable, were reeled off. The mother of all tackles came from full-back Bronwyn Laidlaw, who hit Tammi Wilson with such force to save one certain try that you feared for both girls. To their mutual surprise they got up,
gingerly, dusted themselves off and stared with new-found respect and awe at each other. They were still comparing notes about "the tackle" hours after the game.
The dam eventually burst late in the second half and New Zealand ran out 36-3 winners, poor reward for the brave Australians who received no favours from the referee. Their approach and courage was repeated in the next game when hosts Spain, heading for a heavy defeat on known form, took England to the limit.
The Spanish were pumped up by a noisy home crowd and highly motivated after a minute's silence for the father of their lock, Marish Rus, who had died two days earlier. His daughter, after wiping away the tears, had the game of her life, as did her colleagues. Mighty England, the only team thought capable of challenging New Zealand, found themselves in a dogfight and didn't like it. They trailed 5-0 at half-time to a try by Spain wing Isabel Perez and only two tries after the break by Nicky Jupp and wing Nicola Crawford, salvaged a 13-5 win.
England now play Canada, 11-0 winners over the fiesty Scots, in their semi-final tomorrow, while the French are next in the firing line against New Zealand.
"We were very nervous and poor, just as we were against Italy in our first game," admitted England captain Paula George. "Our hope now is that we can settle down and produce our best form. A decent performance must be just around the corner. We've trained well, the draw has been kind to us, there are no excuses really. We just need to make it happen."
The much anticipated New Zealand-England final at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday is still a probability. If so, it will be the last game in charge for Kiwi coach Darryl Suasua, who is seeking a National Provincial Championship contract after seven years with the girls.
"It's been a pleasure and a privilege and there's plenty the women can teach the guys," said Suasua, who coaches the Marist club in Auckland. "Firstly, discipline - generally they are much better. Secondly, attention to detail and work ethic. When I
introduce a new play or strategy,
they listen, absorb and execute.
"If I try the same with a guys' team, there's a think-tank of senior players mulling it all over and picking the bones out of it before it is accepted. And thirdly, fun. They always enjoy their rugby."
Daily Telegraph (London, England) (May 20, 2002): p09
Monday, 20 May 2002
Sunday, 19 May 2002
England survive Spanish fright to reach last four
England survived a major scare to qualify for the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona with a hard-fought 13-5 victory over the host nation, Spain.
For much of yesterday's quarter-final, the Spaniards had high hopes of reaching the last four and led 5-0 at half-time. But a rousing dressing- room speech at the interval by the England coach, Geoff Richards, injected a sense of urgency which bore fruit in the form of two tries within 10 minutes of the restart.
Earlier, it had taken nearly half an hour for the first points to be recorded when the Spanish wing Isabel Perez darted through a gap to score an unconverted try. Then, despite heavy English pressure just before the interval, the home defence refused to bend.
England, unused to being outplayed by one of the lesser rugby nations, finally got on to the scoresheet when centre Nicky Jupp crossed the Spanish line in the 46th minute. Four minutes later, right-wing Nicola Crawford found the space she needed to dot down in the corner and give England a 10-3 lead.
Five points was too small a margin as Spain again applied the pressure, but in the 53rd minute Shelly Rae, a normally dependable kicker who had missed two conversion attempts, at last found the target with a penalty which put England two scores ahead.
The results meant that England have now qualified for Tuesday's semi- finals, though the news wasn't as good for Scotland who were beaten 11- 0 by Canada, who reached the last four. Canada had lead 3-0 at the interval.
As the reseeding process is based on the number of tries scored, it is possible that England might have to face the favourites and defending champions, New Zealand, who yesterday thrashed Australia 36-3. The Black Ferns dominated both territory and possession, and it took a fine defensive performance from the Wallaroos to avoid a heavier defeat. The try of the game came in the second half when substitute Helen Vaaga found a hole in a maul before fending off three would-be tacklers to score.
The USA failed to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup final when they lost 21-9 to France. The French held a 16-6 half-time lead following tries from centre Nathalie Amiel and flanker Aline Sagols, and two penalties from full-back Estelle Sartini. Inez Rodriguez landed her third penalty for the Americans early in the second half, but thereafter it was a stalemate until Amiel broke through for her second try, and France's third, in the 79th minute.
The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (May 19, 2002): p12
For much of yesterday's quarter-final, the Spaniards had high hopes of reaching the last four and led 5-0 at half-time. But a rousing dressing- room speech at the interval by the England coach, Geoff Richards, injected a sense of urgency which bore fruit in the form of two tries within 10 minutes of the restart.
Earlier, it had taken nearly half an hour for the first points to be recorded when the Spanish wing Isabel Perez darted through a gap to score an unconverted try. Then, despite heavy English pressure just before the interval, the home defence refused to bend.
England, unused to being outplayed by one of the lesser rugby nations, finally got on to the scoresheet when centre Nicky Jupp crossed the Spanish line in the 46th minute. Four minutes later, right-wing Nicola Crawford found the space she needed to dot down in the corner and give England a 10-3 lead.
Five points was too small a margin as Spain again applied the pressure, but in the 53rd minute Shelly Rae, a normally dependable kicker who had missed two conversion attempts, at last found the target with a penalty which put England two scores ahead.
The results meant that England have now qualified for Tuesday's semi- finals, though the news wasn't as good for Scotland who were beaten 11- 0 by Canada, who reached the last four. Canada had lead 3-0 at the interval.
As the reseeding process is based on the number of tries scored, it is possible that England might have to face the favourites and defending champions, New Zealand, who yesterday thrashed Australia 36-3. The Black Ferns dominated both territory and possession, and it took a fine defensive performance from the Wallaroos to avoid a heavier defeat. The try of the game came in the second half when substitute Helen Vaaga found a hole in a maul before fending off three would-be tacklers to score.
The USA failed to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup final when they lost 21-9 to France. The French held a 16-6 half-time lead following tries from centre Nathalie Amiel and flanker Aline Sagols, and two penalties from full-back Estelle Sartini. Inez Rodriguez landed her third penalty for the Americans early in the second half, but thereafter it was a stalemate until Amiel broke through for her second try, and France's third, in the 79th minute.
The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (May 19, 2002): p12
Saturday, 18 May 2002
Brownlee rings changes as Scots take on World Cup favourites
Lewis Stuart
AS IF the brutal game against Samoa was not enough, Scotland now face the task of taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites in the latest round of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain. In the men's game, Canada may have yet to break into the elite, but their women have been one of the world's top teams since they started.
"There is no doubt they are favourites and we are the underdogs," Peter Brownlee, the Scotland coach, said last night. "But that often suits Scottish teams, it seems to work with our sort of personality. We've watched a video of their opening match, digested it and churned our way through it and I believe that if we can pressure them in the right places, we can stop them playing and do the job." It is a big task. Canada hammered Ireland 57-0 in that opening match.
In the Six Nations tournament just finished, Scotland beat the same opponents 13-0. They were never in danger of losing but struggled to convert pressure into points.
But before everybody heads off into a state of doom and gloom, there are some factors on Scotland's side. They have not played Canada at this level, but did take on the United States last November and won 22-3. Since the Americans and Canadians are traditional rivals with nothing to choose between them, that gives Scotland a benchmark that shows they are capable of springing a surprise.
"I'm not so worried the result, more about the performance," Brownlee said. "If we can get that right, we will be competitive with anybody. It is all about us and the way we play. It will be a much harder task than our opening game. Samoa were an unknown quantity and inexperienced at this level. Canada are a different proposition altogether, they have been around for ages, have loads of experience and quality."
Brownlee has made three changes to the starting line-up. Ironically, Ali McGrandles, the first Scot to be sent off in a full international, comes into the team to replace Denise Fairbairn, who became the second on Monday and is banned for this match.
On the wing, Angela Hutt is injured and Brownlee uses the opportunity to freshen up the back three, bringing in Rhona Shepherd on one wing and Gill Gilmour on the other. Jennifer Dickson drops to the bench with Mary-Pat Tierney coming into squad.
SCOTLAND: S Higgins (Royal High); G Gibbon (Royal High), N MacDonald (Glasgow Southern), R Petlevannaia (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Shepherd (Murrayfield Wanderers); A McGrandles (Richmond), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); K Findlay (Richmond), V Wiseman (Richmond), A Christie (Royal High), L Cockburn (Royal High), C Muir (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Sheerin (Richmond), D Kennedy (Royal High), F Gillanders (Wasps).
Replacements: A Mackenzie (Royal High), V Galbraith (Richmond), J Hanley (Waterloo), L O'Keefe (Richmond), B Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers), M-P Tierney (Watsonians), J Dickson (Richmond).
The Times (London, England) (May 18, 2002): p32
AS IF the brutal game against Samoa was not enough, Scotland now face the task of taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites in the latest round of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain. In the men's game, Canada may have yet to break into the elite, but their women have been one of the world's top teams since they started.
"There is no doubt they are favourites and we are the underdogs," Peter Brownlee, the Scotland coach, said last night. "But that often suits Scottish teams, it seems to work with our sort of personality. We've watched a video of their opening match, digested it and churned our way through it and I believe that if we can pressure them in the right places, we can stop them playing and do the job." It is a big task. Canada hammered Ireland 57-0 in that opening match.
In the Six Nations tournament just finished, Scotland beat the same opponents 13-0. They were never in danger of losing but struggled to convert pressure into points.
But before everybody heads off into a state of doom and gloom, there are some factors on Scotland's side. They have not played Canada at this level, but did take on the United States last November and won 22-3. Since the Americans and Canadians are traditional rivals with nothing to choose between them, that gives Scotland a benchmark that shows they are capable of springing a surprise.
"I'm not so worried the result, more about the performance," Brownlee said. "If we can get that right, we will be competitive with anybody. It is all about us and the way we play. It will be a much harder task than our opening game. Samoa were an unknown quantity and inexperienced at this level. Canada are a different proposition altogether, they have been around for ages, have loads of experience and quality."
Brownlee has made three changes to the starting line-up. Ironically, Ali McGrandles, the first Scot to be sent off in a full international, comes into the team to replace Denise Fairbairn, who became the second on Monday and is banned for this match.
On the wing, Angela Hutt is injured and Brownlee uses the opportunity to freshen up the back three, bringing in Rhona Shepherd on one wing and Gill Gilmour on the other. Jennifer Dickson drops to the bench with Mary-Pat Tierney coming into squad.
SCOTLAND: S Higgins (Royal High); G Gibbon (Royal High), N MacDonald (Glasgow Southern), R Petlevannaia (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Shepherd (Murrayfield Wanderers); A McGrandles (Richmond), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); K Findlay (Richmond), V Wiseman (Richmond), A Christie (Royal High), L Cockburn (Royal High), C Muir (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Sheerin (Richmond), D Kennedy (Royal High), F Gillanders (Wasps).
Replacements: A Mackenzie (Royal High), V Galbraith (Richmond), J Hanley (Waterloo), L O'Keefe (Richmond), B Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers), M-P Tierney (Watsonians), J Dickson (Richmond).
The Times (London, England) (May 18, 2002): p32
Thursday, 16 May 2002
Women's rugby sent to try us!
MICK DENNIS
THE Women's Rugby World Cup is taking place in Barcelona and I want to make it perfectly clear that none of our team looks like Fran Cotton in drag.
That point has to be made because sportswomen are very sensitive about stereotyping and are desperate to be taken seriously.
My own record in this is not very good. A few years ago there was a TV programme about the Harlequins women's rugby team, which showed their AGM in a private room at London's Sports Cafe.
One of the girls went out to get the beers in, came back with a couple of foaming tankards and complained that some chauvinist pig had commented: "Nice jugs."
It is time to admit that comment came from a group of sports journalists on a night out and that I was among that group.
I apologise unreservedly, because they were very ordinary jugs and because women's rugby, like women's football or women's anything, is a serious sport.
OK. But we are not allowed to give it serious scrutiny or expose the unspoken truth that it is not very good.
The goalkeeping at this season's women's FA Cup Final was atrocious, for instance, but we were not supposed to notice and certainly not supposed to comment.
Next week I shall help out at a schools' football tournament involving girls' teams. Their matches will be very competitive and great fun.
But the girls are not as strong or fast as the boys, and the physical differences become more marked as kids grow up.
So while women certainly may be able to bend it like Beckham, they'll never be able to run like Owen or tackle like Campbell.
The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2002): p63
THE Women's Rugby World Cup is taking place in Barcelona and I want to make it perfectly clear that none of our team looks like Fran Cotton in drag.
That point has to be made because sportswomen are very sensitive about stereotyping and are desperate to be taken seriously.
My own record in this is not very good. A few years ago there was a TV programme about the Harlequins women's rugby team, which showed their AGM in a private room at London's Sports Cafe.
One of the girls went out to get the beers in, came back with a couple of foaming tankards and complained that some chauvinist pig had commented: "Nice jugs."
It is time to admit that comment came from a group of sports journalists on a night out and that I was among that group.
I apologise unreservedly, because they were very ordinary jugs and because women's rugby, like women's football or women's anything, is a serious sport.
OK. But we are not allowed to give it serious scrutiny or expose the unspoken truth that it is not very good.
The goalkeeping at this season's women's FA Cup Final was atrocious, for instance, but we were not supposed to notice and certainly not supposed to comment.
Next week I shall help out at a schools' football tournament involving girls' teams. Their matches will be very competitive and great fun.
But the girls are not as strong or fast as the boys, and the physical differences become more marked as kids grow up.
So while women certainly may be able to bend it like Beckham, they'll never be able to run like Owen or tackle like Campbell.
The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2002): p63
Monday, 13 May 2002
Boosted..by a lesbian tiff
SUE CASTLE
THE Welsh women's rugby team may benefit from a bizarre lesbian love scandal among their Aussie rivals.
Australian player Cheryl Soon took an overdose after a fight with ex-lover and fellow player Tui Ormsby.
Soon, 26, was upset she and Ormsby, 24, had split up. Aussie team boss Larry Thompson does not want Soon in the side. But she and Ormsby will line up together today when Australia meet Wales in the women's World Cup in Barcelona.
In a report Thompson said Soon was in a "very unstable condition" after the bust up.
He said Soon should not be selected because the row had caused a "real split among the team".
But the Australian Rugby Union sent Soon for counselling.
An ARU spokesman said "The matter has been dealt with appropriately.
"We are satisfied with her capacity to do the job asked of her at the World Cup."
The Mirror (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p16
THE Welsh women's rugby team may benefit from a bizarre lesbian love scandal among their Aussie rivals.
Australian player Cheryl Soon took an overdose after a fight with ex-lover and fellow player Tui Ormsby.
Soon, 26, was upset she and Ormsby, 24, had split up. Aussie team boss Larry Thompson does not want Soon in the side. But she and Ormsby will line up together today when Australia meet Wales in the women's World Cup in Barcelona.
In a report Thompson said Soon was in a "very unstable condition" after the bust up.
He said Soon should not be selected because the row had caused a "real split among the team".
But the Australian Rugby Union sent Soon for counselling.
An ARU spokesman said "The matter has been dealt with appropriately.
"We are satisfied with her capacity to do the job asked of her at the World Cup."
The Mirror (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p16
England saddled with weight of expectation
Daryl Holden
Geoff Richards, the England women's rugby coach, has dismissed suggestions that the World Cup in Barcelona will be nothing more than a two-team race between his side and New Zealand.
England warmed up for the 16-team event with an historic first training run at Twickenham last Friday. They arrived in Spain confident and should easily beat Italy in their opening match this afternoon, while New Zealand, the champions, are expected to threaten the 100-point mark against unfancied Germany.
New Zealand are the top seeds and have long been the dominant force in the women's game but they suffered their first loss in a decade last year when they were beaten by England in Auckland. As a result, many expect New Zealand and England to dominate in the next two weeks and meet in the May 25 final at the Olympic Stadium.
Richards thinks the tournament is wide open, with Canada, Australia, France and Samoa, the World Cup newcomers, not to be discounted.
FIRST-ROUND DRAW: New Zealand v Germany; Australia v Wales; United States v Holland; France v Kazakhstan; England v Italy; Spain v Japan; Canada v Ireland; Scotland v Samoa.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
Geoff Richards, the England women's rugby coach, has dismissed suggestions that the World Cup in Barcelona will be nothing more than a two-team race between his side and New Zealand.
England warmed up for the 16-team event with an historic first training run at Twickenham last Friday. They arrived in Spain confident and should easily beat Italy in their opening match this afternoon, while New Zealand, the champions, are expected to threaten the 100-point mark against unfancied Germany.
New Zealand are the top seeds and have long been the dominant force in the women's game but they suffered their first loss in a decade last year when they were beaten by England in Auckland. As a result, many expect New Zealand and England to dominate in the next two weeks and meet in the May 25 final at the Olympic Stadium.
Richards thinks the tournament is wide open, with Canada, Australia, France and Samoa, the World Cup newcomers, not to be discounted.
FIRST-ROUND DRAW: New Zealand v Germany; Australia v Wales; United States v Holland; France v Kazakhstan; England v Italy; Spain v Japan; Canada v Ireland; Scotland v Samoa.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
Scotland women in mood to prove a point
Lewis Stuart
SCOTLAND'S women rugby players stick to the tried and tested as they head into the unknown in the opening round of the Women's Rugby World Cup today. They may be fifth seeds and European champions but the pressure is on from the start.
The problem, as Barbara Wilson, the Scottish women's rugby administrator, admits is that all they know about Samoa, their opening opponents is that 23 of the 26 in the squad are based in New Zealand and that they are huge. "I saw that there is only one of their team who weighs less than 75kg (just under 12st) but there's only about half our squad who reach that," she says. "But the girls are prepared for a strong match and are geared up to give them a game. It is not always the biggest that wins these things."
While Samoa may have size and weight, Scotland have teamwork and confidence. Their opponents are a scratch side pulled together after the Black Ferns had had their pick of the leading players in New Zealand and have little experience of playing with each other or at this level.
And Scotland are heading for the World Cup with something to prove. While England have been getting most of the kudos and far more financial support -Scotland won the European title despite having had their lottery backing withdrawn and now that it is back, it is at a level that pales into insignificance compared with the money allocated to their English rivals -the Scots have been putting together some solid performances and head for Barcelona ranked only two below England.
In the Six Nations just ended, Scotland finished third, comfortably beaten by England but frustrated and angry with themselves for losing to France who went on to claim a grand slam. "We were all over them but could not score," Karen Findlay, the captain, said. "It was incredibly frustrating, we know we should have won that game."
Women's rugby is growing in Scotland but a big performance from the national side would be a huge boost, raising its profile to the stage where sponsors, a strong public following and a decent slice of financial support would inevitably follow. Failure would set the project back years, which is why today's game is vital for women's rugby in Scotland.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
SCOTLAND'S women rugby players stick to the tried and tested as they head into the unknown in the opening round of the Women's Rugby World Cup today. They may be fifth seeds and European champions but the pressure is on from the start.
The problem, as Barbara Wilson, the Scottish women's rugby administrator, admits is that all they know about Samoa, their opening opponents is that 23 of the 26 in the squad are based in New Zealand and that they are huge. "I saw that there is only one of their team who weighs less than 75kg (just under 12st) but there's only about half our squad who reach that," she says. "But the girls are prepared for a strong match and are geared up to give them a game. It is not always the biggest that wins these things."
While Samoa may have size and weight, Scotland have teamwork and confidence. Their opponents are a scratch side pulled together after the Black Ferns had had their pick of the leading players in New Zealand and have little experience of playing with each other or at this level.
And Scotland are heading for the World Cup with something to prove. While England have been getting most of the kudos and far more financial support -Scotland won the European title despite having had their lottery backing withdrawn and now that it is back, it is at a level that pales into insignificance compared with the money allocated to their English rivals -the Scots have been putting together some solid performances and head for Barcelona ranked only two below England.
In the Six Nations just ended, Scotland finished third, comfortably beaten by England but frustrated and angry with themselves for losing to France who went on to claim a grand slam. "We were all over them but could not score," Karen Findlay, the captain, said. "It was incredibly frustrating, we know we should have won that game."
Women's rugby is growing in Scotland but a big performance from the national side would be a huge boost, raising its profile to the stage where sponsors, a strong public following and a decent slice of financial support would inevitably follow. Failure would set the project back years, which is why today's game is vital for women's rugby in Scotland.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
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