World Cup Round One - Preview and Predictions
WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: The World Cup opening match day at Eden Park on October 8 has officially sold out, with a record crowd set to fill New Zealand’s iconic national stadium.
Fans will be part of history, seeing the tournament kick-off by becoming the most attended women’s Rugby World Cup match day ever, surpassing RWC 2014 finals day which was recorded as a sell-out at the 20 000 capacity Stade Jean-Bouin stadium in France and RWC 2017 finals day.
It will be the first time in history that Eden Park has reached capacity for a women’s sports event and the attendance more than doubles the largest-ever crowd for a standalone women’s sports event in New Zealand.
The tournament kicks off with a mouthwatering triple bill, all at Auckland's Eden Park, when South Africa play France, Fiji take on England and New Zealand host Australia.
South Africa return to the World Cup stage after skipping the 2017 showpiece and rather on focus on building some depth and investing in a more youthful foundation.
Two-time world champions England are on a 25-match winning streak and have not lost since 2019, when they were beaten by New Zealand's Black Ferns.
The Red Roses won a fourth straight women's Six Nations title earlier this year and confidence is sky-high after demolishing neighbours Wales 73-7 in a warm-up game.
"Yeah, we've got to win it," replied England head coach Simon Middleton, asked if anything other than victory in the final on November 12 would be a failure.
"This is the best-prepared squad and the best strength in depth we've ever had."
But Middleton knows the favourites' tag is no guarantee of success, especially as defending champions New Zealand have home advantage and passionate supporters behind them.
The Black Ferns are the most successful team in the history of the competition, winning it five times, but they lost twice to both England and France on last year's European tour.
All Blacks influence
There will be a strong All Blacks influence on the women's side.
Wayne Smith, the Black Ferns' director of rugby, is a highly respected name with experience of winning a Rugby World Cup on home turf.
He was assistant coach to Graham Henry -- who has been texting Smith tips -- when the All Blacks won the men's Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Former All Blacks star Dan Carter has also been helping the Black Ferns' kickers land their shots at goal.
Working alongside Smith as assistant coach is Whitney Hansen.
Her father Steve coached the All Blacks to their 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph.
As well as fine-tuning their game, Smith wants to instil in the Black Ferns the mental fortitude which helped the All Blacks deal with the pressure of being hosts in 2011.
"It's all very well knowing how to calm yourself down and how to stay in the classroom, but you've got to do it under pressure," Smith said.
Outside of New Zealand and England, France are dark horses to win their first World Cup.
They gave England their toughest game of the Six Nations when the Red Roses won 24-12 in Bayonne in April.
French scrumhalf Laure Sansus grabbed six tries in the Six Nations and was named player of the tournament.
A shock 26-19 defeat to Italy in early September gave the French team a wake-up call.
"We're not worried," said lock Safi N'Diaye.
"We know what we are capable of, we know what we can do on the pitch.
"It was a mental trigger and the group has tightened up.
"It's a World Cup, it's a new adventure. We start from scratch every time."
The World Cup features 12 teams divided into three pools in the first phase.
The top two from each pool, together with the two best third-placed teams, qualify for the quarter-finals.
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Scotland
Pool B: Canada, USA, Italy, Japan
Pool C: England, France, South Africa, Fiji
Fixtures
Saturday, October 8
South Africa v France
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 14.15 (03.15 SA Time, 01.15 GMT)
Predictions: France by 12 points
Fiji v England
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 16.45 (03.45 GMT)
Predictions: England by nine points
Australia v New Zealand
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.15 (06.15 GMT)
Predictions: New Zealand by five points
Sunday, October 9
USA v Italy
Venue: Okara Park, Whangarei
Kick-off: 12.15 (11.15 GMT - Saturday)
Predictions: USA by three points
Japan v Canada
Venue: Okara Park, Whangarei
Kick-off: 15.15 (02.15 GMT)
Predictions: Canada by five points
Wales v Scotland
Venue: Okara Park, Whangarei
Kick-off: 17.45 (04.45)
Predictions: Scotland by seven points
Source: NZRugby & AFP