England have drawn Australia, the US and Samoa in their pool for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. Elsewhere in the draw, Scotland and Wales have been paired together in Pool B, in what could be a tantalising match-up. Meanwhile Ireland, who recently stunned world champions New Zealand at WXV, have been pitted against the Black Ferns in Pool C.
The draw – which was conducted on the BBC’s One Show by Gabby Logan and Maggie Alphonsi, the former England flanker-turned-pundit – also sees France and Italy paired together in Pool D. The fixtures for the tournament will be announced next Tuesday. All in all, it’s a cracking draw with some intriguing and Eurocentric match-ups.
England will open the tournament next August in Sunderland and with the full fixture list announced on Tuesday, organisers must have a strategic think about who the Red Roses’ opponents should be. As the tournament’s dark horses, Australia, who are headed up by Englishwoman Jo Yapp, would seem an attractive shout. The US would also be a respectable choice, but the fear is that England, who recently put 50 points on the Eagles at WXV, would walk all over them.
A lop-sided scoreline wouldn’t be a great look and risks damaging interest levels early on. In Pool B, we have a Six Nations-esque clash between Scotland and Wales, which should attract a sizeable crowd at worst and has Ashton Gate written all over it. Nothing like a bit of home nations rivalry to get the juices going.
Pool C sees a fa.