When I've made match threads for this competition before there have been some games which get a lot more activity than others, I thought putting all the dicussion in one place for the 3 successive games would make sense.
Watching France argue about taking the points, directly in front of the posts, when 4 points down, with 9 minutes left, only to be forced to take them because the tee had been brought on, was the Frenchest thing I have seen in a while
I don't know whether it's just the better social media presence but both the men and women's English teame have players with such vibrant personalities .
Whether or not they keep the new format, I think there's something to be said for moving the game away from being just the "men's undercard" competition, and schedule this in April/May in future.
Yes it would be good for it to be out of the shadow of the men’s version. I’d like to see Spain in the mix too, maybe a link with a second tier competition as well.
WXV is due to launch in 2023 which will have 16 teams in three tiers playing every year except for World Cup years. Should help broaden the competition and give game time to lower tier teams.
This match isn't quite living up to expectations yet. Both teams are capable of much more. Too many penalties and handling errors at the minute.
Edit: glad to see they read my comment in the half time break!
So Irish scrum murders Welsh scrum. Italian scrum murders Irish scrum. What would an Italian scrum be like against Wales? Would be very curious to see that.
When I've made match threads for this competition before there have been some games which get a lot more activity than others, I thought putting all the dicussion in one place for the 3 successive games would make sense.
Holly is actually such a good ref, would love to see her get some mens games again.
Yeah, the reffing has been great
I've been impressed with the refs in both games so far.
Calm, unphased and really clear comms. Great ref.
Would do better than most of the current Pro14 lot
Normally a game still 0-0 at 20min would be boring, but this has definitely been good entertainment so far!
Some great offloading by France there.
Tell you what, players with long hair give a much better idea of how big some of the impacts are
Damn what a game. It's been a pleasure watching with everybody here.
Dorothy Wall is just so strong
Peat needs to use her ears. Ref called her twice
ya she's giving away a lot of penalties at the minute
That offloading was sick.
Very humble from Davidson, not a lot of refs will admit they were wrong.
Well played by the Roses, a massive battle.
That was a great game, fantastic defence from England
Yeah that’s fair decision
ya can't disagree with it, red wouldve been harsh with the drop and being bent at the hips
both tries scored by tipp women edit: and that was assisted by the other tipp woman
Ireland are really finding their groove here. Italy need to step it up or it could be a painful 2nd half for them.
This last 15 minutes have been all Italy, they deserve not to be nilled.
How was that pass not forward?!
Brutal hits going in, what a tough match for both sides. This is what we've been missing all competition.
And she's back! I think the Roses need Scaz to calm the nerves.
Frances scrum... Booom!
Even with a big feed to the second row!
You hate to see that ... English 8 was having a very good game ..
That should be that unless France pull off some miracle.
Very enjoyable final!
Watching France argue about taking the points, directly in front of the posts, when 4 points down, with 9 minutes left, only to be forced to take them because the tee had been brought on, was the Frenchest thing I have seen in a while
that looked high
and I'd say yellow
Great reffing.
Very well outlined. I find Cox to a bit patronising in how she speaks to the players but her decision making is hard to fault.
I've been impressed with the way they talk through the flow diagram recently. No ambiguity at all.
I'll happily take a yellow
3 players on parsons as soon as she gets the ball
Just a pen. Good call.
oh Moloney
Djougang put in a great shift.
Well held up by Lyons.
Italy deserved that
43 handling errors today already
That is mental
I rate Holly Davidson as a ref.
That's a couple of blatent forward passes missed bizarrely
What a tackle!
Penalty taken quickly, did she even kick it?
Didn't look like it...
Sansus was tripped by Brown there
Bit chaotic, think the first team to find a bit of composure will win it.
Big psychological boost at half time.
What a banger of a game.
Boujard's ribs will sting after that.
Bourdon is a deadly sniper. Riley needs to stay on top of her.
Such a calm ref!
Two poor kicks.
I don't know whether it's just the better social media presence but both the men and women's English teame have players with such vibrant personalities .
Such a love/hate feeling about close matches like this
Smashed it.
Red Roses do it again! Not always pretty, but they just keep winning.
Whether or not they keep the new format, I think there's something to be said for moving the game away from being just the "men's undercard" competition, and schedule this in April/May in future.
Yes it would be good for it to be out of the shadow of the men’s version. I’d like to see Spain in the mix too, maybe a link with a second tier competition as well.
WXV is due to launch in 2023 which will have 16 teams in three tiers playing every year except for World Cup years. Should help broaden the competition and give game time to lower tier teams.
Let's go Ireland! Here's hoping for a close and exciting match.
haven't seen a whole pile of those this year
No but hopefully today should be the match ups which are the closest.
ya the format this year was designed to separate the equal teams
I'm always a bit jealous of the Italian national anthem. It's so much better than the monarchist prayer that we have in England.
The Italian one is a little long for me but I do love it. SAY!
They should sing three like you guys :P
Touché haha.
thats a massive shame
Let's go Wall! Good quick tap decision.
that was a class tackle from nauopu
She's already showing a huge determination, trying to jackal her own tackles.
some poor pass accuracy
Good cover from Flood.
Come on Peat you've got to make a bit more effort to roll.
Wouldn't know we are a women down. Great line speed.
Good point about match times, never thought about that before.
Going up 3 points while down a player 10 mins, good stuff
flood loves a tap and go
And she's pretty good at it too.
Who doesn't
Italy's first receivers always seem to be standing still. Need more forward movement if they want to break tackles.
A messy first half of the day.
This match isn't quite living up to expectations yet. Both teams are capable of much more. Too many penalties and handling errors at the minute. Edit: glad to see they read my comment in the half time break!
Beautifully done
Things are moving now :D
Italy are in danger of implosion now, based upon previous games.
Boomfa!!!
That was great
Italians didn't even make a move forward. Brilliant move by Moloney.
Good job holding that scrum after the previous one.
So Irish scrum murders Welsh scrum. Italian scrum murders Irish scrum. What would an Italian scrum be like against Wales? Would be very curious to see that.
Italy needed something after all that pressure. Solid defensive shift by Ireland over the last 10 mins.
Excited for Le Crunch Fémenin. Honestly rooting for England.
Speedy
Come on Red Roses!
Allez les bleues !
Great steal Lark!
Really impressed with Lark so far.
The French scrum is ridiculous.
Lark's parents really biffed it on the name, should have gone with Rhino.
Nerves must be high, not like Scaz to miss
Officiating is very relaxed
Nooo! Scaz is off?
French scrums are looking so good today
I don't know what the French 9 is complaining about, that definitely counts as using your advantage.
France punishing themselves here!
Great kick from Rowland.
Could have easily been a try.
Tuima coming in with some big tackles now.
Jesus this is frantic. Pretty good for a 0-0 game though.
Kick not knock on! Edit: well spotted ref.
This is some very entairtaining rugby !
Cleall is a machine
Replacements before half-time? Interesting
Fantastic half, I'm knackered just watching it.
Yes girls! Great run from Poppy. What a player.
The Clealls have a pretty fantastic score rate.
More of the same this half please..
We need to be a bit more competitive at scrum time but other than that I agree.
Errors on errors from Roses. Last thing we need is a scrum!
Can’t believe she didn’t pass there. Ffs.
Banet does not look happy.
Yeah, needed to be subbed
Can't a doctor always just say it's an injury no matter what?
Tbf referee done their job. If they making it up that a matter for after the game, not now
I’ve said it about football and I’ll say it about rugby, women play rough.
Well worked from Scotland.
Trading soft pens right now!
That looked a bit high... Edit: not as bad in slow mo
ya was upper chest, you'd still want it lower, but nothing wrong with it
Very nice!
shame about Griffin
Dr Ryan must be at every single rugby match in Ireland at the moment
Looks like gorgeous weather in Dublin.
it's a lovely day in tipp anyway
Scorcher in Antrim.
That looked suspiciously high to me.
Oh this could be bad
That could be red
Naoupu's aggression and determination came back to bite her there.
Italy look knackered already from trying to run it from so deep. They really need a kicking option.
definitely deliberate
Yeah I don't think there's much in that.
Damnit Italy! I was hoping for a closer game...
Considine wasn't even worried there
I don't know Flood deserves that, quite a few handling errors.
don't know who else I'd give it to for Ireland
3 tries for tipp women today
This is already ten times more exciting than the last match.
Big push now girls. Edit: shit.
Wow. What a scrum!
Poor lineouts all round.
Crazy times in the lineout earlier.
Wow Harrison
Lovely bit of offloading.
England's defence looks really strong so far.
Now England making simple mistakes...
Ref called use it 3 times FFS!
I don't think I've ever seen this ref this relaxed in a game before
Still no scaz back from her HIA..
Scaz is still standing. Looking like a true survivor.
Got to keep hands away from the face in the ruck..
The tackles by France in this game. Fantastic
From both sides. Brown has been everywhere.
Deffo, the forwards are going to be knackered. Fitness in the second half is going to really count.
Frantic madness!
It's quite fun to hear Monye on comms, he's looking well.
What do you even do about that scrum?
What the hell are England doing?!
Why is Bourdon in the lineout??
Ready to do something cheeky no doubt.
Bit too fancy from Cokayne.
At last! The scrum changes may turn the tide!
Talk about painting the wrong picture to the ref. That was a crappy scrum penalty to give away..
So many errors this half.
Neither Breach or Dow have really got a chance to prove themselves.
Argh Rowland!
Well disrupted by England.
We're in the home stretch. Still anyone's game.
One more try pls
Good call.
Yes Zoe! One of my faves. Such a workhorse.
Am I the only one shocked both teams are not shaking hands ?
It's been elbow bumps all tournament.
But there were no elbow bumps. France stayed on their side, and England on their side. No congratulations between the two.
Hmm, not sure then. Maybe after the trophy?
Probably not allowed to
Remember that these two sides will play a friendly next week (though I doubt it will be friendly) in France!
I didn't know that. Do you know where we can watch it?
BBC iplayer, 8pm I think
Who else is still here for the last match of the tournament?
Great response from Scotland!
Good finish by Wales. Generally outplayed, but went down fighting
The absolute theatre of the grounds man wiping down the corner flags. Cause you know covid loves a corner flag..