FAST AND FURIOUS – Rugby World Cup Pool A
Our exclusive Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool A Preview by Red Roses captain Zoe Aldcroft. She runs through the challengers England will face – Australia, USA, and surprise package Samoa – and who to look out for, from the iconic Ilona Maher to Aussie star Kaitlan Leaney. Plus a bonus look forward to potential knockout opponents…
ENGLAND
How would you describe England’s playing style?
Zoe Aldcroft: I would say we are strong, but we like to play with a bit of flair.
Which Red Roses players might get spectators up out of their seats with excitement?
You can’t look past the likes of Ellie Kildunne and Abby Dow and Jess Breach. I think our back three are very exciting players. They love to run with the ball in hand and are very strong there.
As well the likes of Alex Matthews, bursting through tackles, that’s also very exciting to see. And the likes of Hannah Botterman, who is a great personality on the pitch.
In the knockout stages, you might play Canada?
We’re not taking anything for granted.
Yeah, except we are really, aren’t we? Or it could be one of the home nations, Wales or Scotland, because that again is a tight group. How do you fancy yourselves against them?
Canada or Scotland or Wales? Yes, it is a very tight group, but like I said, we’re obviously want to play each game as it comes.
If we do get to that quarter-final, it will just be preparing that week and facing whoever we have – so we are ready for whoever it might be.
Pool A is interesting. I suppose Australia are the closest to you in terms of strength, but with the USA, Samoa and Australia… what the difference is in their style compared to the Red Roses. Who are the players to look out for in each of those teams?
USA
For the likes of USA, I’d say that their strengths are they’re a pretty physical team. They have some real standout players in their team and quite a few of them are playing over here in England in the PWR. So we’re quite aware of their strengths and how they each play.
You can’t miss out Ilona Maher (ed: having played for Bristol Bears this year, she’s about to face quite a few club teammates in the opening match. Maher caught the eye winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, and is now so popular that she’s the most-followed rugby player on social media, full-stop. You’ll be able to watch her in Sunderland and York for their pool games).
Alev Kelter is an incredible player in the centre for them. Then the likes of Kate Zackary (the captain) and Rachel Johnson.
I think they’re all incredible players and bring a massive bit of physicality, but also the athleticism of those girls really buys into that squad. Yeah, a very physical team that also have quite a good kicking game. So we’ll be watching for that as well.
AUSTRALIA
Australia are very athletic. They’re more of a run-style opposition. Their backs have been a bit of crossover from the sevens. So it’ll be exciting to go against them as well.
As for their players, I think the likes of Kaitlan Leaney, she’s incredible in that second run, then their back three players as well are very fast and aggressive.
SAMOA
I haven’t actually seen too much of Samoa. I’ve never personally played them. So I’m excited, and expecting a lot of physicality from the Samoan team as well.
(ed: all 32 Samoan players will make their tournament debuts, led by their impressive skipper Masuisuimatamaalii ‘Sua’ Tauaua-Pauaraisa, who played rugby league for both New Zealand and Samoa, and both sevens and 15s for Samoa.)
When to watch: All matches can be watched on BBCSPORT
England v USA Friday 22 August, KO: 19:30 BST Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Australia v Samoa Saturday 23 August, KO: 12:00 BST Salford Community Stadium
England v Samoa Saturday 30 August, KO: 17:00 BST Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
USA v Australia Saturday 30 August, KO: 19:30 BST York Community Stadium
USA v Samoa Saturday 6 September, KO: 13:30 BST York Community Stadium
England v Australia Saturday 6 September, KO: 17:00 BST Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium
