Wallaroos Face Uphill Battle in Women’s Rugby World Cup Draw
The Australian women’s rugby team, fresh from their thrilling WXV2 trophy win in Cape Town, has been handed a daunting task in next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. As hosts and tournament favorites, England stands in their way, accompanied by the USA and Samoa in a challenging pool.
A Formidable Foe: England’s ‘Red Roses’
The Wallaroos have never defeated England’s dominant ‘Red Roses’, who have become the benchmark of women’s rugby. With a record-high ranking of 97.56, following their WXV1 title win over Canada, the task ahead of Australia coach Jo Yapp, a former England captain, is nothing short of monumental.
A Familiar Foe: USA’s ‘Women’s Eagles’
Adding to the Wallaroos’ woes is the presence of the USA, who have already bested them this year. The Americans, coached by Sione Fukofuka, a former Rugby Australia and Wallaroos assistant coach, will be eager to repeat their 32-25 victory over Australia in May.
A Resurgent Force
Despite the tough draw, the Wallaroos have reason to be optimistic. Under Yapp’s guidance, they have climbed to fifth in the world rankings, thanks to their impressive win over Scotland in South Africa. Their recent form suggests they are capable of pushing the top teams to their limits.
The Road to the Quarter-Finals
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. With England and the USA standing in their way, the Wallaroos will need to dig deep to secure a spot in the knockout stages.
The Full Draw
Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil
The schedule for the month-long tournament will be announced next Tuesday, with the first match set to take place at Sunderland next August. A potential blockbuster opener against England looms large for the Wallaroos.
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