Six Nations women’s rugby today 29 April.
The hearts of the Italian rugby and Six Nations faithful today should be all in Parma for Italy-Wales, but it is impossible to resist the temptation of England-France which is broadcast first in the temple of Twickenham, crammed with 53,000 spectators, a world record for women’s rugby which brought together 46,000 in Auckland for the World Cup final last year between the English and New Zealanders. A sensational boom in turnout in the London stadium where the American-style show of the Sugababes, the female pop group that has amassed dozens of platinum records, is also scheduled for the interval of the “final” of the Tournament. The event’s publicity launch was impressive: a pounding campaign on TV and on social media well summed up by the imaginative poster of an Oscar-winning multi-award-winning colossal film: “The decider”, the title, with the names of the English players (only those, the French obviously appeared in the cast of the match) in bold gold.
In short, the rugby of the Red Roses professionals definitively flies to Mars, leaving very little to the others, triggering rejoicing and smiles, but also opening many questions about the future structure of the female oval movement which, for better or for worse, has burned the stages now risking being incinerated and losing identity.
Just twenty years ago, let’s say, England-France (57-0) was always played at Twickenham, but in front of zero spectators, a few hours before the same match of the men’s Six Nations.
The program
Meanwhile, today’s program (Italian time) of the fifth and final round of the Six Nations: at 2pm England-France (which SkySport Italia doesn’t show, who knows why, live, but only at 10.15pm. Then Italy-Wales from Parma at 4.30pm live on SkySport Arena, and finally Scotland-Ireland at 20.30 (no direct and no deferred, but in this case it’s understandable.
The situation
England and France are unbeaten and therefore fighting for victory in the tournament, Italy aspired to third place but to obtain fourth place they must beat Wales well, and it will not be easy, and hope that the result of Scotland-Ireland (Scottish favourites) in any case, don’t let them slip to the very disappointing fifth place, not suitable for the national team that had started the tournament in fifth place in the world ranking (ahead only the English and French pros) then slipping to sixth.
The scenery
And now the rest, which is really a lot and varied. Also this year, as from 2020, out of 15 matches 8 offer no uncertainty about the result: those of England and France against the other 4 national teams. More than half of the Tournament. There remains one game that is worth the final victory (the one between England and France) and just 6 games with an uncertain forecast.
Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Wales actually only fight for third place. What’s more: since 2019 there has been no match even between England and France. Even today the victory of the French is worth 6 or 7 times the stake: in short, a miracle is needed. The last team to have beaten England is New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final, breaking a 30 (thirty) success streak for the Red Roses. Then the English started grinding all over again already aiming to win the 2025 World Cup at their home. Very likely like the estimated sold out of Twickenham (82,000 seats).
The French, also professionals, have not beaten the English in 11 games and, in fact, among other opponents in the world, they fear only New Zealand. In Padua, the screams of their coach can still be heard when the blue amateurs in 2019 allowed themselves to scramble the professional Bleues, conquering a sensational second place in the tournament.
In summary: how much is a 15-game tournament that is decided in a single match worth, moreover with an increasingly less uncertain outcome given that the last French victory dates back to 2018? The answer is that at least for now it is worth a lot given the growing response from the public (France has also called 18 thousand faithful to Grenoble this year) and also given the investments of sponsors (TikTok is the main one). Proceeds that must be divided among all six national teams but which, as seen in men’s rugby who turned professional in 1995, end up disproportionately increasing the resources of the federations: the already strong ones become even stronger because they can exploit them to expand even more the base and rake in other talent. How many girls can aspire to become Red Roses in a country of oval traditions like England? And how many Italians can aim for the blue jersey? Here you are.
Furthermore, the professionalism applied to women (five years ago the English, then the French, then New Zealand and Canadians with a few other nations doing what they can, such as the Italians who have obtained mini contracts for about thirty girls for three years) is always changing plus the strategies of women’s rugby which, unlike men’s rugby, blossomed all over the world in the mid-eighties without respecting, at least in part, the plastered hierarchies of men.
Women’s rugby is still more beautiful to see than men’s rugby because it is not based only on physicality, on aggression, but on the research and creation of spaces: a more airy game, more maneuvered actions and fewer bumper cars. More technique and less muscles.
However, the scenario is changing: the English, for example, play more and more like boys. Percussions, “drive” from touche, pick & go repeated until they physically crash the opponents. All legitimate, God forbid. The Red Roses can train full time, they can focus on girls with the most impressive physiques and the result can be seen. However, they lost the final of the World Cup by surprise against the New Zealanders, let alone, they were also in good shape, but despite everything they are still free to improvise, to follow their instincts, to run in search of openings.
Having said that only a handful of nations can afford to pay female rugby players, in other words, women’s rugby is becoming equal to men’s rugby at these very high levels reserved for a few. And in rugby there are no weight categories like in boxing to at least level the physicality.
So is gender equality sought? Wanted? Dutiful? Unavoidable? And what can opponents not born in England, France or New Zealand do to stay in the running?
Within little more than a generation, high-level women’s rugby has closed itself in a narrow enclosure that is currently glittering and spectacular, we will see what will happen in the coming years, remembering that in any case the overall professionalism in the world of rugby, males and females together, it concerns only one percent of practitioners and therefore all the others can continue to have fun with tries and tackles. Without forgetting that even the unbeatable pro-English national teams, the best paid, actually earn as much as a mid-career teacher: they too must continue to build a plan B.
The stories
Despite the advent of professionalism, even from the few oval nations that have applied it, stories continue to arrive that mix life and sport: today Jessy Trémoulière, 30 years old, half-back of opening or extreme with 75 caps (appearances), in 2018 elected best player in the world. In recent years she has never stopped dedicating herself to the cows of the family farm as she will continue to do from Monday without the commitments of the national team. From rugby stars to farm stables
Against her will play the wing-half Claudia MacDonald, 27 years old, 26 caps, few because she only started playing rugby at the age of 19, a more unique than rare case at this level. She and fellow winger Abby “Wow” Dow score tons of spectacular tries. Claudia, who lost her mother at 17, is a force of nature and survived a terrifying neck injury. Four years ago he decided to exploit his notoriety by setting up a blog on ecology and the need to commit himself, each one for what he can, to defend the environment, to slow down the effects of climate change: it’s called Let’s Talk 1% and pushes to use the car less, to deal with plastic. Small things, but very shared. On her Instagram profile, she also has photos with the Cliodhna Moloney campaign, a hooker for Ireland who, however, is not playing for the national team. Both are married to Exeter Chiefs.
Couples
There are also pairs in the French national team: the scrum-halfs Pauline Bourdonnow owner, e Laura Sansus. They have never made a real coming out, the kind to attract clicks, but they have long agreed to talk to the press about their story destined for marriage.
Just as the even better-known hooker of the Les Bleues has done several times with spontaneous simplicity Aghate Sochat, another owner today, hooker, 27 years old, occupational therapist, who married Adele. The couple have a daughter, Nina, who will be one year old tomorrow and who also followed her rugby-stating mother to the world cup in New Zealand.
Situations not yet approached to the world of the national team that today will take the field against Wales wearing rainbow laces in shoes, inviting the entire movement to do the same over the weekend of 12-14 May in view of the International Day against Homophobia on 17 May. The initiative is by Fir and by Libera Rugby, the first inclusive and gay-friendly club in Italy, who also want to remind you that today there is one year left before the “Bingham Cup” arrives in Rome, the eleventh edition of the world championship for inclusive rugby clubs: it is dedicated to Mark Bingham , American rugby player and LGBT community member who led the attempted abort of the hijacking of United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
the veteran
Finally, today at the Lanfranchi in Parma, the last match of the Treviso team Sara “Just” Barattin, 36 years old and a mountain of 116 caps since 2005, an Italian record. Electric scrum-half, four league titles (Treviso and Villorba), bronze medal for athletic valor, two world championships, second place in the Six Nations in 2019 and, in short, a life of fighting with the exams for the degree in Sports Science , work as a personal trainer, holidays and leave to play rugby very well. “It wasn’t an easy decision but it’s a moment that would come sooner or later. I had the good fortune and honor of wearing the national team shirt for 18 years and experiencing unforgettable moments such as qualifying for the quarter-finals of the last World Cup and second place at the 2019 Six Nations. Over the years we have built something important for the Movement Italian female who is gradually growing and churning out quality players. I wish my teammates, the staff and all those who will be lucky enough to be able to wear these colors to honor the Italy shirt at all times and to appreciate every moment lived during the rallies. It was a great privilege to be able to take the field so many times for the country I represent and receive the embrace of the fans.” Compliments.
Italy-Wales formations
Italy: 15 Victory Ostuni Minuzzi; 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Alyssa D’Incà; 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin ©; 8 Giada Franco, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 6 Sara Tounesi; 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valeria Fedrighi; 3 Lucia Gai, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 1 Gaia Maris.
Subs: 16 Emanuela Stecca, 17 Alice Cassaghi, 18 Alessia Pilani, 19 Laura Gurioli, 20 Alissa Ranuccini, 21 Sofia Stefan, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi
all. Nanni Raineri
Galles: 15. Courtney Keight, 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Hannah Jones ©, 12. Lleucu George, 11. Carys Williams-Morris, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Keira Bevan, 8. Sioned Harries, 7. Alex Callender, 6. Bethan Lewis, 5. Georgia Evans, 4. Abbie Fleming, 3. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2. Kelsey Jones, 1. Gwenllian Pyrs
A disposizione: 16. Carys Phillips, 17. Caryl Thomas, 18. Cerys Hale, 19. Bryonie King, 20. Kate Williams, 21. Ffion Lewis, 22. Kerin Lake, 23. Amelia Tutt.
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
1970-01-01 00:00:00
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