Welcome to the 2025 Rugby World Cup, with 16 teams contending for the prize of being named the World Champions. Seven European teams are in the mix, with England, Scotland, Ireland, and France having started their pursuit for a knockout stage spot well, with the first three having claimed a winning bonus point as well.
POOL A – ENGLAND CRUISE PAST THE EAGLES
With Ellie Kildunne at her best, the Red Roses made sure to marvel their fans in the opening game of the tournament, applying a 69-07 win at the Stadium of Light.
While the United States of America put out a valiant effort in the first half, only conceding four tries and adding a try of their own, the hosts geared up for a big second forty minutes. With Kildunne firing up the Red Roses backline, England found themselves inside the in-goal area seven times, adding a bowtie to a super start for their title aspirations.
England’s captain Zoe Aldcroft was thrilled with the fan reception for their World Cup opener.
“It was an absolutely unbelievable atmosphere here tonight. We could hear every single one of them, and we’re super excited for the next few games.
The 28-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury utility forward was happy with her team's effort, acknowledging how well the US did on the physicality front.
"We know the US are such a physical team and I think it's just about meeting their physicality as well. We are a very physical team as well, and we love that bit about the game, so it's just making sure we're more dominant than them."
England now heads to Northampton's Franklin's Gardens to meet Samoa, to be played on the 30th of August.
POOL B – SCOTLAND START WITH A WIN AGAINST WALES
After a disheartening loss in 2022, Scotland turned things around three years later, claiming a convincing 38-08 win over their long-time rivals in a game played at Salford Community Stadium.
Pumped up by the slick speedster Francesca McGhie, Scotland scored their first five-pointer not even one minute in, with McGhie shredding the Welsh defence to pin down the ball.
Wales was able to fight back twelve minutes later, with co-captain Alex Callender bagging a try of her own.
However, Wales wind was cut short as Scotland started piling up the pressure, gaining dominance from their set-piece and sharp kicking game, for which the Welsh never found a way to counter.
With McGhie getting a brace, and Brebner-Holden scoring her first a few minutes before half-time, the Scottish went to half-time leading 17-08.
In the final 40 minutes, Scotland kept turning up the volume and created enough chances to add three more tries to their tally, with Helen Nelson converting and slotting in those three.
With McGhie earning her first Test Match career hat-trick, the wing made a fair assessment after their triumphant World Cup opener.
"As a team, we just knew from the second we got to the changing rooms, put the jerseys on, stepped outside and kicked off, I think we really felt it and we knew exactly what we needed to do and we absolutely delivered on that."
Wales co-captain Alex Callender was already looking towards the next fixture.
“It’s a big challenge but we are going to stay tight as a team after this match. We will give it our all against Canada. We still have a chance. We are not out of this World Cup yet.”
Wales will meet Canada in round 2, meeting the World Cup contenders at Salford Community Stadium on the 30th of August. On the same day, but a few hours later, Scotland will face Fiji for a chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
POOL C – IRELAND WITH A CLASSY WIN AND SPAIN MADE BLACK FERNS WORK
The Women’s Rugby Europe Championship title holders, Spain, impressed fans and pundits alike with their strong defensive performance against the Black Ferns, with the World Champs earning a 54-08 win at York Community Stadium.
While the scoreline can tell a tale of some disparity between both sides, the Leonas were able to hold off New Zealand in the opening half, conceding only three tries.
Inspired by an electric atmosphere, Spain only conceded one penalty in forty minutes, making New Zealand go deep to earn their first points of the game.
In the second half, the World Cup winners of 2022 kept going and were able to pierce through Spain’s tight defence, scoring five tries. However, Juan Marruecos' side didn’t give up and went chasing their own consolation five-pointer. After five consecutive minutes, they were to dot down one of their own, with prop Ines Antolinez adding her name to the scoresheet.
For Juan Marruecos, the team’s performance was only possible due to how disciplined they were at the breakdown and set-piece.
“In our tour to Japan, we conceded far too many penalties. We worked hard to improve it, and with the help of Alain Rolland, we were able to become a more disciplined and mature team. Just by looking at the numbers, you can see how good they were today. We tackled 170 times and only conceded two breakdown penalties. I am proud of them.”
For Laura Delgado, the atmosphere experienced in York will forever live in their memories.
“I was smiling so hard that my cheekbones started to hurt. I couldn’t stop. To play an opening game against New Zealand, one of the best teams of all time, and have so many fans supporting us: how could I not but smile? I couldn’t ask for much more.”
As for the other game of Pool C, Ireland’s resilience and brilliance paid off, with the Irish securing a 42-14 victory that will surely secure them a place in the knockout stage.
Amme Leigh Costigan and Neve Jones scored two tries in under ten minutes, giving Ireland a hefty lead that would expand twice until the break. The Sakura dusted off the pressure mid-first half, and after a successful team move, centre Haruka Hirotsu dotted down for her team’s first try.
With a 26-07 lead, Ireland started the second half on the back foot, with Japan pressuring their opposition inside the 22, and earning a second five-pointer. However, when it seemed the Japanese were getting back into the game, Eve Higgins intercepted a loose pass deep inside her team’s territory, sprinting triumphantly towards glory to her teammates' happiness.
Japan was never able to regain their strength, allowing Ireland’s Enya Breen to bank another try, culminating in a 42-14 scoreline.
Beibhinn Parsons shared her team’s thoughts about the game.
"We're still in the depths of these pool stages and we've got to keep our head screwed on. We'll celebrate in each other's company, but I don't think we'll be going too crazy."
POOL D – CLINICAL LES BLEUES PERFORMANCE
In one of the most anticipated clashes of the first round, France and Italy delivered a tight physical contest that ultimately went the Les Bleues' way, Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz's side securing a 24-00 win at Sandy Park.
No points were scored in the opening twenty minutes, with both contestants trying to find their footing in the game, with the Azzurre controlling the ball possession, but without breaking through France’s stellar defence.
Unfortunately for the Italians, France didn’t need too many opportunities to cash in big, especially when Joanna Grisez is on their side.
The 28-year-old outside back put on the skates and outpaced every tackler to reach the try-area, giving France a 7-0 lead with 12 minutes to half-time. Just before the break, Morgane Bourgeois converted a 30-meter penalty to extend France’s point advantage.
After the short rest, it would be France again calling the shots, steering the flow of the game to their will thanks to their set-piece. Tighthead prop Assia Khalfaoui forced her way through to add a second five-pointer for the Les Bleues, with back row Charlotte Escudero following next.
Italy found no answers to counter France’s dominance and wouldn’t be able to fight their way back into the game, with the match ending in a 24-00 affair.
Player of the Match, Gaby Vernier, explained how France’s new rising talents were crucial for their team’s win.
“They are bringing a lot of energy to the field. Sometimes we have to calm them down, but they are bringing the level up. It is good to have a team with old ones like me and young ones.”
Italy’s head coach, Fabio Roselli, acknowledged that the set-piece needs to be fixed to avoid another loss.
“We missed the kick-off so we start to defend, we concede a penalty in the scrum, but we build a couple of good opportunities playing from our 22 but we lost possession in their half. Again, with no scrum and lineout it’s tough and we need to fix it.”
France will face Brazil next Sunday, with the match taking place at Sandy Park. As for Italy, they will need to win against South Africa to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
You can keep up with the rest of the tournament by heading to the Rugby World Cup website and watch all the highlights and action on Rugby Pass TV
By Francisco Isaac
Photos: World Rugby/ Wild Charlie Photography
