WXV reflections: ‘Lessons and experience are the real golden nuggets’

So there we have it! WXV all wrapped up. Players, coaches and fans have all returned home. Bags are unpacked (maybe). Gifts are given out to those who couldn’t make it. Pictures have been shared and Instagrams updated. For many, they are memories that will last a lifetime. 

Safari, whale watching, desert quad biking, meeting Siya Kolisi - so many fantastic experiences to have with your teammates off the pitch. It was lovely to watch players who work so hard on the pitch get to enjoy time in their WXV host cities.

The real highlights, however, were indeed from the rugby pitch. There was a superb quality of rugby on show and it is a real testament to the various unions’ drive to invest in the women’s game. While England, Australia and Spain are the only teams who got to take home some silverware from the top of the three divisions, plenty of others will be happy with results and performances.

Samoa made a big statement ahead of their participation in next year’s World Cup by beating Fiji 45-17. They will have taken lessons however from not being able to close out an 8-8 draw with The Netherlands who were absolutely ferocious in defence.

South Africa are another side who will have taken a lot of confidence from pushing both Italy and Australia in full 80-minute contests and beating Japan. They will no doubt have all eyes firmly on their rematch with Italy come next year’s RWC Pool D contest.

In WXV 1 some of the English players admitted themselves that it was the first time in a while they felt they might actually lose when Canada had them in their grasp. They admitted also that they are the kinds of challenges that they need. 

Especially when you look back on the pressure that came on them in the World Cup final in 2022 in a match that they eventually lost. It's not so surprising that Canada are the ones chasing them down because they have been hugely impressive and no doubt they will be licking their lips for another chance at the world number one team on their home patch next year.

The story of the tournament for many will be the third-ever meeting of Ireland and the Black Ferns. Ireland, a team that has pulled themselves up by their bootstraps in just a year, pulled off a spectacular win in round one against the world champions. 

After last week’s World Cup draw we are all excited that another rematch is on the cards in Pool C next year. Can the Black Ferns turn it around to make it an even test record with two victories each? Or will Ireland continue to ride the green wave and replicate the wonder days of the 2014 squad with an unforgettable pool win?

The fact is: silverware is nice (maybe Spain have something to say on that as they managed to break their trophy in two while still on the podium in Dubai); but the lessons and experience are the real golden nuggets. Especially when we are within a year’s countdown to the World Cup.

I can’t help but think of the New Zealand team that turned up to Exeter and Northampton in the November internationals in 2021. They were blitzed 43-12 and 56-15 respectively against a far superior English side. An English side who swatted everyone out of their way on their journey

to the World Cup final the following year. New Zealand on the other hand had to search for answers. They had to find the solutions to improve their chances as World Cup hosts and title holders. They had to dig deep, reveal their true characters, be brutally honest and leave no stone unturned on their quest for World Cup glory. The tough lessons paid off immensely.

Which is why England will be thankful for the pressure that Canada put them under in this tournament. How do you react when the storm descends? If you only ever have to batten down the hatches in a World Cup final, how do you know what the procedure is? How do you know how it feels and that you are capable of steadying the ship? Once every four years isn’t enough.

Which brings me to my next question - what now? With a whole year of opportunities to grow, which unions will make the most of it?

With more and more players partaking in full-time programmes the potential to make this the best women’s World Cup we’ve ever seen is very real.

Monday to Friday for those full-time players can now be filled with recovery, reflection, individual and positional skill development, the correct nutrition to fuel training and playing, and of course, downtime for players instead of working during the day and playing rugby in their downtime.

Not running out of work, getting a protein shake into you, and rushing into the gym to get everything done that meets the demands of where the women’s game is at. This is still a reality for many players that will come to the World Cup next year - it will be important to keep that in mind.

Another important element of the full-time programmes is that game time can now be at the heart of it. Often, because players are unavailable during the week due to work commitments, the only time to assemble for international duty is during the weekends.

This has meant that domestic competitions have suffered with the absence of the highest quality players as they prepared for international test games. How crazy that players have to be withdrawn from the games that got them selected in the first place!

Premiership Women’s Rugby is designed specifically by the RFU around international competitions to facilitate domestic competition between English players. With game time, downtime and sub-competitions during those international windows, it is a fantastic model that other unions should learn from.

After all, WXV was designed to give players more game time at Test level. Why? Because game time is where the players grow. Where all those questions are asked and answered. Where players become the best rugby players they are capable of. Training will only get you so far - game time is what the athletes, coaches and indeed the fans need.