Rugby World Cup

Preparing to face Italy in the Eagles' opener, the Saracens pair say the women's game is ready to take a big step forward.

[wants](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/04/red-roses-the-team-to-beat-in-world-cup-that-could-redefine-rugby) the World Cup in New Zealand to be the “start of the next stage of the growth and transformation of the game”. “But everyone is thinking and wanting and working as hard as they can to be on that podium and in the gold-medal game. Everybody’s ready, and everybody’s going to get behind women’s rugby, which is a really exciting place to be.” Four school girls had everybody in tears by the end, with the poem they had written for us. I know I’m extremely lucky to be in this position and to still have a job to go back to when this is all over.” She also says it feels like the Eagles have had a “a fresh start” after the disruption of the pandemic. We got a lot from the Scotland game, a lot of confidence from it. The Canadian World Cup squad contains eight players who play in England. It’s pushing women’s rugby and making it a lot better.” After Covid, we’ve had so much time to think about the macro picture, like what we want to do, that now it’s about refining the micro pictures with the people around us.” “I was teaching at school on Wednesday and then flying to a World Cup on Thursday. “The school have given me this time off to come and play in the World Cup.

Despite holding a comfortable lead during the first half, the Wallaroos go down 41-17 to reigning champions New Zealand, as the women's Rugby World Cup ...

The Black Ferns seized the opportunity and took the ascendancy in the 56th minute via a converted try to reserve Awhina Tangen-Wainohu. The Black Ferns scored seven tries to three in front of what was a world record crowd for a women's rugby union match. - Portia Woodman crossed for a hat-trick of tries for the Black Ferns

Hosts New Zealand had to battle back from 17-0 down to record an opening 41-17 win against Australia at Eden Park.

Then, Portia Woodman displayed her power and pace to dot down in the left corner. Within 120 seconds, the Wallaroos’ lead was 12-0 as Wong scored a breakaway try. The Black Ferns were still five points adrift at the break, but that deficit was erased within two minutes of the restart as Woodman crossed for a second time.

After giving away a 17-point lead early in the first half of their opening Rugby World Cup match against Australia, the Black Ferns have hit back to win ...

The match turned decisively in the 53rd minute, when Wong and Australia captain Shannon Parry were shown yellow cards within a few seconds of each other. "Australia really put us under the pump there right from the start. Today's crowd for the triple-header was a record for a women's World Cup match and for a standalone women's sporting fixture in New Zealand.

Wayne Smith appears to have plenty of work ahead of him after a slow start.

There were things to like in the performance for the Black Ferns. A backline who have never played together in the configuration they were sent out in looked exactly that, as players looked at times like they weren't on the same page. It wasn't long before they were in again out wide through Portia Woodman, and trailing by just five points at the break. Coming into 2022, they had never led the Black Ferns at halftime in a test. Now, in four tests this year, they have led two at the break. For the Black Ferns, head coach Wayne Smith appears to have plenty of work ahead of him.

Take a look at what you may have missed from the opening day at Eden Park in New Zealand with our Women's Rugby World Cup: Day One Highlights.

So if you want to continue the World Cup buzz for the rest of the day, give it a listen on BBC Sounds. This was their first World Cup appearance since 2014 and they caused the French problems with their physicality and work-rate. She had the name of every player from England’s 1994 and 2014 World Cup-winning squads inscribed on her white boots. It really cranked up the atmosphere for the finale of the opening day. Their willingness to attack from anywhere tested the Red Roses and they were able to score two first-half tries. Delectable seems a good word for it, and it helped the Black Ferns to a 41-17 victory over the Wallaroos. She made a few significant interventions during the game but no doubt fresh in the crowd’s mind was the offload she delivered to set up Portia Woodman’s hat-trick try. [Rugby World Cup](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup) hub page for all the latest from New Zealand. [France](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/france-womens-rugby-world-cup-squad-2022-145183) may have won the opening match of the tournament 40-5, but the biggest celebrations arguably came when [South Africa](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/south-africa-womens-rugby-world-cup-squad-2022-145692) scored their only try. [England](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/england-womens-rugby-world-cup-squad-2022-145171)’s 84-19 win over Fiji, scoring four tries in all, but arguably the most pleasing sight for Red Roses fans was [Abby Dow](https://www.rugbyworld.com/players/who-is-abby-dow-131778) getting over the line. Then the Wallaroos, who faced it in a reverse arrow formation, started walking forward and lined up on the halfway line. [Rugby World Cup](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup) taking place at rather unsocial hours for those in the UK, Rugby World will bring you a rundown of all the key happenings from each match day.

Hosts and reigning champions New Zealand beat Australia 41-17 in their opening match in front of a record crowd at Eden Park.

The match turned decisively in the 53rd minute, when Wong and Australia captain Shannon Parry were shown yellow cards within a few seconds of each other. I’m proud of how we closed off that first half and the way that we finished that game.” “It was definitely a game of two halves,” said New Zealand captain Ruahei Demant.

All the action as New Zealand and Australia clash on the opening day of the World Cup.

There were things to like in the performance for the Black Ferns. A backline who have never played together in the configuration they were sent out in looked exactly that, as players looked at times like they weren't on the same page. It wasn't long before they were in again out wide through Portia Woodman, and trailing by just five points at the break. Coming into 2022, they had never led the Black Ferns at halftime in a test. Now, in four tests this year, they have led two at the break. For the Black Ferns, head coach Wayne Smith appears to have plenty of work ahead of him.