The rugby

[Beebo]

How refreshing it is to watch the WRWC, played like it used to be played, ball in hand and run with it, what the women lack in physical size and power is hardly irrelevant, they play the game just as well ,if not better than the men, without all those silly bloody box kicks and kicking for touch.
I relish the forth coming final.

I tell all my friends that the women’s game is rugby as I remember it when I played.
Modern international men’s rugby has lost its way and is far removed from the game I played for over 20 years.

 

[matticus]

I tell all my friends that the women’s game is rugby as I remember it when I played.
Modern international men’s rugby has lost its way and is far removed from the game I played for over 20 years.

It's my opinion that Women's football has evolved to be more like the Mens game as more money has flowed in (I don't presume causation, I just observe).
Is there anything different in current Womens rugby that will stop it evolving as the mens game has?

 

[grldtnr]

I hope not! I think the biological difference between men & women may prevent that, but professionalism, wil be the death knell.
The women's game is still as physical as Rugby ever was, let's hope the cynicism of the Mens' game doesn't creep in

 

[Beebo]

It's my opinion that Women's football has evolved to be more like the Mens game as more money has flowed in (I don't presume causation, I just observe).
Is there anything different in current Womens rugby that will stop it evolving as the mens game has?

I don’t know.
But there isn’t as much money in rugby so hopefully that may help.
The men’s club game is struggling to stay afloat so can’t see teams spending silly money on the women’s game unless crowds improve at club level.

 

[matticus]

Well, let's be optimistic for now!

ENG-FRA at the weekend was the first match I've really enjoyed. Before that I'd only watched ENG thumping other teams in the 6Nations.
Like many sports, the Womens game will always differ in some ways (e.g. in tennis they hit a lot less aces). I don't really "know" rugby well, but what I noticed in previous tournaments was the lack of kicking points. Conversions were almost non-existent - whereas on Sunday at least half made it thru the posts; did I just pick the wrong (windy?!?) matches, or have the women really worked on this in recent seasons?
(DO they ever score 3-point penalties? Not sure I've seen one ... Ah, found some 6Nations stats. in 2025 ENG scored no pens - although 3 other teams got some. Weirdly in 2024 a lot more pens were scored, but it looks like ENG didn't attempt any ... )

 

[Dogtrousers]

(DO they ever score 3-point penalties? Not sure I've seen one ... Ah, found some 6Nations stats. in 2025 ENG scored no pens - although 3 other teams got some. Weirdly in 2024 a lot more pens were scored, but it looks like ENG didn't attempt any ... )

Canada kicked (at least) one against NZ which I remember thinking was quite an intelligent choice. NZ were behind but coming back into the game. The pen stretched the lead beyond 2 converted tries (IIRC) and put a damper on NZ's comeback.

But you're right that they are a lot less frequent.

 

[laurentian]

I had to check your profile for nationality clues...you do realise what laurentian means to canucks?! 🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦

Absolutely no idea what it means to Canucks . . . please elaborate!

 

[Beebo]

Well, let's be optimistic for now!

ENG-FRA at the weekend was the first match I've really enjoyed. Before that I'd only watched ENG thumping other teams in the 6Nations.
Like many sports, the Womens game will always differ in some ways (e.g. in tennis they hit a lot less aces). I don't really "know" rugby well, but what I noticed in previous tournaments was the lack of kicking points. Conversions were almost non-existent - whereas on Sunday at least half made it thru the posts; did I just pick the wrong (windy?!?) matches, or have the women really worked on this in recent seasons?
(DO they ever score 3-point penalties? Not sure I've seen one ... Ah, found some 6Nations stats. in 2025 ENG scored no pens - although 3 other teams got some. Weirdly in 2024 a lot more pens were scored, but it looks like ENG didn't attempt any ... )

I suspect they don’t kick penalties because they don’t need to. And they probably struggle with distance.
The percentage play for England is probably more in favour of going for the line out.
The games are never that close to need the off 3 points here and there.