Rugby fans, get ready for some non-stop action! The WXV 1 tournament has been a real treat for all of us, with fast-paced games and running rugby taking the spotlight. The women’s rugby scene is really winning over new fans with its high-octane matches that keep us on the edge of our seats.
In the last three weekends, WXV 1 has given us some nail-biting matches that never seemed to slow down. Can you believe that in four out of nine matches, the ball was in play for over 40 minutes? That’s off the charts compared to other tournaments! Even at the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023, only three matches out of 48 reached that level of intensity.
The #WXV1 champions have been absolutely unstoppable! 🏴 #WXV | #WXV1
Les Bleues, the French team, really brought the heat to WXV 1. Their games were all about high tempo, with ball-in-play times of 40 minutes or more. France’s 29-20 defeat to Australia in round two had the highest ball-in-play time of 43 minutes and 54 seconds. It was a real heart-stopper! England also had an impressive 45-12 win over Canada, with 40 minutes and 49 seconds of non-stop action. And let’s not forget France’s stunning 18-17 victory over the Black Ferns in round one, with 40 minutes and 26 seconds of intense play. The energy was just electric!
The median average ball-in-play time for WXV 1 was 38 minutes and 52 seconds, recorded during England’s title-winning win over New Zealand. It was a clash of the top-performing attacking teams, and the excitement was through the roof!
England and Wales really showed their prowess in the ‘red-zone’, coming away with points almost every time they entered the opposition 22. The Red Roses were on fire, scoring 18 tries in the tournament, two more than New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Black Ferns dominated in carries, metres gained, clean breaks, defenders beaten, and offloads, outshining their rivals in most categories.
The action didn’t stop at WXV 1. In WXV 2, Scotland’s 38-7 win over Japan stole the show with 44 minutes and 14 seconds of heart-pounding action. And can you believe that not a single match in the inaugural edition of WXV had ball-in-play time below half an hour? Even Fiji’s 118-0 win over Kazakhstan kept us on our toes for 30 minutes and 47 seconds, with 18 conversion attempts!
Rugby fans, this tournament has been an absolute rollercoaster of excitement. The women’s rugby scene is on fire, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!