Saturday, March 21, 2009
"Best Ever" Six Nations ends this weekend
The closest and most exciting women's six nations ever finishes this weekend. As we go into the final round of matches three teams are on six points, and in theory four teams could still win it.
In practice it would take a series of unlikely results for the title to go anywhere other than England. Thanks to a far superior points difference to everyone else they need only beat Scotland today, which they should do by a cricket score - with all of England's sevens stars now back, if Scotland get within 50 points it will be an achievement!
However, the "minor places" battle will be fascinating. France play Italy on Sunday, but by the time they play the runners-up spot should be decided. Wales and Ireland today will be a battle between two nations who have both had a wonderful championship. The improvements these teams have made are breathtaking - only three or four years ago this might have been a wooden spoon play-off. It will be a fascinating battle between the two best kickers in women's rugby -Non Evans from Wales (one of the most experienced players in international rugby) and Niamh Briggs for Ireland, who is in her first full season for her country. And then there are try-scorers such as Lynne Cantwell for Ireland and Mel Berry for Wales.
If there was any justice they, along with England's Fiona Pocock and Emily Scarratt, would be well-known names in the sport - used to seeing their faces in the newspapers and regular press interviews.
That is partly why I've started up a Facebook group - Let's improve media coverage of women's rugby!. In the 24 hours since I launched this its generated 189 members - which isn't bad(!) - but the main thing I am hoping is that, if anything is to change, members will not just join the group but actually do something - write or email or fill in some online forms - and complain to the BBC or newspaper of their choice. Lynne and Non and Niamh and Emily are dedicated and hugely talented - even brilliant - international sportspeople. They deserve to be household names beyond their own households. And, frankly, its only prejudice that stops this happening!
Labels:
International,
Six Nations
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