The ninth edition of the Women's Rugby World Cup opens on Saturday in New Zealand.
Originally scheduled between July and August 2021, it was postponed to the period between October 8 and November 12, 2022 due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Twelve teams in the running, three groups, one goal: to win the world title.
The top two in each group will advance with certainty to the quarter-finals of the tournament, along with the two best third-placed players.
These are the groupings of the event:
Group A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Scotland
Group B: Canada, United States, Italy, Japan
Group C: England, France, South Africa, Fiji.
In the homeland of oval sports, Andrea Di Giandomenico's Azzurre will make their debut on 10 October against the fearsome Americans (1.45 am - Direct Rai2 and streaming on rainews.it).
Only two precedents between the two teams: the first, on November 18, 2012 in Rome;
the second at the 2017 World Cup, on 9 August in Dublin, both ended with the victory of the North American team.
The blue coach: “We believe we have selected the best possible formation, which offers us important opportunities to exploit during the match.
As always, the field will give the answers, we feel ready and well prepared ”.
These are the challenges of the Italians:
Sunday 09/10 at 01:45 United States - Italy
Sunday 16/10 at 01:45 Italy - Canada
Sunday 23/10 at 01:45 Japan - Italy
The races will be held in Whangarei and Auckland which will host the final.
Federugby
Women's rugby team: Elisa Giordano, Melissa Bettoni and Michela Sillari met the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern