Stat of the Week

2.4pts - that was the difference between the points per 22-entry of England and Canada in the final.

Canada entered England’s 22 more often (10 v 9) but got 1.3pts per entry compared to 3.7pts for England. Just a week prior, Canada had also made ten 22-entries but this time they got 3.4pts against the Black Ferns. How similar the input but how different the end result.

Before we look at this in more detail, let’s just revisit what a 22-entry is. Every time a team either start a possession (via a scrum or more commonly a lineout) within their opponent’s 22 or carry into it in open play, it is classed as a 22-entry. That is the first part of the equation.

The second part is coming away with points. Across the whole tournament, the average points per entry across all teams and all games has been 2.81pts. The team with the best points per entry is England with 3.55pts, followed by Australia with 3.41pts, and New Zealand with 3.33pts.

The most entries achieved in a round was 23 by England against Samoa in the second round, Samoa had two of their own entries in that game. Across the whole tournament, England led the way with 89 22-entries, second was Canada with 80. Obviously an element of this was due to both teams playing more matches than everyone bar France and New Zealand. But, they also had more entries than their opponents in every round bar one; England in the final and Canada in the semi-final.

As we described the 22-entries previously, they are rugby’s version of shots on goal. You can get lucky in individual games by being incredibly efficient with a handful of chances. Australia escaped their pool with this approach. They had a combined 34 entries across the tournament, by far the lowest of the knockout teams but their 3.41pts per entry was the second best all tournament. But, it’s hard to keep this level of efficiency rolling for an extended period of time. Always a combination of chances (22-entries) and outcomes (points per entry) is required.

In hindsight, the final of Rugby World Cup 2025 was decided in the first half. England led 21-8 at that point and forced Canada to adjust their game plan for the second half to have more ball in hand and kick the ball less, a tactic which was causing England problems in the first 40 minutes. In that first half, both sides had five 22-entries but England looked terrifying with every one and scored 4.2pts per entry, Canada were well bottled up and managed 1.6pts.

At one point Sophie de Goede was forced into a kick at goal after a relentless series of entries which had resulted in no clearcut try-scoring chances. And that, after all the build-up, preparation, analysis, training, and playing was what led to the World Cup staying in England and not being taken across the Atlantic.

DE-FENCE!

Across the tournament, 12,928 tackles were attempted, 1,545 were missed, an astonishing success rate of 88.1 per cent.

Hopefully during these articles you’ll have noticed that making tackles isn’t a bad thing and actually some of the best teams in the tournament have spent more time defending than attacking. Take England, officially THE best team in the tournament. They made 1,192 tackles in total or 199 tackles per match.

Canada made 928 tackles in total as they pursued a higher-possession gameplan, that was 155 per match, or 44 fewer than England. You might have though that after six high-intensity games those 264 extra tackles would’ve told. But that assumes defending is more tiring than attacking. That at least is the received wisdom. A lot of the time that’s not the case though, attacking a set wall of defenders who hit you back in every tackle and dominate the collision is significantly more exhausting.

England relied on this during their six matches. Let the opposition come at you time after time after time, knowing they are wearing themselves down. Then as soon as they commit an error, pounce on it and strike. One of the joys of rugby, though, is how close Canada came to winning the whole thing with a gameplan that was as different to England’s as it was possible to be.

Unseen Work Awards

Karen Paquin (CAN) - 110 own rucks hit

The Canadian flanker led the way by hitting 110 rucks for her side to secure the ball for another phase. That’s the kind of thing that might not be seen on the TV screen or in the stadium but it’s the engine of Canada’s attack and something Paquin is prized for within the squad. A shoutout to Ireland’s Neve Jones who hit 41 rucks in a single game, the record for that area of the game.

Sadia Kabeya (ENG) - 113 tackles made

Kabeya was rewarded with a Mastercard Player of the Match award in the final, but it was her defensive effort all tournament that meant she was the standout. She was the only player to make over 100 tackles and did it with a success rate of 85.6 per cent. Teammate Morwenna Tarling came in second with 91 tackles made. Shoutout to Ireland’s Edel McMahon who made 27 tackles without missing one, the highest total in that category.

Amee-Leigh Costigan (IRE) - 28 carries without a turnover

Costigan has earned praise for her attacking endeavour, but it turns out she’s had high reward without high-risk. She made 28 carries without once turning the ball over - that includes no drops from high balls or misplaced passes. In fact, this was an award dominated by Irish players. Teammates Niamh O’Dowd (25) and Aoife Dalton (23) ranked second and third.