SOUTH AFRICA - 'We belong here'
Head coach Swys de Bruin was unequivocal as to the impact made and strides taken by his squad, after they went down 46-17 to six-time champions New Zealand:
"Look at our girls, look at the passion. They made a difference for millions of girls in South Africa," de Bruin said after the quarter-final defeat.
"Every time you raise the bar they can go higher. It's amazing what they can do. I said in 2017 we were not good enough. In 2022 we couldn't win a game. Now we get a chance in a quarter-final and score three tries. I think a giant has awoken for women in South African rugby.
"The fact that we could push them [New Zealand] to a 10-all draw at half-time, the minnows are good enough now. Opportunity is everything. We need games, we need tough games, more of them.”
Forward Aseza Hele knows just what her coach means:
"It was very tough but we gave them a taste of South Africans," Hele said. "It's a learning curve for us. I know the next World Cup we are going to be special. We are here and we belong here."
IRELAND - 'Favourites moving into next World Cup'
Aoibheann Reilly felt all the agony of Ireland's five-point defeat to France, but the scrum-half is also adamant this is the springboard her team needs:
"Every minute of the game we believed we could win, and I think that’s why it’s so disappointing," Reilly said.
"The support we’ve had over this campaign is second to none, it’s like being on steroids compared to the Six Nations.
"I know it’s going to grow women’s rugby in Ireland and hopefully take off, so that we’re favourites moving into next World Cup."
Reilly's captain Sam Monaghan is certainly ready for all that is coming:
"We're heartbroken. It went to the death. We took them to a dark place. It was in our hands. I am so proud of this group and where we've come. Two years ago we were playing in WXV3 and now we have a quarter-final in us," Monaghan said.
“This is only the beginning for us. We have an opportunity to play in the Aviva (Dublin's 50,000-plus capacity stadium) next year, which shows how this game is growing. This is going to hurt for a long, long time, probably until the next one comes around, but it doesn't take away from how proud I am in this group and what we've shown in this World Cup."
SCOTLAND - 'Huge step forward'
Nothing in Rachel Malcolm's record 53 tests as Scotland captain has been quite like RWC 2025:
"Nothing will keep this group down. As a playing squad and management team, we're immensely tight. We will fight no matter what," Malcolm said. "We came to make the most of this opportunity and I think we've taken a huge step forward for Scottish rugby."
Young teammate Evie Gallagher is well aware of everything Malcolm and others have given for the shirt:
"I can’t quite believe that we are the heroes for girls growing up in Scotland. It doesn’t feel like I have quite earned that right," Gallagher said. "Some of the girls in the squad have definitely earned that right; they’ve been in the squad for 10 years during the toughest of times, when they were basically playing amateur rugby for the national side."
While departing coach Bryan Easson sees only good things ahead:
“That game doesn't define us. We said we wanted to get to the knockout stages and we did that. And just to see Rhona Lloyd finishing it off at the end (with a try) and the tears and the joy and the happiness of this group, I'd rather lose with this group," Easson said.
"They're a special bunch, the deserve everything that they've fought for, and I'm sure they'll keep fighting. It's been a real privilege for me to work with them."
AUSTRALIA - 'They really set a benchmark'
Six tries at her first RWC was not bad for Desiree Miller and the 23-year-old winger knows she wants a whole lot more in four years' time:
"The Tillys (Matildas - Australia's female football team) had such an effect at their World Cup (2023) and now we’ve got this momentous event, the biggest World Cup for women. Hopefully we can carry that legacy over the next two years and then again in two years," Miller said.
"We’ve seen the change not only in women’s rugby but in women’s sport, so hopefully we can get all that."
Her skipper, Siokapesi Palu knows what she wants RWC 2029 to look like:
"We've got a lot to work on in terms of the organisation and the help that we get from home, but I really want to take this opportunity to say thank you to England," Palu said. "They really showed what a Rugby World Cup should look like, they really set a benchmark, and the support has been immense."
The final word goes to departing Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp:
