They may be in Whangarei, the most northerly large town in New Zealand, but it remains the most familiar of European rugby disputes. “Le Crunch,” murmurs England’s second row forward Abbie Ward, her tone reminiscent of a James Bond villain greeting an old adversary. “We know how tough it is every single time we play against France. We’ve played them more often than any other team in the world. We know them and they know us.”
Perhaps the keynote pool fixture of this World Cup also looms. The tournament needs a crackling, top-class contest to whet neutral appetites for what is to follow in the knockout stages. It is not impossible, either, that these two teams could have another rendezvous next month, which further explains the desire of England’s forwards to deliver a no-nonsense message of intent.
