For years it has been a mirage shimmering on a distant horizon. A sold-out 82,000 record crowd for a standalone women’s rugby fixture, millions more watching on television, a nation entranced. Finally the vision will become reality this Saturday with just one big question left: can England also deliver the ultimate fairytale finish?
It promises to be as much a psychological as a physical challenge, with hype levels about to be ramped up to 11. Appropriately given England’s forward strength, Battersea power station will host a fan zone for those without tickets. Asahi, the tournament’s beer sponsor, has linked up with more than 1,000 pubs across the UK to screen the final, as part of the collective drive to spread the women’s rugby gospel far and wide.
