What a joy it was to watch the Women's RWC Final yesterday evening. My rating was a L5 management challenge in general, pro-actively and positively handled by the referee. Pace was mostly L7 with injection of L6 speed at times when Canadian back three and England #9 Hunt (who fully justified her selection) got their hands on the ball.
The referee and her ARs were confident and competent. The referee had a neat and tidy refereeing performance, good effective communication with no white noise, good use of colour & number as required to get player action. She was there when she needed to be and let the players get on with the game the rest of the time. No drama, no showboating, just calm, clear officiating. Well done.
She did allow too much 'flopping' at rucks and needed to keep players on their feet more - but she got the side entries and tackler non-releases spot on. Management of back foot was attentive but not intrusive.
She got the jackler calls right, she pinged Alfonsi early on for holding on (and so set the standard) and managed the four flankers pretty well throughout keeping them legal.
She handled the scrum well and was clear in what she wanted and enforced it with first warning & then PK as required - her effective management enabled a real contest to take place (I had the benefit of my daughter's scrum analysis alongside me !). However I was not impressed by English scrum half on Canada's put-in ball, with hand on the Canadian #9's back ! and as the match went on the two of them were blocking and pushing - untidy and needed sorting. C&O result was three unchallenged back-row breaks by Canadian 7 as English #9 was blocked in (partly her own fault for getting past Canadian #9 and into the #8 pocket - Canadians "played" her well - smart coaching).
The referee missed a couple of C&O English obstructions as players crossed, and one (clever) Canadian handling on floor to prevent English ball turnovers.
Canada were very cute tactically and shut down England's space effectively (and legally), first up tackling by both sides was robust, and Canada in Q3 had all the momentum and were threatening to win the match until Emily Scarratt produced the match winning moment, with a break of the highest standard.
I thought Alfonsi all over the park & Hunter at #8, England #9 Tasha Hunt & #10 McClean and the Canadian back three were outstanding, Canada's flanker Karen Paquin was amazing plus all six of the original FR and the FR replacements stood out. But for me Emily Scarrett was pure class in all she did, even getting back to make a tackle after she missed the first one !
Finally a personal tribute to Emma Croker (England replacement hooker) of Basingstoke RFC. With 50 plus caps, and a stalwart of Richmond Ladies RFC, she deserves every plaudit in her achievement becoming a World Cup Winner. A few years ago she gave birth to Lucy and was very dangerously ill for some time before and after the birth. To come back from that and perform at that level is amazing. And a nice unassuming lady with it. James must be a very proud husband.
epper: