The race is on, as the WXV3 first round has already wrapped up with Spain topping the group thanks to a one-way game against Madagascar.
The Netherlands were close to producing a massive shock, as they were seconds from defeating Samoa, with both sides splitting the points. Rugby Europe dives into what happened in week 1, and what awaits in the upcoming weekend.
Leonas marvel fans with a try-galore show
With thirteen unanswered tries and 83 points scored, Spain sent a message to their WXV3 rivals, making it clear they are one of the top contenders to reach the 2025 Rugby World Cup. The Leonas were simply unstoppable, quickly building a big lead from the kick-off with Claudia Peña Hidalgo, Clara Piquero and Carmen Castelucci running the show.
The forward pack controlled the flow of the game, drilling their dominance through the set-piece with the lineout paying off greatly, as six out of the thirteen tries scored were born from it. Cristina Blanco, kept things tidy and Castelucci pounced every time she could, creating a handful of great attacking opportunities.
With the backline injecting a thrilling handling game, Spain opened a continuous stream of gaps to exploit. Amalia Argudo kept ball continuity going, with Piquero, Peña Hidalgo and Claudia Pérez creating an endless attacking spree, with the outside backs scoring four tries and breaking the line in nine different instances.
MVP: while acknowledging Clara Piquero’s amazing hat-trick, we have to pick Carmen Castelucci as the number-eight who produced a superb display. Her ball-carrying skills were impressive, winning the gain-line in 90% of her carries, forcing Madagascar to sacrifice more than one tackler in an attempt to put a stop to Carmen Castelucci’s physical dominance.
Laura Delgado, Spain’s team captain shared some thoughts post-game:
About the game plan
“We were serious from the get-go and did our job the way we envisioned it. Madagascar tried to slow us down, but our team never lost focus and kept going after the tries.”
About the weather conditions
“It was hot and very humid. It made everything more difficult, as the ball kept trying to escape our hands! But it is part of our adaptation to the local conditions, and I think we did well.”
The Oranje stun a WXV3 contender
It took 80 minutes for Samoa to score a try against the Netherlands, with the Pacific nation showing serious issues to overcome an unrelenting and unbending Dutch side who were a few seconds away from producing an all-time shocker.
But let’s go to the beginning. Netherlands practically started the game in the lead, as outside centre, Linneke Gevers, dived over the try-line after a brilliant break from fly-half Pleuni Kievit.
The Rugby Europe Women’s Championship runners-up from 2024, kept pressuring the opposition and were close to scoring a second try, but unfortunately a couple of handling mistakes allowed Samoa to survive.
With Kievit and Siataga changing pleasantries from the tee, the Oranje went into half-time in the lead by five points. The Dutch were experiencing a great day in the scrum but weren’t able to convert their dominance into points, with the lineout backfiring in critical moments.
The Samoans turned the game around in the second half, but an astonishing defensive effort from the Dutch, meant the score would remain unchanged until the 80th minute. It was then that the Samoans scored their first and only try of the game, with the extras still to come.
When all seemed lost, fullback Lieve Stalmann sprinted towards Siatanga and blocked the conversion, allowing Netherlands to take two precious points, a fitting prize for what they were able to accomplish in their WXV3 debut.
MVP: Linde van der Velden showed why she is the captain and leader of the Dutch national team. More than twenty tackles executed, three turnovers executed and a mesmerizing effort to create havoc in the opposition’s lineout were just a few of her contributions to her team’s sensational tie.
Linde van der Velden’s post-game thoughts:
About the challenge
“We prepped hard for this game. Before we came here, we had a game with Fiji and it gave us confidence for what would come up next. We knew Samoa would come out firing, and it was a tough game. I’m really proud of what our girls did today.”
About the Netherlands growth as a team,
“We used to be a one-dimensional kind of team, but we have been focusing on evolving and creating more threats around the park. Our set-piece has really improved, and our line speed has also gone a level up.”
Round 2: a European rivalry for the ages
And what’s next for our Rugby Europe representatives in the WXV3? Well, for the faint hearted, it will be a weekend to avoid, as Spain and the Netherlands will play against each other on Saturday (6.30 CET).
The Spanish have never lost against their all-time European rivals, having defeated the Oranje twelve times since their first game in 1991 (08-00). In their last encounter, the Leonas won 22-05 in a tight and tense match played in Amsterdam.
Even if historically the Spanish dominate the record, it is important to understand that the current mindset of the Dutch side mustn’t be taken lightly, as they are ready to book their spot in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
One of the biggest and most thrilling clashes anticipated will be between Laura Delgado and Anouk Veerkamp, with the two props being vital for their team’s scrum. Claudia Peña Hidalgo vs Lieve Stallmann will be another interesting encounter to follow closely.
Three points separate Spain from the Netherlands, as the Leonas are currently at the top with 5, while the Oranje have two. Remember that the top two teams from the WXV3 2024 – Fiji has already claimed their RWC spot – will earn the last two World Cup 2025 tickets.
By Francisco Isaac
