Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022: group-by-group preview

Coach Wayne SmithCaptain Ruahei Demant and Kennedy SimonWorld Cup best Winners 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017

As hosts and five-time champions, the Black Ferns were favourites until the pandemic hit and disrupted their game time. Their Tests against England in 2021, where they suffered two successive record losses to the Red Roses, were their first international fixtures in two years. But New Zealand are back in firing form with staggering scorelines in their warm-up matches. The winger Portia Woodman has particularly stood out, scoring seven tries in the 95-12 demolition of Japan last month. They are definitely capable of successfully defending their title and should come out as pool winners with a tasty treat coming against Australia.

Coach Jay TregonningCaptain Shannon ParryWorld Cup best Third place, 2010

Australia are not heading into their opening game against New Zealand with results on their side. They have won once since Jay Tregonning was appointed in September 2021, the victory coming against Fiji in May. They have gone on to lose six games in a row, three at the hands of New Zealand. They may struggle to finish third in the group and with only two third-placed teams going through to the quarter-finals, determined on competition points, their campaign could end at the pool stage. The wing Bienne Terita could be their secret weapon, though, after she scored two tries on her debut against New Zealand in August.

Coach Ioan CunninghamCaptain Siwan LillicrapWorld Cup best Fourth, 1994

This will be the first World Cup Wales play in as professionals. Full-time and part-time contracts were introduced in January with more offered later in the year. The impact was instantaneous as Wales finished third in the Six