Brendan O'Brien: Magic moments can't mask minnows' struggles at Women's Rugby World Cup

The average winning margin so far stands at 47.6 points. It’s a small sample size, but still an awful look for an event expanded from 12 teams to 16 for the first time.

Brazil's Larissa Alves Carvalho fends off to the face Aphiwe Ngwevu of South Africa. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

The last meaningful act of the 2025 Rugby World Cup’s opening weekend played out in York’s Community Stadium on Sunday evening when Ines Antolinez Fernandes touched down for Spain and sparked wild and emotional scenes of joy.

The celebrations when the ‘Lionesses’ scored their first and only try against New Zealand captured an excitement and pride mirrored by the likes of Brazil and Fiji. No doubt about it, there were historic and charming moments for some of the minnows to savour.