1
'Although I was boogying and smiling away I just felt empty'
Writing this column isn’t easy… One because I still don’t think I’ve fully processed how I feel about Saturday and two, because I have a broken thumb so I am having to type with one hand.
ADVERTISEMENT
For over 48,000 people, Saturday was mesmerising. From Bugs Bunny hopping around the stadium, to Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing ‘It’s Murder on the Dancefloor’ in a silver sequin dress, Twickenham came alive!
Not to mention the phenomenal display from the Red Roses scoring 14 tries against a developing Irish side with stand-out performances from Ellie Kildunne and Zoe Aldcroft.
My memory of the day is slightly different as I was ruled out after the warm-up. I managed to dislocate and break my thumb in a tackle drill and unfortunately, our team doctor couldn’t make it stable enough to play. Hearing the words “we are pulling you from the game” was heartbreaking.
Not only was I devastated as I’d worked so hard to get into that shirt, I felt so much guilt for letting my teammates down last minute and felt so bad for all my family and friends who had made the effort to come and watch me.
I spent the first half of the game in the medical room getting X-rays and getting a cast made. I am massively grateful for my teammate Zoe Harrison who stayed with me the whole time as I went through moments of crying hysterically followed by fits of giggles induced by gas and air! We managed to get out at half-time to watch the half-time act and although I was boogying and smiling away I just felt empty.
The girls were incredible. All week we trained well – there was a real positive energy floating around and we looked slick on the pitch. Everything clicked for them and it was an exciting style of rugby to watch.
ADVERTISEMENT
This week will be our biggest test… France away is never easy but we perform well under pressure. As a group, we love being challenged so I can imagine all the players are up for it and want to finish on a high in Bordeaux. Winning is one thing, but winning a Grand Slam is an even better feeling.
France have a few different threats to their game. They like to play fast rugby taking the quick tap options when they can as well as utilising their pacey back line to take the edge. I think England have a real opportunity to put their marker down as the best set-piece team in this tournament and disrupt/control momentum.
As for me, I will be cheering the girls on from home with a newly attached thumb! I would do anything to be out there playing but I know the girls will get the job done and bring home the trophy!
Don’t miss ‘Super Saturday’ this weekend, with three amazing matches going on throughout the day. The big one, the Grand Slam decider, kicks off at 16:45 BST. Coverage starts at 16:20 on BBC One – make sure you tune in to watch it and hopefully, you’ll see England win another Grand Slam!
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Chiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to comments