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Injury strikes Red Roses preseason: 'It doesn’t feel like I have luck on my side'

Red Roses players during a preseason session. Credit: Red Roses/RFU

Week four has been different… the rugby is ramping up; the tactical knowledge is starting to click and there’s a real buzz on both sides of the ball. The difference is that I haven’t been in the thick of it. Unfortunately, last week I sustained an ankle injury which has sidelined me for a few weeks.

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It doesn’t really feel like I have luck on my side at the minute. However, I am pushing all those negative feelings to the side because I still have the possibility of getting back for WXV. I have never had an injury where there is a chance of still being involved in a campaign. With my hamstring and thumb, it was surgery straight away, so I knew my involvements were done.

With this timeline, I could make it back in time to travel to Canada, so my mentality has completely shifted. I will do everything in my power to get back fit and put myself in the best position for selection.

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Last week we had a meeting with Patrick (our leadership and culture consultant) about leading oneself. He got us to consider how we get better at leading ourselves and the different stepping stones to achieving greatness. I figured out that I am driven by an outcome rather than a process.

However, I think this is a great opportunity to follow a process as I know that I need to follow everything I have been given by physios and S&Cs to stay on track.

This includes taking collagen 45 minutes before completing my rehab. I have never spoken to Alexa as much as I have this week – “Alexa, set a 45-minute timer”. By doing this and following the process, if I don’t make it back in time, I can hold my head high saying I did everything I could.

Last Friday I attended an appearance at Allianz Stadium to do some filming for Allianz alongside Abby Dow and Marlie Packer. There were a few different elements to the day. It started off with a quiz with buzzers.

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Let’s just say, Marlie was very competitive and would buzz halfway through the question! Abby could reel off fun facts about the history of the stadium and I was looking at the producer whilst they were arguing about who buzzed first to get her to tell me the answer! You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled on socials to see who won.

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We also spoke about the Paralympics that Allianz are proud sponsors of. I love Charlotte Henshaw’s story as she transferred from swimming to Paracanoe later on in her career and has continued to thrive at the top level. It resonated with me because I started rugby at 16 and worked hard to catch up with girls who started age five or six.

On the weekend, the 2014 World Cup-winning squad had their 10-year anniversary. The first post I saw on my socials on Saturday morning was their rendition of Never Forget. I bet they couldn’t believe it had been plastered all over for everyone to see, but it’s also one of those memories that they will quite literally never forget.

It was nice to follow their 2014km challenge which finished at the stadium with Gary Street in attendance. Gary also visited camp this week and it was great to see the bond and affection so many of the current players and staff have with him.

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The latest addition in camp has been our shiny new coffee machine and it is beautiful! I’m still getting used to having to weigh out my beans and time the pour, but it is great to have good coffee in camp again.

Right… time to go! There’s rehab to be done.

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Tom 48 minutes ago
No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad?

Williams, Faletau, Lake, Morgan are the only ones who have a chance. None of them are guaranteed but I'd imagine they'll pick Williams and Morgan who could get in on merit and will likely be favoured for inclusivity.


Williams is fighting it out with Ben White for 3rd slot behind JGP and Mitchell.

Morgan is up against JVDF, Earl, Curry, Curry, Willis for 4 flanker slots. Morgan is a fantastic player but a huge call to leave any of those boys at home given how much Wales struggled at the breakdown against England. He's by no means solely responsible for that but it will be fresh in the minds of the selectors. Given the amount of hybrid players emerging and the inclination for a 6-2 split, they may be able to find room for a 5th flanker in the squad. In which case may be Ben Curry who misses out or Willis might be excluded given we have such depth in the players who have chosen to play for clubs this side of the channel.


Lake and Faletau are good enough but I'd be surprised if Faletau gets picked over Conan and Lake would be up against Cowan-Dickie which I can't see happening. Blair Murray is probably 4th in the 15 pecking order behind Kinghorn, Heenan, Marcus Smith. He may be a better 15 than Smith but Smith brings versatility so would be ahead of him. Since Smith may go on tour as a 10/15 hybrid, they would already have 3 fullbacks in the squad so Murray won't make it, good player though.


Nicky Smith and Dafydd Jenkins clutching at straws.

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