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Meg Jones: 'The pressure is already big, we don't need to make it bigger'
By Martyn Thomas at Ashton Gate, Bristol
England star Meg Jones believes the Red Roses need to embrace the prospect of playing a home Women’s Rugby World Cup final in front of a record crowd at Twickenham.
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Jones played a pivotal role in England’s 35-17 semi-final victory against France at Ashton Gate on Saturday, putting in a performance head coach John Mitchell labelled “inspirational”.
The centre’s turnovers helped stem the tide of French pressure in a tight first half, while her try at the end of the second put gloss on a win that hung in the balance for much longer than the scoreline might suggest.
Jones insisted the test Les Bleues provided was “exactly what we needed” as England prepare to face Canada in front of 80,000 fans next Saturday.
“We’ve got so much heart and desire going into this team and we’re enjoying what we’re doing as well,” she said. “Hopefully you’ve seen it, we’re having fun out there.
“There’s some good celebrations going on and we are just trying to enjoy the game as much as we can and not take it [too seriously].
“The pressure is there already. It’s already big, we don’t need to make it bigger, let’s just enjoy it for what it is.”
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Jones was one of two 20-year-olds in the England squad that lost the 2017 World Cup final against New Zealand in Belfast.
But unlike the other, prop Sarah Bern, she was not present in Auckland five years later as the Red Roses suffered defeat to the Black Ferns again in the showpiece match.
The centre believes not having experienced the heartbreak of Eden Park has been a “superpower” on the road to Twickenham.
“It means I don’t carry that on my shoulders,” Jones explained. “I actually think it gives a different light and different perspective to this tournament.
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“So yeah, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, I think it’s going to be the exact same energy and the exact the same emphasis, but we’ve just got to remember it’s 80 minutes of rugby, what we love.
“That’s just what I think about everything. We’ve got one last chance to change the game in England.”
Looking ahead to the prospect of walking out in front of 80,000 fans at Twickenham, Jones admitted it was a vision that made her emotional.
“Honestly, I was holding back the tears because I just think it’s everything we’ve built towards and yeah, it’s just huge for us,” she said.
“I honestly just think our biggest thing is inspiring the nation and little girls and little boys around the country, so yeah, super proud of what we’ve built and what we continue to build.”
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