Netherlands 'ready' for WXV after commando training and big Scotland win

The Netherlands are finally in Hong Kong. Before even boarding their flight, the Dames XV had time to go to a commando camp and banked a staunch 33-0 win over Scotland A to kickstart their campaign.

With the team ambitious for much more, head coach Gareth Gilbert and his staff decided to put the side through their paces at a challenging military camp provided by Korps Commandotroepen, the Dutch Army Special Operations Forces.

Awaiting them were several demanding days that would test their commitment, mental resilience, and physical endurance, whilst also requiring them to demonstrate adaptability, a challenge that would make most people feel at least some apprehension.

However, the Dutch women’s team weren’t afraid of this challenge, and Inger Jongerius explained what happened there and why it was essential preparation for the WXV Global Challenger Series.

“It was a special experience, just being there on location and hearing about the work they do,” the experienced utility forward explained.

“You immediately feel a great deal of respect for them. The tasks were physically and mentally demanding, but they served as good preparation for the upcoming games.”

Prop Sydney de Weijer agreed with her teammate, highlighting how amazing and unforgettable the experience was, whilst also acknowledging how hard it pushed them.

“Once we became physically tired, it really came down to our mental strength and our ability to keep going. I think some of the girls really had to dig deep and fight with themselves mentally to keep pushing forward,” revealed the prop.

“When you are tired and under pressure, it is easy to lose focus or make small mistakes. We had to learn to stay focused, communicate with each other and keep working together, even when things did not go as planned. That was definitely challenging, but it also taught us a lot about ourselves and each other.”

With the Netherlands facing the likes of Samoa, Brazil and Fiji at WXV Global Challenger Series, Jongerius said experiences like the commando camp are key to unlocking the team’s true potential in September.

“We know that a good work rate alone won’t be enough. We must keep fighting for the full 80 minutes and ensure that the details are spot on. It was also a valuable lesson in leadership, showing that you can only succeed if you work together as a team.”

At the same time, the FC Grenoble Amazones lock explains that the hard work put in over the past few weeks played a crucial role in bringing the team even closer together.

“Something else I’ve taken away from them is that they know each other well on a personal level too. They know exactly who they’re working with and how to utilise each other’s strengths to achieve the best result, but also how to support one another in the areas the other finds more challenging.”

As for De Weijer, she firmly believes that the commando camp experience and the game against Scotland A will boost the team’s chances, mainly in how they move as a single unit.

“It brought us closer together as a team and taught us how important it is to work together, especially when things get difficult,” she said. “We learned more about our strengths and weaknesses as a team and most importantly how we can support each other when someone is struggling.

“I think that mental resilience and trust in each other are really important going into the WXV. This experience showed us that we can keep fighting together, even when we are tired, under pressure or when things do not go the way we planned.”

According to the 23-year-old, the experience made every player realise just how strong the team is and why it is capable of achieving even greater things.

“To be honest, the whole day was a memory that we will never forget. What stood out to me most was how we stayed in the fight as a team, even when things went wrong, or we didn’t complete something in time. We showed how relentless we can be and most importantly that we do not give up.”

At the end of the day, Jongerius and de Weijer believe the team’s commitment exceeded expectations and will serve as a foundation for the squad to build on.

The prop concluded: “Seeing how we supported each other when someone was having a hard time was very special. I think those moments are what make us stronger as a team.

“We were all challenged individually, but we kept looking out for each other and pushing each other forward. That is something I will definitely take with me from this experience.”