Hunter ready to lead England against Italy in Women's SixNations
|
09.02.2012 - Rugby Tweet |
With Italy being the only side to score a try against England’s Women
in the RBS 6 Nations last season, Sarah Hunter, who will lead her country
against the Azzurri this Sunday, says her side must step-up another level.
England may have inflicted a nine-try, 47-0 defeat on Scotland in the Six
Nations opener last weekend but the Lichfield No. 8 says there is no room
for England to rest on their laurels against a passionate Italian outfit.
“It was great to get a nine try win over Scotland under our
belts,” said Hunter, who last captained England against France in
November. “It was a good performance, but for us there were still a
lot of areas to work on, from drop passes to knock ons and generaly just
improving our execution.
“We must step up as Italy were the only side to cross our line in the
Six Nations last season. We are definitely taking them seriously. Each game
we go into we want to see how good we can be, it is not just about winning
but being the best we can be. We will go to Milan with confidence but we are
under no illusions because we definitely won’t be in for an easy ride
in Milan.”
Sunday will be Hunter’s fourth game in charge of England with
resident captain Katy McLean ready and waiting on the bench. The 26-year-old
will lead a side brimming with experience but also youth, with the likes of
Laura Keates, Isabelle Noel-Smith, Hannah Gallagher, Emily Braund and Ceri
Large sharing only a handful of caps between them.
“It’s very exciting to take on the captaincy role again,”
Hunter added. “I am very proud and honoured to have the opportunity to
do this again. It is a fantastic moment when you have the opportunity to
lead out your country.
“Both Katy and myself are very lucky that there are so many natural
leaders in this squad who can step in at any given moment. And at the same
time there are a lot of younger players in this 22, but we have the comfort
of knowing they have already proved their international credentials. Whoever
is selected for each game you know they are going to stand up and be counted
and also challenge to keep that England jersey. No one in this squad can
rest on their laurels when it comes to keeping their starting place and that
is so important as we build towards the next World Cup in 2014.”
England
15 Emily
Scarratt (Lichfield)
14
Georgina
Roberts (Darlington
Mowden Park Sharks)
13
Rachael Burford
(VC)(Richmond)
12
Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
11 Kay
Wilson
(Bristol)
10 Ceri
Large (Worcester)
9 La
Toya
Mason
(Wasps)
1
Rochelle Clark
(Worcester)
2
Amy
Turner
(Richmond)
3 Laura
Keates
(Worcester)
4
Rowena
Burnfield (Richmond)
5
Tamara
Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6
Isabelle
Noel-Smith (Bristol)
7
MarliePacker
(Bristol)
8 SarahHunter
(C) (Lichfield)
Replacements:
16
Victoria
Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17 Claire
Purdy (Wasps)
18 Emily
Braund
(Lichfield)
19
Hannah
Gallagher (Saracens)
20
Georgina
Rozario (Lichfield)
21 Katy
McLean (Darlington
Mowden Park Sharks)
22
Katherine
Merchant (Worcester)
England’s Six Nations Fixtures:
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, WON 47-0
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 2pm GMT
February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
Live on the BBC Red Button and on www.bbc.co.uk/sport. Free entry to the
stadium after the men’s Six Nations match.
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT
in the RBS 6 Nations last season, Sarah Hunter, who will lead her country
against the Azzurri this Sunday, says her side must step-up another level.
England may have inflicted a nine-try, 47-0 defeat on Scotland in the Six
Nations opener last weekend but the Lichfield No. 8 says there is no room
for England to rest on their laurels against a passionate Italian outfit.
“It was great to get a nine try win over Scotland under our
belts,” said Hunter, who last captained England against France in
November. “It was a good performance, but for us there were still a
lot of areas to work on, from drop passes to knock ons and generaly just
improving our execution.
“We must step up as Italy were the only side to cross our line in the
Six Nations last season. We are definitely taking them seriously. Each game
we go into we want to see how good we can be, it is not just about winning
but being the best we can be. We will go to Milan with confidence but we are
under no illusions because we definitely won’t be in for an easy ride
in Milan.”
Sunday will be Hunter’s fourth game in charge of England with
resident captain Katy McLean ready and waiting on the bench. The 26-year-old
will lead a side brimming with experience but also youth, with the likes of
Laura Keates, Isabelle Noel-Smith, Hannah Gallagher, Emily Braund and Ceri
Large sharing only a handful of caps between them.
“It’s very exciting to take on the captaincy role again,”
Hunter added. “I am very proud and honoured to have the opportunity to
do this again. It is a fantastic moment when you have the opportunity to
lead out your country.
“Both Katy and myself are very lucky that there are so many natural
leaders in this squad who can step in at any given moment. And at the same
time there are a lot of younger players in this 22, but we have the comfort
of knowing they have already proved their international credentials. Whoever
is selected for each game you know they are going to stand up and be counted
and also challenge to keep that England jersey. No one in this squad can
rest on their laurels when it comes to keeping their starting place and that
is so important as we build towards the next World Cup in 2014.”
England
15 Emily
Scarratt (Lichfield)
14
Georgina
Roberts (Darlington
Mowden Park Sharks)
13
Rachael Burford
(VC)(Richmond)
12
Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
11 Kay
Wilson
(Bristol)
10 Ceri
Large (Worcester)
9 La
Toya
Mason
(Wasps)
1
Rochelle Clark
(Worcester)
2
Amy
Turner
(Richmond)
3 Laura
Keates
(Worcester)
4
Rowena
Burnfield (Richmond)
5
Tamara
Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6
Isabelle
Noel-Smith (Bristol)
7
MarliePacker
(Bristol)
8 SarahHunter
(C) (Lichfield)
Replacements:
16
Victoria
Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17 Claire
Purdy (Wasps)
18 Emily
Braund
(Lichfield)
19
Hannah
Gallagher (Saracens)
20
Georgina
Rozario (Lichfield)
21 Katy
McLean (Darlington
Mowden Park Sharks)
22
Katherine
Merchant (Worcester)
England’s Six Nations Fixtures:
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, WON 47-0
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 2pm GMT
February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
Live on the BBC Red Button and on www.bbc.co.uk/sport. Free entry to the
stadium after the men’s Six Nations match.
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT
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