We were so upset to concede a try against Scotland last week that it proved just how far we’ve come as a side. When we go into every game our first target is to win the match [which we did 34-5], the second is to not concede any tries. That said, in a way, conceding was a good thing because it gave us something to go through and analyse. Last year we won something like 60-0 and it wasn’t much of a game as it didn’t give us anything to work on.
This week, preparing for our Grand Slam match, has been manic. We’re on maintenance training which basically means a couple of weight and speed sessions and an optional club session. We’ve been given a light week in terms of training because we’re not going to lose any fitness and we can’t have any injuries, plus some of the girls are feeling a bit tired. It’s tricky on the work front too, because we’ve all had to delay bits and pieces of work during the Six Nations and it’s now starting to build up for all of us.
Overall, I know this year’s results make it look like an England walkover. But it hasn’t been, we’ve played really well and each game has been tough and very different. We’ve also had Gary Street rotating the squad as he looks to build a World Cup squad of 30 players all with experience. That has worked to our advantage as we’ve been rested more, last year I played in every game, whereas this year I’ve started in three [so far] but only played one or two full game. Being rested has also made all of the players hungry to be on the pitch…
I’m more nervous about this game than the others because Ireland have nothing to lose. They also gave France a good game – 23-17 or something – and Gary has told us that they can play some really good rugby. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t let them, we need to do what we’ve been doing all the Six Nations and set up a good platform in the forwards and then cut the backs loose.
It would be a major shock if we lost, it would devastate us, especially as, on paper, our toughest opponents should have been France and Wales and we’ve already beaten them comprehensively. To lose at home would be devastating and something we’re not even considering, that’s how we’ve approached every game. If we win it would be a record as no side has ever won three Grand Slams in a row, we keep being given that quote – admittedly changed a bit – about how ‘in adversity some women break and others break records’. That’s what we want to do.
Even if don’t win, we’re still going to celebrate as we’ll have had a really tough Six Nations, we’re professional in every way except that we don’t get paid and we’ve not had a chance to let our hair down for a while. I’m social secretary so I’ve had to sort out that side of things, we’re going to have a party at London Irish after the game where they’ll be a kangaroo court and things like that. We’ve got plenty of people up for fines including one girl who said ‘oh my god, isn’t Ireland beautiful’ when we were flying from London to France. Another time, Maggie [Alphonsi], turned up wearing the wrong kit and admitted that she’d gone for a different top because it shows off her guns better – how bad is that? There have been plenty of other ‘blonde’ moments too. Let’s just hope we can celebrate with a Grand Slam.