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How about a six nations game up north next season.

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McLean expecting Six Nations thriller on 'Super Sunday'
Tuesday February 22, 2011
Issued by Julia Hutton

England Captain Katy McLean

England captain Katy McLean is expecting a thriller of a match this Sunday when England take on France in the RBS 6 Nations as part of ‘Super Sunday’ at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.

The Darlington Mowden Park Shark fly half was a member of the team that defeated France 11-10 in Rennes a year ago, and it was her boot that sealed the victory in the latter stages of the game. The win handed England a fifth consecutive Six Nations title and a Grand Slam crown.

And Sunday’s match, which sees a triple billing of international rugby with the men and women’s Under 20s teams also in action against France, is also set to be a crowd pleaser. Both England and France are the only unbeaten teams in the championship so far, and only a points difference of 30 separate the two teams.

“France are always tough opposition and I'm sure Sunday will be no difference,” said McLean, whose side top the Six Nations table. “They are always a very physical side, and they have been having a good season so far. Ireland tested them last time out but I am sure they’ll be looking to build on that against us. They have some changes in their squad who I'm sure will be looking to play well against us. It is all to play for on Sunday and because of that I am sure this will produce an excellent match.”

England head into Sunday’s match on the back of two good wins against Wales and Italy. They have scored 87 points and conceded only five and are on course to defend their crown.

McLean added: “We wanted to build on our performance against Wales and we certainly did that against Italy two weeks ago. It was an excellent team performance with Heather Fisher, Kat Merchant and Emily Scarratt having very good games. And I hope we can reproduce that on Sunday.

“It will also be great to have two other England teams playing and supporting us on the day, creating a fantastic festival of rugby atmosphere, whilst this is another chance to take international women’s rugby on the road. We hope as many people as possible will come and support England on Sunday.”

England Head Coach Gary Street has made a handful of changes for Sunday’s match with Becky Essex, Sophie Hemming and Fran Mathews called back into the starting line-up while Rosemarie Crowley has today (Tuesday) been called up to the bench as cover for the injured Claire Purdy.

England:

15 Danielle Waterman Worcester

14 Katherine Merchant Worcester

13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield

12 Kimberley Oliver Bristol

11 Francesca Matthews Richmond

10 Katy Mclean (C) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

9 La Toya Mason Wasps

1 Rochelle Clark Worcester

2 Emma Croker Richmond

3 Sophie Hemming Bristol

4 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps

5 Rebecca EssexRichmond

6 Heather FisherWorcester

7 Margaret Alphonsi (vc) Saracens

8 SarahHunter Lichfield

Replacements:

16 Amy Garnett Saracens

17 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield

18 Rowena Burnfield Richmond

19 Catherine Spencer Bristol

20 Georgina Rozario Lichfield

21 Rachael Burford Richmond

22 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Fisher calls for ultimate England performance
Thursday February 24, 2011
Issued by Julia Hutton

England and Worcester's Heather Fisher


England Women’s powerhouse flanker Heather Fisher says England will have to be at their best for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against France if they are to keep their title ambitions on track.

A year ago England edged an 11-10 victory to clinch the Six Nations title for a fifth successive year, but as the score-line suggests it was a tough encounter for the rugby world cup finalists.

“It was tight last year, too tight really but that sets up this game to be a really exciting match,” said the Worcester player. “We all know if every single one of us plays to the best of our abilities then we can beat any team in the world. Unfortunately we didn’t do that against New Zealand in the world cup final last year but since them we have come together and gathered ourselves. This is a new beginning for us and I know if we play to our best we can win.”

The clash, which is being billed as a potential ‘winner takes all’ encounter as both sides are unbeaten so far, sees the Worcester player start her second successive Six Nations match after scoring a brace of tries against Italy two weeks ago.

“You could never call France predictable – you can analyse them as much as you like but to be honest it’s all about what they do on the day,” added the explosive flanker. “You can’t expect the expected against them. France always raise their game for us. They have got quite a few new players in their squad this season and it seems to be working for them. They now play a very similar game to us and I think that is going to make for a great match.”

One thing that is for sure is that England’s forwards will be key on Sunday, with Fisher, Margaret Alphonsi and Sarah Hunter making up a formidable backrow. In the pack there is some serious experience, with the unit sharing a massive 269 caps between them.

“We know we have a very important job on Sunday,” added Fisher. “We have got a very strong back row, playing together is easy and I am sure we’ll have a big part to play. The forwards have to create the platform for the backs to play off and that is going to be key on match day. We have got some great attacking backs and if we can get the ball out to them then they can be very dangerous.”

great win, well done the girls!

what was the score?

England Women remain on track to retain their RBS 6 Nations title after a hard fought 16-3 victory over of France at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium on Sunday.

The game might not have been the performance England Head Coach Gary Street was looking for but certainly the result ticked the right box as England look to secure a sixth successive title and another Grand Slam.

Tries for England hooker Amy Garnett and skipper Katy McLean sealed the victory but England had to wait for them with both touchdowns in the last quarter of the game. Nevertheless, the reigning champions had looked in control for much of the game, but their downfull was not being able to turn possession into points.

Street, whose side is now the only unbeaten team in the Six Nations, said: “We were very sporadic today and we managed to squander quite a few opportunities. It was frustrating because we got ourselves into some good positions but we missed the try scoring opportunities. We lacked precision at times and that was disappointing.

“There’s lots for us to work on but the important thing is that we are still on track. We have now got a good focus for our game against Scotland and we know where the improvements need to be made.”

England looked dangerous from the off, but the tone they soon set for themselves followed them for much of the match. After just two minutes skipper McLean made a great break, catching France on the hop, but the tourists swarmed around England and dashed their try scoring hopes.

Worcester’s Danielle Waterman and Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt also came close in the opening quarter but France held firm while England paid for their errors in the final stages of their attacking play.

France had the first opportunity to put points on the board with a penalty after 26 minutes but Sandrine Agricole couldn’t convert. A second attempt, with Nadge Casenave taking over the kicking duties, was more successful and France took a 3-0 lead after 26 minutes.

McLean too had her chance at goal, missing a 35th minute effort but she made amends to equalise just minutes into injury time.

The Darlington Mowden Park Sharks fly half was back in action soon after the restart with a 49th minute shot at goal, and with the kick being successful England took a 6-3 lead.

England rang the changes on the pitch and replacements Garnett, Rachael Burford and Catherine Spence made an immediate impression. Burford came close to scoring, but again France’s defence held firm. Again, the chances were there for England but the rugby world cup finalists couldn’t finish off the opportunities.

England’s continuous pressure did pay off eventually though with Saracens’ hooker Garnett picking up from the back of a ruck and barging her way over the try line. McLean missed the penalty but England led 11-3 after 72 minutes.

McLean then rounded off proceedings for England with an injury time try. A ruck in the midfield saw England spin the ball out to the right wing and McLean found space to score the final touchdown. Again, she couldn’t make the conversion but 16-3 was enough to seal the win for England.

England:

15 Danielle Waterman (Worcester), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 11 Francesca Matthews (Richmond), 10 Katy Mclean (C) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2 Emma Croker (Richmond), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps),6 Heather Fisher(Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (vc) (Saracens), 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield). Replacements: 16 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 19 Catherine Spencer (Bristol), 20 Georgina Rozario (Lichfield), 21 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 22 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks).

Tries: Garnett, McLean

Conversions:

Penalties: McLean (2)

Replacements: Roberts for Matthews (8, blood, reversed 20), Burford for Oliver (HT), Garnett for Croker (50), Spencer for Fisher (57), Burnfield for McGilchrist (64), Crowley for Hemming (62).

France

15 LADAGNOUS CAROLINE, 14 AGUERRE DIONI, 13 POUBLAN ELODIE, 12 AGRICOLE SANDRINE, 11 RAMKILAOUN SABRINA, 10 CASENAVE NADEGE, 9 YAHE MARIE ALICE (C), 1 EZANNO HELENE, 2 MIGNOT GAËLLE, 3 CHOBET CHRISTELLE, 4 DE NADAÏ MARINE, 5 BOUISSET CYRIELLE, 6 DJOSSOUVI KOUMIBA, 8 BA AÏDA, 7 HEBEL MARIE CHARLOTTE. Replacements: 16 NOGUERA AUDREY, 17 BARTHELEMY CELINE, 18 RABIER SANDRA, 19 ANDRE MANON, 20 TRONCY JENNYFER, 21 SOBOLAK AURORE, 22 HEGUY CELINE.

Tries:

Conversions:

Penalties: Casenave



Half time score: England 3 France 3

Referee: Wayne Davies

Assistant Referees: Brian Ravenhill & Debbie Innes