"England's heartache at the Women's Rugby World Cup three years ago has made them ready for the final against Canada on Saturday, says the hooker Lark Atkin-Davies. The Bristol Bears star came off the bench in the 34-31 final defeat against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2022, but says England are a very different team this time around. You can reflect and learn from it but it's made us ready for now, Atkin-Davies said."
"For me it was a weird one because I hadn't played much in that World Cup, Kabeya, who also came off the bench in the last final, said. Injury brought me into the semi-final and the final and I was there to put the squad in the best place. The fact I was playing in the final was amazing but it was never in my plans. I just wanted to put my best foot forward."
"When we did end up losing in that final, it didn't hit me as much because of being new and not knowing as much about the history; I didn't have that weight. Looking back, there are a lot of girls who have a lot of feelings about that final. I think because I was so young and new into it, it was a loss but not as monumental as it was for the other girls."
England's heartache from the 2022 Women's Rugby World Cup loss has become a source of learning and readiness ahead of the final against Canada. Hooker Lark Atkin-Davies says reflection produced personal growth but emphasizes staying focused on the present match rather than dwelling on past results. Back-row Sadia Kabeya recalls being new in 2022, entering late due to injury, and feeling less burdened by historical weight; she now feels more settled and connected within the squad. The final will be played at a sold-out Twickenham with an expected attendance record for a women's rugby union game. England approach the match as hosts with greater experience and cohesion.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]