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Sarah Hunter: England 'want to be defined by winning trophies'
By PA
England Women captain Sarah Hunter says that the record-chasing Red Roses “want to be defined by winning trophies”.
Hunter’s side will become the first Test team – male or female – to win 25 successive international matches if they beat Wales in Bristol on Wednesday.
The game is England’s final warm-up fixture before the World Cup in New Zealand next month, when Hunter and company will arrive as clear tournament favourites.
The Red Roses, currently ranked number one in the world by a distance, have not lost since New Zealand defeated them in July 2019.
“While it is in the background, knowing the milestones and recognising them, it is about performance,” Hunter said.
“Hopefully, by living up to the performance that we want to achieve week on week, it helps to get these records.
“They (records) are not the be-all and end-all, but there is something pretty special about this team, and to be remembered you have to be part of history.
“For us, the ultimate will be if we can go down to New Zealand and we can get that World Cup trophy, and then I think it will make all the records even more special.
“At times, it is hard as a player when you are living in the moment to reflect on what you are achieving. Our ultimate focus is how good we can be, how we can keep improving our performance.
“We want to be defined by winning trophies, and there is a pretty big trophy to go to New Zealand and try to win in what I think will be the most competitive World Cup that there has ever been.”
Hunter returns to skipper a much-changed side against Wales, with switches including a new front-row of Vickii Cornborough, Lark Davies and Sarah Bern.
Zoe Aldcroft, meanwhile, moves from back-row to lock, and scrum-half Lucy Packer is handed only her second Red Roses start.
England head coach Simon Middleton added: “We are a team that wants to be remembered, and to do that you have to make history and do special things.
“The group of players and staff are fantastic. It is hugely competitive. It is a very difficult squad to get into, and that is why we have been as successful as we have been.
“To win 25 on the trot would be absolutely fantastic.
“We know there is a bigger picture we are working towards. Hopefully, results will follow, and if that makes more history, then fantastic.”
Team: E Kildunne; L Thompson, E Scarratt, H Rowland, S McKenna; Z Harrison, L Packer; V Cornborough, L Davies, S Bern, Z Aldcroft, A Ward, A Matthews, M Packer, S Hunter (capt).
Replacements: A Cokayne, H Botterman, M Muir, M Talling, P Cleall, C MacDonald, A Reed, H Aitchison.
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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