England women toughen up
England Women play the New Zealand Black Ferns three times in a week, starting at Twickenham on Saturday when it will be played after the Barbarians-Wales match. England then play the world champions at Esher RFC on 29 November and 3 December.
New Zealand have been the best side in the world for years but England are snapping at their heels. New Zealand won the 2010 World Cup Final just 13-10.
In preparation for this big ask, the England Women have had wrestling training with British No-Gi Wrestling Submissions Champion Laura Jane Adams. It has been just a part of their preparations.
Laura Jane Adams said: “Basically what I have been teaching the players to do is execute a more efficient way of moving their bodies in the contact area. My speciality is grappling and destabilising my opponent.
“So if I can teach the players to do that when they are in the breakdown/contact area and make them move their bodies more efficiently then England have the potential to get an advantage over New Zealand.”
Wrestling is not the only form of non-rugby training England’s women have been undertaking, with the forwards most recently receiving expert guidance from former trampolining Olympian Jaime Moore and GB Trampolinist Coach Tracy Whittaker.
The idea behind this form of training was to improve the players’ body management in the air and their jumping techniques. It was also used to help develop their height and speed confidence in the air and their high hand skills such as catching and manipulation of the ball.
England squad: Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Rachel Burford (Henley), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Rochelle Clark (Worcester), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), Laura Keates (Worcester), La Toya Mason (Wasps), Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), Marlie Packer (Bristol), Claire Purdy (Wasps), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Amy Turner (Richmond), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Danielle Waterman (Worcester), Kay Wilson (Richmond).
Date: Saturday, November 26
Kick-off: 17.00 (local time)
Venue: Twickenham, London
Referee: Steve Lee (England)
Assistant referee: Clare Daniels (England), Darryl Chapman (England)
Television match official: Alan Biggs (England)
