Pressure From Australia ‘exactly What England Wanted’, Says Natasha Hunt

The unit England faced successful their last World Cup excavation lucifer against Australia was “exactly what nan squad wanted and thing they didn’t cognize they needed”, according to nan Red Roses scrum-half Natasha Hunt.

England were tested by Australia successful Brighton connected Saturday, pinch Jo Yapp’s broadside scoring nan first effort of nan title and preventing their opponents from scoring until nan 33rd minute. England yet solved nan problems they encountered to propulsion distant successful nan 2nd half to win 47-7 and set-up a quarter-final against Scotland connected Sunday.

“It’s precisely what we wanted,” Hunt said. “Coming into it, we didn’t cognize we needed that but I think, connected reflection, it was awesome for us. Australia really brought it, particularly successful that first half. We felt unit we hadn’t felt successful nan commencement of nan tourney truthful acold and it was really bully for america to get that nether our belt. Also to activity retired that rugby title and travel retired pinch a scoreline for illustration that is simply a testament to nan girls.”

The hosts were happy pinch their protect performance, thing nan centre Meg Jones expressed by paraphrasing anAlex Ferguson adage. “We cognize defence is going to triumph championships and it’s going to triumph games for us,” nan 28-year-old said.

“We person sewage afloat spot and belief successful nan truth that our defence is solid. We spot it massively. Kicking nan shot away, we are happy to do that. We are happy to show we person a protect group and beryllium comfortable without nan ball.

“Sunts [Sarah Hunter, nan England defence coach] is passionate astir it, she is passionate astir nan crippled and she has been a leader for truthful galore years. She has built that into nan activity group but peculiarly myself; I person worked intimately pinch her and we want to return a spot of pridefulness successful that. When Sunts speaks, we listen. She is really clear pinch nan connection she has and we spot her massively.”

Alex Matthews captained England against Australia and was besides pleased pinch nan quality of nan victory. “I deliberation it was really nan girls came together,” nan No 8 said. “How we had problems to solve, really we were still calm, composed astatine half-time. We stuck to nan crippled scheme and had assurance successful each other. We stuck by each different which is what you request successful these large tournaments.”

Alex Matthews captained nan England broadside against Australia. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

While England are expected to invited backmost nan skipper Zoe Aldcroft from wounded for nan crippled against Scotland, they will beryllium without their prima full-back Ellie Kildunne. She was taken disconnected of nan transportation against nan Wallaroos because of concussion and is now successful a mandatory 12-day standdown period. The Red Roses person options successful regards to stand-ins astatine No 15 pinch Helena Rowland and Emma Sing among those successful contention.

Hunt, who plays pinch Sing astatine Gloucester-Hartpury, said: “We person an unthinkable squad, Emma Sing tin measurement successful and is nan personification who has beaten nan astir defenders successful nan PWR [Premiership Women’s Rugby]. We are really blessed pinch nan squad that we person got. We want Els to beryllium OK. I americium judge she will beryllium and we will look aft her.”

Hunt is besides excited astir facing Scotland, a broadside England person not mislaid against since 1999. “We cognize truthful galore of nan girls, playing pinch them aliases against them successful nan PWR for truthful galore years,” she said. “Some are bully friends. It’ll beryllium a bully battle.”

The different 3 quarter-finals person besides been confirmed, pinch Australia facing nan world No 2 broadside Canada, who topped their excavation pinch 3 bonus-point wins. Another rugby rivalry will beryllium reignited pinch nan six-time World Cup winners New Zealand taking connected South Africa connected Saturday successful Exeter. The Springboks are successful nan past 8 for nan first clip and, while nan likelihood will beryllium stacked against them, they will beryllium searching for much history.

After losing against nan Black Ferns, Ireland vanished Pool C runners-up which intends they will look France successful a quarter-final successful Exeter connected Sunday. The past clip nan 2 nations played each different was successful nan Six Nations this year, pinch France winning 27-15.