Super Weekend
Once again, the teams posted by head coaches show the ridiculous strength several of them have. Players with over 50 test caps and over 30 test tries find themselves warming the bench.
But it also proves how unwilling top clubs are to surrender an inch of territory. Every game must be won.
Important developments include a first start for Amy Cokayne for Tigers at the StoneX. Now we’ll see how far her influence can raise her team-mates’ performance. They will need plenty as Alex Austerberry rolls out another impressive line-up. But he reveals his view of Tigers’ threat by leaving Marlie Packer and Jess Breach on the bench. Who needs them? England? With an 8-9-10 axis of Cleall, Infante and Harrison, he has reason to feel confident.
Lightning’s Nathan Smith retains Emily Scarratt at inside centre for a second time. She had to rack her brains to recall the last time she played there. Smith has been able to recall some of his Scottish players, though Chloe Rollie is missing.
Another interesting switch sees Kate Zackary move to centre for Trailfinders. She spent a part of her stay at Sandy Park out there. Till now she has stayed in her more familiar No 8 position for her new club. Whether her presence in midfield will help tighten the team’s defences is a key question. There they face one of the most knowing centre pairings in Amber Reed and Phoebe Murray. Once more the Bears’ cast looks ridiculously strong, even with youngsters like Reneeqa Bonner and Jenny Hesketh included.
The lengthy absence of Sarah Bern has meant more experimentation for Dave Ward. This week sees Gwenllian Pyrs shift across to tight-head. It’s Hannah Botterman’s turn to start – lucky the club that doesn’t need her every week – so Pyrs has to reorganise her scrummaging technique.
Lana Skeldon may have scored a hatful of tries this season, but when you have Lark Atkin-Davies on your strength…?
Susie Appleby may be making an attempt on a little-known record: the total number of caps gained by her 8-strong bench. For the big contest at Kingsholm she has Nichola Fryday (34 caps), Harriet Millar-Mills (61) and Robyn Wilkins (69), waiting their turn impatiently. I hope those figures are up-to-date.
Glos-Pury admit that Alex Matthews was ‘rested’ last week against Sale, but no fear, she is back in harness for the game that has to be won. One straw of hope for Chiefs is the absence of Tatyana Heard, Rachel Lund and Ellie Rugman from the home back-line, but they’ve managed pretty well without them thus far.
This is the PWR’s Super Weekend, and it became a degree more super as the BBC announced it would broadcast the Gloucester game live on BBCiPlayer. Players across the country are delighted by this greater exposure to their game. We wait to see how positive these various media channels (add TNT, YouTube and TikTok Sports) remain; whether we can look forward to full coverage of every game every week. That is supposed to be the quickest way to a potential spectator’s heart.
