Emily Dickinson wrote: “One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.”
That’s the evident policy of the England management, as we creep closer to a run of five international matches.
The Red Roses have enjoyed (or suffered?) five training weeks. Now comes another session before the first clash, against France next Saturday.
Here are the 36 selected:
Aldcroft, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Botterman, Brock, Burns, Campbell, Carson, Cleall, Clifford, Cokayne, Feaunati, Galligan, Ives Campion, Matthews, Muir, Nigrelli, Marlie Packer, Pam, Talling, Ward
Aitchison, Breach, Buchanan, Dow, Harrison, Heard, Hunt, Kildunne, Murray, Lucy Packer, Rowland, Scarratt, Sing, Westcombe-Evans, Wyrwas.
Posting a squad is very tricky. When I was at Infants school, I was taught that L came before O; but Amy Cokayne still appears before Poppy Cleall and Kelsey Clifford.
The names missing from the previous squad are: Maisy Allen, Brooke Bradley and Pip Hendy, Returning are Rosie Galligan and Abbie Ward. Other names to have disappeared since 19 August are Sarah McKenna and Steph Else.
But that leaves thirteen names to be struck from the 36 for the match at Ashton Gate. So it is very much a case of little by little. After we’ve digested the 23 chosen for that first autumn encounter, we’ll still have no idea of who will face the Black Ferns a week later.
We do know that three important players will be absent throughout: Cath O’Donnell, Meg Jones and Sadia Kabeya. We can only hope that no more names are added to that list.
At all events, this is a desperately strong squad. We can each have our favourite choices, but the selectors enjoy far more evidence available to them.
At the moment (02.09.24) it’s 37 Bleues facing 36 Red Roses. 73 players on the field would be a fascinating first.
Location, location
The RFU was so short of readies that it had to permit the renaming of its famous stadium.
Now it’s noticeable that the Red Roses are using the Hazelwood Centre as their training centre, home to London Irish. It boasts a 9-hole golf course, but I suspect the fees for its use are somewhat lower than for Pennyhill Park. How did the RFU manage to afford their fees for so long?
