With last week’s encounter against Saracens postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the London club’s ranks, Head Coach Susie Appleby is aware of the ‘huge challenge’ that awaits her side in this Round Seven fixture.
‘’I think they are easily one of the best sides in the league,’’ explained Appleby. ‘Tthey’re definitely one of the most consistent. They’ve got an awesome backline, coupled with a tremendously strong pack, so we’re going up there and it’s going to be a real challenge.’’
Coincidentally, Loughborough also suffered a defeat to Wasps in their last match, a 21-10 defeat in London, although they still occupy fourth place in the league, having only suffered defeat against Wasps and Harlequins so far this season.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s match, Appleby was looking forward to an encounter with a side that play in a similar style to that of her own side.
‘’I think they play very similarly to ourselves in the way we want to attack,” she added. “They mix up their game up well, they’re good defenders as well, so I think we’re in for a decent competition on Saturday.’’
Appleby was ‘‘pleased with the intensity’’ her side showed against Wasps, but could still see areas for improvement as her side continue to challenge themselves against the best.
‘’We were really pleased with our breakdown and our accuracy there, which we have to have against any of these top sides. We were a bit disappointed with our lack of seizing the opportunities because we created them, we just didn’t seize them, so that’s what we’ve been working on these last two weeks.’’
Whilst understandably frustrated at the postponement of last weekend’s Saracens clash as her side had been ‘’really building momentum,’’ Appleby accepted that ‘’people’s safety is the most important,’’ with the game rearranged for January 30.
Appleby also confirmed some disappointing news on the injury front, with livewire American winger Jennine Duncan ruled out for a lengthy spell after her impressive comeback against Wasps.
‘’Jennine’s picked up another hamstring injury, which is really disappointing,” she continued. “She came off the bench and was on fire against Wasps, so that’s disappointing for her. Olivia De Merchant is also ruled out through injury, which is another blow.”
That said, consistency has been the key for Appleby throughout the season thus far and she can again rely on her core group of players, Spanish pair Patricia Garcia and Laura Delgado available for selection, after returning from representing Spain against an ‘Estrellas Iberdrola’ side last weekend. The only other team news of note was a return to the starting XV for Abbie Fleming, with the Welsh international starting at blindside flanker.
‘’Abbie Fleming is going to start at 6 for the first time for a while through Welsh and other commitments, so it’ll be good to give her an opportunity.
‘’There’s lots of first times again but as I said, the continuity is the most important thing, the fact we’re able to put out players alongside each other for the second, third, fourth time means that we’ll start to get that cohesion that we’re looking for.’’
With the season continuing apace and already over a third of the way through, Appleby remains confident that results will continue to come as her side continue to improve and develop.
‘’We are evolving every single time. The players are learning loads, their desire to learn is phenomenal which is what we’d ask; the desire to keep pushing forward as individuals and as a side.
‘’That’s what we’re aiming for week in week out and that’s what we’re getting which is really positive. And that, the performances I fully believe, will start to take care of themselves.’’
15. Merryn Doidge
14. Lottie Holland
13. Lauren Cattell
12. Gabby Cantorna
11. Garnet Mackinder
10. Taylor Black
9. Patricia Garcia
1. Sachiko Kato
2. Emily Tuttosi
3. Laura Delgado
4. Poppy Leitch
5. McKinley Hunt
6. Abbie Fleming
7. Kate Zackary
8. Linde Van der Velden (capt)
16. Daisy French
17. Michaella Roberts
18. Kayleigh Armstrong
19. Alex Powell
20. Ebony Jefferies
21. Ffion Lewis
22. Flo Robinson
23. Niamh Terry
