Sarah Hunter is determined to end a golden summer of women’s sport for England the way it began after revealing how watching the cricketers seal World Cup success two months ago is serving as the perfect inspiration for their semi?final against France in Belfast on Tuesday night. England’s captain Hunter and a number of her team?mates were in attendance during their counterparts’ successful home campaign and glued to the screens if not. Since then the footballers have reached the semi?finals of the European Championship
http://www.officialnikejetshop.com/mike-pennel-jersey-for-sale-c-71.html to continue the surge in popularity surrounding women’s sport and Hunter and co are two victories from successfully defending their World Cup crown. ?? So far they have swept through the pool stages, running in 27 tries in emphatic wins against Spain, Italy and the USA, having started the tournament as the favourites, largely thanks to a first away win against New Zealand for 16 years in June. France, who have won two of the past four Six Nations titles and beaten England twice in their last five meetings, will pose an altogether tougher challenge, having eased past Ireland in their pool and denyied the host nation a place in the semi-finals. England’s work of art may be damaged by Les Bleues’ return to form Read more Hunter is determined to see her side continue the feelgood factor for women’s sport in England. “We were big followers of the women’s cricket when we were back in camp in England,” the captain said. “When we had a bit of downtime, we would find a laptop and crowd around and watch it. A few of us went to the games and we were certainly supporting them all the way through the competition. It was fantastic, especially the way they won the games. It had everyone on the edge of their seats and to see them do it under immense pressure at a home World Cup was fantastic. “It is something we want to carry on and build on the success of English women’s sport. The footballers did really well out at the Euros and we hope we just can be a
Morris Claiborne Authentic Jersey part of that for this summer.” Advertisement With a quickfire format to the pool stages in Dublin, each side played three matches in nine days and accordingly Simon Middleton has made a number of changes for each game. The XV the coach selected for the 47-26 victory against the USA had the look of his strongest to date and the side to face France is stronger still. Middleton has made little secret of the fact he has held back an aspect of England’s gameplan until the tournament moved to Belfast for the knockout stages but by introducing Rachel Burford at inside-centre and Lydia Thompson back on to the wing, there is a sense this is his best XV available. It means Hunter is again joined by Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews in a fearsome looking back row while Tamara Taylor and Abbie Scott are again named as the locks. Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bern remain as the front row in a pack who demolished the USA and, having contributed four tries through rolling mauls, is among England’s most potent weapons. “France have been impressive,” Hunter said. “They came to the World Cup in great form and have done exactly what we’ve done – win all three pool games, picked up a bonus
Amos Youth Jersey point each time and reached the semi-finals. “We know we have to be better than we have been. The French have always had a very strong pack and they have certainly come to the party at this World Cup. It is going to be really exciting to be part of it, and hopefully we, as players, can live up to that and produce a good performance. “The USA game was probably our best performance so far. We’ve obviously done what we set out to do, which was to win all our pool games to reach the semi-finals. But we know there are areas we have to improve on, which we will need to do against a very good French side.” Since England defeated New Zealand 29-21 in Rotorua, outscoring their opponents by five tries to three to leapfrog them as the world No1, there has been an expectation the sides will meet again in Saturday’s final. They have, after all, shared the Women’s World Cup between them since 1994 and New Zealand, who scored 213 points in the pool stages, are expected to be too strong for the USA in Tuesday’s first semi-final. Middleton, however, is only focused on France. “France are a well organised unit and a team that has been on form in this competition. They have an impressive pack and showed exceptional skill in their pool fixtures, particularly
http://www.authenticchicagoblackhawks.com/authentic-steve-larmer-jersey?gender=Youth against Ireland.” He added: “We will need to be at our best to get the job done and, as a team, everyone recognises that
