3. INJURY UPDATE: HELENA ROWLAND TO MISS THE REST OF THE COMPETITION
During the pre-match conference heading into the Wales test, Mitchell explained how Helena Rowland will miss the fixture due to an injured finger. However, the head coach was unable to give any further details at that time, with a more recent update available following the match. Rowland has fractured her finger, and requires metal screws for it to be put back together. Explaining the extent of the injury to the Loughborough Lightning star, as well as Lark Atkin-Davies’ head injury assessment.
JOHN MITCHELL: “We’ve received the bad news around Helena she will need… it is a fracture that will need to be screwed. So it’s unfortunate for her she’s going to miss the remainder of six nations. And then Lark’s just going through mandatory HIA, so she’ll be available again for Scotland. So she’ll come into fallow we can go through that process.”
4. ABBY DOW’S INTERACTIONS DURING HOLLY AITCHISON’S CONVERSIONS
England fly half Holly Aitchison did not have her best day from the kicking tee, with a success rate of three from eight total shots at goal. The elements at Ashton Gate played a factor, as the swirling winds were deceptive and had a significant impact on day’s goal-kicking. Wing Abby Dow was often seen giving Aitchison instructions ahead of her conversion attempts, and John Mitchell explained the miss-communication in play at those moments.
JOHN MITCHELL: “I think she (Holly Aitchison) was waiting (for Abby) to put a finger on the ball, because it was actually windier down there, then what one first thought, so obviously, she didn’t get the call. So we’re a little bit worried about taking two people out of our kickoff receive set up. So we have to have a little bit of a talk about that, because she wasn’t needed in those situations.”
5. HOW THE RED ROSES MANAGE EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS
The number one ranked side in the world, five time consecutive Women’s Six Nations winners and inaugural WXV1 champions, success has become expected with the Red Roses in recent years. However, when a side reaches the mountain top of the rugby world, they need to find new ‘metrics’ to measure their accomplishments, ahead of pushing towards next year’s home Women’s Rugby World Cup.
JOHN MITCHELL: “Now we have winning metrics. We have them live as well. So we know where we were tracking in performance. But I mean, we have, we try and be very, very clear on our strategy. And then we try and be very, very clear in the way that we designed training around that. So really, it’s about improving.
“I thought you know, I definitely asked the girls to be really, really sharp and in their game and build pressure. They did that in both halves, I think we left a couple out there as well. But I still think there’s massive growth lifting us as we look really really good when we attack together as one team but when we choose to go individual that compromises us. So I think we still got a little bit of learning there, but certainly, our game is working. And I think it is the right way.”
“So when do you use a measurement? It’s got to be meaningful to the girls. It’s just can’t be meaningful to to the staff, or to the public, it’s going to be meaningful to the girls. So, I think we get quite a good balance and that area, once we get really clear then we just talk normal rugby talk as most rugby teams do, and have a little bit of fun around it as well.”