Maddie Feaunati: Red Roses back row proud of Samoan roots upon Women's World Cup journey

Whilst England have already qualified for the quarter-final stages following monstrous bonus point wins over the USA and Samoa, the Red Roses will be chasing the Pool Winners place. Should England finish second in the group, they will face the winner of Canada vs Scotland, with the North American side on a rampage and set to pose a real threat to the Red Roses as the tournament progresses.

For Feaunati, the back row battler had a personal home-coming in her last hit-out for England, as she took on the Manusina of Samoa. Feaunati traces her roots back to Samoa, as her father Isaac Feaunati played for the Pacific Island nation and was in attendance for the 92-3 landslide at Franklin's Gardens. Maddie powered over for a close range try, as the number eight shepherded the ball over the line from the back of a scrum.

After the match, the Samoa and England players put the score-line to one side, with the blue and white jerseys mingling in a huddle and dance break upon the half-way line. Feaunati was pulled into the middle of the mixing, and was taken aback by how seamlessly the Pacific Island and Red Roses parts of her life become intertwined in the East Midlands.

"It was insane. We got to come together at the end, and just gave a little speech to the girls. I was just saying, how proud I am to be a part of their journey. Like they're inspiring a whole generation back home in Samoa. It meant a lot to be a part of that."

"I was so blindsided from it [dance circle] but I'm so proud to be a part of it. Those girls give me so much confidence. I loved every minute and everyone got involved. So big up to the girls!"

Feaunati recieved an abundance of praise for her efforts in Northampton, with Samoa captain Sui Tauaua-Pauarasia delighted to see Feaunati succeed within the number one ranked women's side in the world.

"We even talked about it last night, one of our Samoan players who's playing for England, for us whatever jersey you put on at the end of the day, you're Samoan." Tauaua-Paurasia said. "That's what we love about our people, our culture will bring us together.

"That's Maddie at number eight. I'm just being proud of them, we have so much respect for the England team. Coming into it [the match], we knew it was going to be tough. But I'm just proud of the other girls. We stayed in the fight and we didn't want to give up."

Maddie was able to spend some time with her father after the match, in which she added; "I've seen him everywhere, he's talking to everyone and anyone! I saw him a lot, [it is a] super proud moment. I'm sure he was a bit emotional. I know I got a bit emotional when I heard the drums of the Samoan anthem, it was great."

"[I had] lots and lots of nerves. But as soon as the fans get around you, those nerves just go. It's just like focus on what's on the pitch and what's in front of you. So, the crowd has been absolutely amazing."

Feaunati turned her attention to her fellow England back row Marlie Packer, who was bestowed with the captaincy for the second round match. Feaunati has boundless admiration for the Saracen, as the 23-year-old broke into the Red Roses squad with Packer at the helm. The stalwart of the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup winning squad has since relinquished full-time England captaincy to Zoe Aldcroft, yet Feaunati still has the same endless respect for the former skipper.

"Lots of respect for her. She's a voice you just listen to. You just hear that she's an absolute great leader. So, it was great to have on the pitch with us."

Looking ahead to the final round of the Women's Rugby World Cup pool stages, Feaunati takes up the 20 jersey amongst the replacements for the Test against Australia. John Mitchell has rotated the Exeter Chiefs star to the bench, in favour of a back row composed of Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya and newly-minted match-day captain Alex Matthews, in the extended absence of Zoe Aldcroft.

"Everyone's super proud. Lots of hard work going on there, lots of things we can go back and look on and just keep building as a team. But overall, it's good vibes." Feaunati said, as England prepare for the Wallaroos.

"It's just our goal to keep taking the competition as it comes. So, on to next week, and then on to the next."