England Women’s Head Coach Simon Middleton, has spoken about the potential of changing the rules for conversions in women’s rugby. The Red Roses have struggled from the tee so far in the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, converting just eight from 22 attempts at the posts.
England scored 12 tries in their round two landslide victory over Italy, as the ‘Azzurri’ were firmly beaten 68-5. However, out of all 13 tries in the match, just four conversions were successful. This presented a potential area of change in the women’s game. Middleton discussed the possibility of changing the kicking laws.
“If a try is scored [within five metres of the touchline], the option should be there, maybe not to bring it into the 15-metre line, but maybe 10 metres from the touchline.” He said to Sky Sports.
“If you gave someone the option of kicking from the touchline or bringing it 10 metres in, I would hazard a guess that most kickers in the female game would bring it in.
“I think that could impact the game and change it positively. I think it is a bit of an unfair game for female kickers because so much about goal-kicking relies on power.
“Obviously timing and technique but Holly (Aitchison) struck the ball beautifully last week [against Italy] and dropped about five under the crossbar.
“You want to be rewarded for good skill and hard practice and I don’t think they get rewarded because of physical constraints that come with what we know is a natural discrepancy between male and female athletes.”
It was a difficult day from the tee for Aitchison, as the 25-year-old stepped up to kicking duties following England’s long list of injuries. Proven kickers Emily Scarratt, Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland are all absent from this year’s Women’s Six Nations, and Aitchison spoke after the match against Italy, about her missed efforts at the posts.
“I guess it can’t help can it, when you’re scoring from out wide, but I guess that pushes you to get better from those positions. I haven’t actually done a load of base-kicking in pressured situations either for club, because I have Zoe Harrison at Saracens.
And then we’re usually blessed with Scaz (Emily Scarratt), Zoe (Harrison), Helena (Rowland), so it’s kind of abnormal that I’d take that role. I was happy that they offered me the opportunity to do it, and it was a really good experience for me. But also, you have to know when other people are going to be better than you, and I have no ego in giving it to Lagi (Tuima), if I’m not making it perfectly. And ‘Sings’ (Emma Sing) is obviously good off the tee, as she showed in the Prem.
I think it’s just an experience for everyone, getting the pressure kicking under their belt. It was good to share it round.
“I think when the spotlight is just on you (it is tough). I think when it’s in open play, I think that is just a bit more easier. It’s something that you obviously get loads more opportunity, if it goes a little bit wrong you can’t necessarily tell a lot of the time. Whearas kicking for posts is a ‘yes or no’ answer.
“It is a bit more difficult to take that, and as a perfectionist I’m not happy with my performance or percentage. But there’s always stuff to work on, so I’ll take it into next week.”
Aitchison has been taking up kicking practice in recent Red Roses sessions, with a new kicking coach joining up with Simon Middleton’s staff. The Saracens star discussed her new training routines, and how she is hoping to sharpen up her strikes at goal for the rest of the 2023 Women’s Six Nations.
“So, Alex came in four weeks ago, and he’s essentially taken me from the ground up if I’m completely honest. I’ve not had a load of kicking experience anyway as I’ve said, so he’s essentially given me a routine, and I used to kick off a cone embarrassingly. I would literally just use a cone out of a bag, it’s rustic.
“So, he was testing out different tees, seeing what I was comfortable with, and setting up a proper routine, which was quite nice. So, I’m just trying to listen to what he’s said, focus on a few things rather than a load of things, and hopefully that will pay dividends.”
Despite the discussion around conversions, England’s Captain Marlie Packer recognises how the problem could well be solved by scoring under the sticks. The Saracen back-rower is ever the optimist, and focussed on the initial task of getting five points on the score-board, before considering the following extra two.
“It is something that could be tweaked but we could just stick the tries closer to the posts. That might help the situation.” Packer said to Sky Sports.
“It is tough for the girls. I see them practising their kicking in training, it is a skill they work so hard at. Unfortunately they are a bit short. If we get closer to the posts it won’t be an issue but if it were to change it would help.”
England take on Wales this Saturday, as the 2023 Women’s Six Nations enters it’s third round. This contest sees both sides enter Cardiff Arms Park with two wins out of their opening two matches, and is lining up to be a fiery fixture in the Welsh capital.