Experienced England Captain Marlie Packer Urges Red Roses to Embrace Big Occasion Ahead of Ireland Clash
England’s Red Roses are set to return to Twickenham, the home of English rugby, for their Round 4 clash against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations. With a bumper crowd of close to 50,000 expected, experienced captain Marlie Packer has urged her side to “enjoy the occasion” as they seek a sixth successive Six Nations title.
Packer, who returns to the starting lineup after beginning on the bench against Scotland, emphasized the squad’s shift in mindset from last year, stating, “We’ve still got that winning mentality, but the way we play is different.” The Red Roses have embraced a more expansive style of play, and Packer wants her team to focus on executing their game plan rather than being distracted by the magnitude of the event.
Head coach John Mitchell has also addressed the disciplinary issues that have plagued England, with two red cards already this campaign. However, he insists that discipline is not a major concern, stating, “There’s bigger rocks to deal with than discipline.” Mitchell wants his side to continue playing “on the edge,” but he also acknowledges the need for greater awareness around changing behavior.
“We’ve still got that winning mentality, but the way we play is different.”
- Marlie Packer, England Captain
The team has been preparing for the extra noise and communication challenges that a larger crowd will bring, with speakers blasting at their training sessions to simulate the conditions they’ll face on matchday. Packer believes this will help the team to be “really clear and concise” in their calls, ultimately improving their performance on the pitch.
As the Red Roses seek to extend their dominance in the Women’s Six Nations, the clash against Ireland at Twickenham promises to be a thrilling encounter, with the experienced Packer leading her side to embrace the big occasion.
đź”— Source
