Catherine hopes to guide England to World Cup glory
THEIR male counterparts may be having a rough time of it at the moment but that isn't putting the captain of England's women's rugby side off.
On Sunday, Keynsham's Catherine Spencer hopes to steer England to Rugby World Cup glory when they face the mighty New Zealand.
Catherine, who quit her job at Yate Leisure Centre to concentrate on winning the trophy for the first time since 1994, has admitted it's "all or nothing".
The 31-year-old scored the first try in the 15-0 win over Australia at Twickenham Stoop in London on Wednesday and her Bristol teammate Sophie Hemming came on as a replacement in the game but will hope her performance will earn her a place in the starting line-up on Sunday.
Catherine, who has won almost 60 caps for England at No 8, knows that her side will have to step up a gear to beat a New Zealand team who have won the last three World Cups.
The Black Ferns, who have twice beaten England in World Cup finals, breezed past France 45-7 in last Wednesday's other semi-final – scoring seven tries in the process.
But Catherine is desperate to emulate Martin Johnson, who famously led England's male equivalents to glory by beating Australia 20-17 in Sydney back in 2003.
In three years as captain she has won three Six Nations titles, two by Grand Slam, and last November England defeated New Zealand at Twickenham.
"We've come into this tournament wanting to win it – second is nowhere for us," Catherine said.
She added: "I'm really excited about playing in the final.
"It was a tough game against Australia, it was important we got some points on the board early, which we did, and once again our defence held firm. It was such a hard match but that will put us in good stead for the final.
"It was great to play at the Stoop. The atmosphere was brilliant and I think that will step up again on Sunday so it's very exciting that we'll be there and it's brilliant that it'll be against New Zealand, the reigning world champions.
"We're going into the final confident as we beat New Zealand in November and we know we've got the potential to beat them again.
"We've just got to keep performing and step up again."
England head coach Gary Street, whose side have defeated Ireland, Kazakhstan, USA and Australia en route to the final, added: "I'm delighted we are in the final. This is just reward for all the management and players who have worked so hard.
"New Zealand are obviously a world class side, but they'll find us their toughest opponents yet.
"The last time we played them we also won so we won't fear them.
"I'm sure it'll be an epic encounter and I know that the public will once again see a game of great quality from the best two women's teams in the world."
The final takes place at 5.15pm at the Twickenham Stoop ground on Sunday. Coverage of the game is live on Sky Sports 3.
4 Comments
by me too, Bristol
Saturday, September 04 2010, 4:34PM
“James, they can't be that bad if they are playing NZ in the final!”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Saturday, September 04 2010, 3:16PM
“I take it you don't have Sky Sports, Shelley?
The Hedgehog”
by James, South West
Saturday, September 04 2010, 1:36PM
“Women's football and women's cricket, women playing tennis and women engaged in athletics, to name but four disciplines, are regularly shown on television with the last two sports often on major channels at peak times.
It is because, although the women's version is invariably slower and lacks the power of the men, the skill shown at the top female level is very obviously good.
Women's rugby is one of the few sports that, although hugely enjoyable for the participants and committed supporters, is an extremely poor imitation of the men's game, unlike the other sports I've mentioned.
It's brings to mind the Johnson remark on women preaching, "It's not done well but, like a dog walking on its hind legs, one is surprised to see it attempted".
I watch and enjoy top women's cricket and football and have tried watching women's rugby - but it's so poor as a spectacle that I give up. I suspect there are many like me hence the lack of media attention.
Even the Post article belittles the sport by referring to the captain as Catherine all the way through, a bit like a 1950s girls' school fourth form hockey team.
Would they have reported England beating Bulgaria last night on the lines of "Ashley passed to Jermain who scored and was immediately mobbed by Steve, Wayne, Theo and Gareth"?”
by Shelly, Bristol
Saturday, September 04 2010, 1:03PM
“Er...Where is all the TV coverage for this? When it is the men playing we're inundated with stuff for weeks on end but when it is our women it's different matter. There is far to little womens sports reported on, let alone shown on television and it's appalling. So much for balance and equality guidelines! Please don't tell me it has anything to do with commercial viability Especially as the BBC are funded by the tax payer. If the Gov really want to cut childhood obesity then they need to start by giving our girls some positive sports role models instead of vacuous bints who's only talents are either to be married to footballers or have appeared on a cr@ppy reality show.
Good luck to our brilliant rugby players and I'm only sorry that I am not afforded the 'luxury' of being able to watch your epic battle myself!”