Maggie, which player in your team has impressed you most?
Sophie de Goede (CAN) is my outstanding choice. She does it all. Seeing her against New Zealand you really saw her pace and athleticism plus her offloading game, and of course her kicking makes her just completely outstanding. I just think she is head-and-shoulders above anyone.
Meg Jones (ENG) as well. I think she’s always been brilliant and I’ve had the privilege of being able to observe her over the last few years and she’s just got better and better.
Some other honourable mentions (elsewhere) would be Amee-Leigh Costigan and Beibhinn Parsons for Ireland, Freda Tafuna and Erica Jarrell-Searcy for the USA, and Caitlyn Halse and Desiree Miller for Australia. Finally, Braxton Sorensen-McGee for the All Blacks has been excellent.
What are your thoughts on the final and the impact your chosen players will have?
They are two evenly matched sides who know each other well. I think the game will be won at the breakdown. Canada have one of the fastest ruck speeds and England don’t have the fastest ruck speed but are very good at stealing the ball at the breakdown. England dominated that against the French and players like Hannah Botterman and Meg Jones were brilliant in that game at getting over the ball.
But that has given away their game plan and the Canadians will be preparing to not let either of those two over the ball.
A typical forward speaking now, but I think the set-piece as well will be integral. Both teams have very good scrums but you have to paint a positive picture to referee Hollie Davidson. That first scrum will be so exciting to see because it will dictate the rest of the game.
Then discipline as well, Canada didn’t concede a penalty for an hour in their semi-final so maintaining that, not giving away penalties and keeping all 15 on the pitch is crucial.
I think England will just edge it, maybe by two points but I think it will be a great game.
Overall, which team has impressed you most?
Canada. A lot of people were saying they were a dark horse for this World Cup but they were always an absolute contender and I have been saying this prior to the tournament.
In 2014 when we played them in the final I remember thinking this team were going to comeback and they would be super strong. I thought that would be in the next tournament but then their funding changed and they’ve been clawing their way back ever since. They have beaten every team apart from England and they are the only team left on their hitlist.
I’d also say South Africa. They have been a team who have been developing and have got greater coaching knowledge. That has helped structure them and strengthen their ability. I don’t think anyone really had them down as a quarter-final contender and to escape that pool was really impressive and then to be 10-10 against New Zealand at half-time.
On to your amazing career, tell us about your first RWC
It was in 2006 in Canada. It was different to what we have now because all of the teams were in the same hotel so you saw your competition the minute you arrived in the country and then at breakfast. They were just always there.
It was a huge deal for me but when we got there it was just regular playing fields and they’d put some temporary seats, not stands. Maybe just seven rows high. I don’t remember my first game but I remember the enormity of the whole thing.
The aura of New Zealand was big at the time and everyone feared the USA because they were such great athletes. Plus, France would regularly beat the big teams.
What was your preparation like for that tournament?
We didn’t have the best funds but we still would’ve been one of the better funded teams. We had weekend camps because of course we were all working. Those weekend camps would be at different locations, you’d generally go to an army base or a navy base and you’d do some military stuff.
There was a sense of professionalism because we had time together to develop our partnerships and of course work on the rugby as well. It was very different to what we have now and a different take on professionalism.
Which RWC performance are you most proud of?
That 2010 World Cup Final against New Zealand at Twickenham Stoop, I think that was when I was at my peak.
In 2006 I won Player of the Year but it was very different back then because not everyone watched all of the games.
Then in 2010 I was nominated but I lost out but I think that was more because New Zealand had won. I had a good game in that final and I contributed, I didn’t score but I contributed to what we did. I was gutted that we didn’t win but obviously we got it over the line four years later but 2010 was the best I ever played.
And finally, who was your hardest opponent?
Heather Fisher was one of the best players I’ve ever played against and I had the privilege of playing alongside her. She was just so strong and she was an athlete right across the board plus she had an amazing rugby IQ. You had to bring your A game if you were going to play against her but thankfully I only played against her in Premiership games or in training.
Anna Richards (below) fly-half for New Zealand, I remember playing against her in 2010 and thinking this lady was twice my age, she was a fly-half I thought I’d definitely have her. But she just kept getting up and she had this aura and this stature and she really did lead that side. They should have lost that final in 2010 but she guided them through it with her experience and now she’s moved into coaching.
