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Marlie Packer smiled as she returned to the dressing room at home with her young son leading the charge, her new fiancee by her side, and the evening sun on her back.
However, it might not have been as broad as it could have been.
Packer was present throughout England’s 97-7 victory over Spain for an hour. striking lines and avoiding opponents, cantering in the open, and pounding the hardest in the tight.
Head coach John Mitchell praised her performance as “outstanding” and added, “She plays the game like a fire when you see her play it that way.”
On the day of the game, Packer had stated that this game had a significant impact.
Not necessarily the stage or the opponents, either.
In front of more crowds than the 5, 286 who took one stand at Welford Road, England will face stronger opponents than Spain, which has lost.
However, one of only four survivors from England’s success at the 2014 tournament, Emily Scarratt, Alex Matthews, and Natasha Hunt, was in awe of being given the captaincy, albeit for one afternoon in Zoe Aldcroft’s absence, on the verge of a home World Cup.
Packer’s afternoon was spelled with a clumsy clearout by Claudia Pena, which was not malicious.
Other back-row contenders for the World Cup starting XV can put a distance between themselves and Packer if she is suspended, which a panel will convene and decide in the coming days.
You can tell Marlie’s intentions weren’t there, Mitchell said, regrettably.
We’ll take whatever we can get on the chin and move on, according to the game, “Unfortunately the game sets high standards in that area,” and I suppose we’ll end up trying to protect players.
Number eight Maddie Feaunati, an X-factor runner of raw pace and power, had another impressive performance, dispersing Spain’s defenders occasionally like skittles.
The third row’s starting back row member, Abi Burton, remained obscure despite the enormous amount of unwatched work.
Aldcroft is a certain starter, who is also on the squad. Alex Matthews is a top choice for Mitchell because of her unwavering quality and enormous engine.
With significantly more miles on the clock and a different game in mind, Packer is unable to match Sadia Kabeya’s fetching ability.
Harrison ranks 10 out of 10.
Spain is the best country in Europe outside of the Six Nations. However, they are still a few streets away from England, who are the dominant force in the world.
Mitchell was more concerned with the performance and fitness of his squad than the match’s outcome when facing such weak opponents.
Zoe Harrison, who suffered a first-half knee injury, frightened him, but she recovered to pull strings and pick passes pass pass wisely at 10 a.
Even if Megan Jones’ partnership with Jade Shekells didn’t quite work out as planned, she still managed to make a powerful impact in midfield.
Before it becomes clear whether a hat-trick will make her England’s backline home, the versatile Helena Rowland will have to face more stern opposition.
As she took her try, Jess Breach’s top-end pace, which she would have over Rowland, was clearly evident on the other side of the pitch, but there were also errors.
Sarah Bern, the prop, exceled in second row, Abbie Ward, and full-back Emma Sing grew into the game, zipping over for a touchdown and kicking superbly for the posts after Harrison had left.
Mitchell has plenty of room to reflect as he travels across the Channel for England’s upcoming second warm-up game against France.
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