"A real opportunity" – Harlequins Women are ready for double PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury 

10/11/2024 09:48 AM

By Jon Page

Harlequins women's Forwards and Transition Coach Steve Halsey and playmaker Ella Cromack spoke to the media on Thursday to discuss last weekend's loss to Exeter Chiefs, their upcoming game against Gloucester-Hartpury, and the challenges and opportunities ahead of them in the 2024/25 season.

Last weekend Harlequins hosted Exeter at Twickenham Stoop, in what was ultimately a very close affair, with the final score reading 8-7 in favour of the visitors. Harlequins flanker Nicole Wythe powered over in the first half, with Cromack adding the extras and the score remained at 7-0 until the break.

In the second half Exeter replacement Taz Bricknell scored a try, but Harlequins fullback Lauren Torley charged down the conversion attempt to keep the scoreboard in the hosts' favour. Harlequins kept the lead for the rest of the game until Exeter, with the clock in the red, won a scrum penalty against the head that was duly slotted by Liv McGoverne. A heartbreaking finish for the Londoners, but a match with plenty of positives for Steve Halsey.

'I guess reflections of the weekend, immensely proud of the shift that the girls put in, you know you look at, without getting too nausey about it, some of the stats that came out from the game if you'd offered us them pregame, we would have bit your arm off and took them. You know, 96% tackle completion, 97% ruck ball retention and how quick our ball was in terms of attack and stuff like that.

“So there’ s definitely some real positives from it. And again, just that effort intensity that the girls put in was absolutely superb at the weekend. So, some bits we were really proud of and some bits we’ve been kind of chasing over pre-season in regards to being brave and physical in terms of how we go about our play again, unfortunately came out the wrong side of it but there's bits we have to look at from a technical perspective that we chase this week going ahead to Gloucester.'

In the second round of Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), Harlequins face last season's champions Gloucester-Hartpury at the Stoop. Gloucester-Hartpury will travel with confidence after their comprehensive 57-29 victory over Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm last weekend, with Halsey fully aware of the threat his side face on Saturday.

'They’re a very physical side. You know, they play a very physical style of rugby. But touching on that as well, they’ re also pretty keen to move the ball as well, once they’ve got that quick ball to go from there. From sort of watching them in those power-up games and how they went against Leicester, I don’t think, even with a change of personnel, they’ve deviated too much away from their DNA.'

The PWR is without many of its top international players due to the WXV tournament currently taking place. Exeter's head coach Susie Appleby has been critical of this, considering that this season has already been shortened to allow for adequate preparation for the 2025 World Cup.

Halsey also highlighted similar challenges, but also raised the positive of the opportunities this affords other players, such as the chance for youngster Sarah Parry to appear off the bench last weekend in the PWR.

'It’ s one of those, you can look at it either way. You pull an Exeter and Gloucester (Gloucester-Hartpury) first two league games. Oh, it’ s a great opportunity with all their internationals away. But actually, you look at it another way.

“Actually, we’ve been almost hard done by with that draw because they’ve got the best two university programmes supporting their rugby programmes. But actually, as a collective, we’ve seen it as a real opportunity. We’ve got some young English players coming through and it’ s been a great opportunity to get those some exposure in training, some game time exposure.

“You look at those young England under-18 players we’ve signed that have come through. They’ve had loads of time during pre-season.'

With a big departure list during the off season, starting fly half Ella Cromack makes it clear how much these players will be missed, but echoed Halsey's sentiments over the opportunities afforded to younger players, such as herself.

'Obviously, we lost some world-class players in Scotty (Emily Scott), Burf (Rachael Burford), Shaunagh (Brown), Mewi (Katy Mew), all of those. So, yes, like, it’ s sad to see them go, but at the same time, as a youngster coming up, like, I’m excited at the opportunity to get some more game time in the PWR, hopefully this season.

And look, I’ve also got players like Lucy (Packer) on my inside and Lagi (Tuima) on my outside. So, constantly just getting confidence from them and just enjoying my rugby really.'

Finally, Cromack shares her personal goals for the season, and the excitement of a World Cup on home soil, both as a fan and a player.

'In terms of Quins, I think, like I said before, just ticking along, hopefully keep getting that starting ten shirt. Obviously, Kayleigh (Powell) coming back, so that competitiveness is going to push us both to be the best players that we can be this season. But, you know, I’m not going to shy away from the fact there’s a World Cup next year.

That excites me a lot, whether I get to play in that or not. I know that if I’ m working towards that, like, my development will just go through the roof and just excited to see what happens next year, really.'

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