Meg Jones: “The victory against France was just what we needed”
England center, Meg Jones, has acknowledged that the hard-fought semi-final victory over France was “exactly what we needed” before next week’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final. The “Red Roses” secured their place in their seventh consecutive final with a 35-17 victory in Bristol, although the score suggests it was an easier afternoon than it actually was. France dominated ball possession with 61%, and although England was more effective, they were forced to work hard to achieve their successes, making 231 tackles against France’s 90. Jones, who lived up to his reputation with four ball recoveries, stated that it was the type of battle his team had been looking for before the final.“I asked one thing of the girls and it was that they choose with what intensity they were going to hit and inspire the person next to them,” Jones told the media. “At 100% I believe that’s exactly what we needed. Everyone is always going to have an opinion on how we play and how the game is, but let me tell you that defense defines us.”
Meg Jones
