Turner relishing new role

By Ali Donnelly

England hooker Amy Turner reflects on the mid-week loss to France in Marseille ahead of a full test between the two teams this weekend.

Turner played her first game in an England shirt since the World Cup Final last year and lined out in the front row for her country for the first time having won all of her previous caps at scrum-half.

Both teams on Wednesday night featured a number of new faces with England fielding seven uncapped players, and France too putting a major focus on youth with 19 year old fullback Jessy Tremouliere catching the eye.

The game, which ended 14-5 to France, was played in poor weather conditions which made life tough Turner says:

The weather wasnt ideal I dont think anyone enjoys playing in torrential rain on a waterlogged pitch but it was up to us to deal with it and adjust to it which was difficult. There wasnt much either team could do with the ball, it was a matter of who could keep hold of it better and I think the score-line reflected the type of game that it was. I dont think I have ever played in an international game where it was 0-0 at halftime and France took their chances better in the second half.

Turner, who will be hoping to impress coach Gary Street enough in France to earn a call-up for the England side who will face New Zealand three times in the coming weeks, was pleased with her first outing at hooker.

It was definitely experience I needed to get under my belt and despite the result I learned a lot. Ive been lucky to earn 50 caps as a scrum-half and its a big achievement for me especially in a position I sort of fell into. I played hooker when I was younger and it was a position I always retained a lot of passion for so going back there was something I always wanted to do.Gary (Street) was very supportive when I talked to him about switching back and Ive been working hard on getting the transition right. There are probably more transferable skills in the two positions than people realise. My passing ability has obviously helped my throwing and I understand very well the timing there needs to be between the put in at the scrum and the strike of the ball. Its easy for me to explain to whoever is playing 9 now exactly what I want.

While losing to France wont have been part of any plans to build momentum going into the New Zealand tests, Turner is convinced that her side, minus many of its leading players with names regular like skipper Katie McLean and backrow Maggie Alphonsi, resting in England, are benefitting hugely from the experience.

Playing France in France is always a huge ask it can be very intimidating and that experience will benefit everyone who was involved. We have a lot of young and inexperienced talent over here and I think its a good place for some of the new players to have their first run outs for England. Everyone is trying to make it as hard as possible for the selectors ahead of the New Zealand games.

We do want to build some momentum ahead of the remaining games this year and of course you go out to win every game but I think this is more about how we perform as opposed to the final result. We will want to see progression from the game this week and play well together to build confidence.

One player Turner might be up against for her spot in the starting England team could be 100-cap hooker Amy Garnett who remains involved in test rugby following her trip to the Nations Cup in the summer. Turner has no doubt she will be tapping into her experience.

Off the pitch she is a great friend of mine and I have a lot of respect for her and she has been talking to me a lot about the position and giving me advice, although when we played Saracens recently and we faced each other at hooker she showed me just how the position should be played and that wasnt by talking! She is a fantastic role model in the game and a lot of players rightly look up to her.

Off the field,Turnerand a number of her England teammates have taken up Twitter in recent months, as the platform continues to pave the way in helping to promote athletes and their sports.

Yeah its something that I enjoy its good fun and a good way to stay in touch with everyone. If you use it well theres a lot of rugby banter out there and if it helps promote the game as well thats even better.

The England team to play France sees nine changes to the starting line up for tomorrows game.

Richmond flanker Alexandra Matthews, 18, the sister of England winger Fran, is set to make her international debut while Saracens Hannah Gallagher, Lichfields Harriet Millar-Mills, Bristols Isobel Noel-Smith and Worcesters Ceri Large could all be set to get their first cap for England too as they have been named on the bench. England also welcome back Emily Scarratt, Georgina Roberts and La Toya Mason to the starting line-up.

England: Kay Wilson, Katherine Merchant, Georgina Roberts, Emily Scarratt, Michaela Staniford, Kimberley Oliver, La Toya Mason, Rochelle Clark, Victoria Fleetwood, Laura Keates, Tamara Taylor, Rowena Burnfield, Alexandra Matthews, Marlie Packer Sarah Hunter

Replacements:Amy Turner, Rosemarie Crowley, Harriet Millar-Mills, Hannah Gallaghe, Isobe lNoel-Smith, Natasha Hunt, Ceri Large

Nov 5th France v England, Pierre de Coubertin Stadium at Chateaurenard, KO 2pm GMT