Ex-England star’s ‘just lose’ hope explained as Red Roses’ winning streak finally ended and why they have become their ‘own worst enemy’
The Red Roses were held to a 26-26 draw against Canada on Saturday.
On the eve of England women’s rugby team failing to win a game for the first time in four years, against Canada on Saturday, a strange thing happened. One of their former stars admitted to hoping their glory run would end.
Heather Fisher won 27 caps and shared in the 2014 World Cup triumph. Cut her in half and she bleeds rose red. Yet when her old team trailed Australia last weekend she found herself conflicted.
“I was hoping, ‘come on, just lose’,” she says. “Because I think as soon as we start to lose, we’re going to learn so much more.”
Despite not having been behind at half-time since 2020, England rallied to beat the Wallaroos in Salford and rack up a 39th consecutive win. Seven days later was a different story.
Tied game
Canada, the team beaten 33-13 by John Mitchell’s side in the World Cup final a week short of a year ago, led twice in Exeter before sharing a 26-26 draw.
Fisher neither predicted nor expected this result, which sets up the series nicely, with England playing the ever-improving Maple Leaf twice on Canadian soil next month.
Her point was that after so long out in front they need jeopardy back in their rugby lives, from opponents rather than internal competition, if they are to keep raising standards ahead of the 2029 World Cup in Australia.
Fisher’s concerns were realised at Sandy Park where England might have reached 40 games unbeaten but the outcome felt like a defeat.
“You could argue,” she said, and remember these words were spoken before the Canada game, “that England don’t need to play their best players to win.
“England are almost their own worst enemy in terms of producing great talent. Of course there is still a pressure and a risk we will lose. And we do need to lose.
“I don’t think we played our best in the World Cup last year. I don’t think we were the best team, considering we are all full-time. For me, the performances weren’t good enough.
“We won, which was fantastic. But [outside of World Cups] when you don’t perform, I would rather sometimes lose.
“Sometimes you come off the pitch and you’ve just lost the game but you’re smiling because you know you performed. There’s a difference, isn’t there, between winning and losing, and performing.”
Fisher continued: “World Cups, like Olympics, are really hard because everything has to come together for one moment in time. It’s now or never.
“Outside of those tournaments when you play for England, you’re still putting on the shirt and it means the world, it is a complete privilege. But playing to win is very different from playing with no fear when you can’t lose.
“The meaning behind winning changes when it gets to the World Cup or the business end of stuff.
“That’s when players are really tested in performance. So to have more situations where that happens is what England need to get to.”
Meg Jones’ team have that now, despite there being no trophy to be won in this WXV Global series, nor any promotion and relegation.
Canada fixtures
When the Rugby Rematch showdown resumes at BMO Field in Toronto on October 16, and then moves onto TD Place Stadium in Ottawa a week later, there will be jeopardy and uncertainty aplenty.
It will be exactly what this world champion England group needs. In the land of the Grizzly, Canadians know all about the perils of poking bears. Sophie de Goede’s side has just done that.
“There will be greater things come as a result of this,” coach Mitchell warned.
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Which was, and remains, Fisher’s point. When you don’t win it forces deeper reflection. Look at how the Springboks responded to dropping the first Test to New Zealand last month. It sharpened every aspect of their game.
“Being able to keep and maintain your shirt for season upon season upon season is really tough when you keep winning,” added Fisher, an ambassador of London City 7s.
“You think you’re at your best but there’s always more. There’s always more. And you have to find more. But what more looks like is not always capacity. It could be tolerance, and it could be risk.”