Handling nerves & speaking Welsh - Packer on England's Grand Slam bid

Breaking news from the world of sport: Handling nerves & speaking Welsh - Packer on Grand Slam bidImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lucy Packer, who made her England debut in November 2021, will win her 44th cap against France on SundayByMike Henson, Sport rugby union news reporter and Sara Orchard, Rugby union commentatorPublished11 minutes agoThere is a stereotype about scrum-halves - short of stature, big of ego, brash, loud and cocksure. Lucy Packer doesn't fit it. "I don't really enjoy interviews," she says.

"It's not really my thing. But I'm getting a lot more comfortable doing it. "She is getting the practice.

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The 26-year-old and her quicksilver delivery are key to England's hopes in their Grand Slam decider against France on Sunday. And for their ambitions beyond. Natasha Hunt was first-choice scrum-half through the Red Roses' victorious Rugby World Cup campaign last year, but the 37-year-old sustained a knee injury in the opening Six Nations game against Ireland.

A succession plan has been accelerated, pushing Packer into the spotlight. Somewhere, she admits, that isn't her natural habitat. At England's team base, while her room-mate Maud Muir is downstairs playing games with the rest of the team, Packer is more likely to be upstairs reading.

Science-fiction bestseller The Martian is currently on her bedside table. "Maud's obviously the more extroverted friend, we are opposites but we really suit each other," says Packer. Her social media is similarly quiet - a sparse 105 Instagram posts and little else.

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Her focus is instead on a part-time master's degree in neuroscience that she will start in September at University College London, focusing on the biochemistry of concussion. "It's a really big topic at the minute and something that I'm really passionate about," Packer adds. England forward trio back for Grand Slam decider Published22 hours agoDoes England's defence put winning streak at risk?

Published1 day agoRugby Union Weekly: Women's Six Nations - Super Sunday Preview Grey matter is something Packer has to master on the pitch, as well as in her studies. Back on the morning of 12 November 2022, Simon Middleton took her aside in the lobby of the team's Auckland hotel. The then-England coach told Packer she would be starting the World Cup final against hosts New Zealand later that day.

Packer, 22 and with only eight caps at the time, had thought her tournament was over. She had torn her ankle ligaments in the last-eight win over Australia. She had missed the semi-final success over Canada.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.