RAF women 'in a very good place' on eve of Royal Navy Inter Service clash
The Royal Air Force women say they're "quietly confident" and switched on ahead of their highly anticipated opening Inter Service Championships clash with the Royal Navy.
The sides go head to head at Brickfields Stadium in Plymouth, hoping a win can help them exert pressure on defending champions the British Army, who start their campaign in the second round at Twickenham on 4 May.
RAF Captain, Flight Lieutenant Lucy Nye told BFBS Sport Editor Jon Knighton that there is a very good atmosphere in the build-up: "There's just a real sense of calm in camp at the moment.
"We're really switched on and I think we're really composed, and I feel quietly confident, should we say.
"We've not really been focused on outside factors, whether it's the Navy, whether it's the Army that we're playing.
"Our full focus has just been on us as a team and that's why I said, I think there's a real sense of calm, we're in a very good place going into the fixture at the weekend."
In the corresponding Inter Service fixture last year, the RAF overcame the Navy on a pitch bogged down by mud.
A stunning hat-trick by Chelcey Greasley helped the light blues to a 17-10 victory, despite losing stars Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bonar and Carys Williams-Morris to Six Nations duty.
However, the RAF were soundly beaten 36-8 by the Army at Kingsholm Stadium.
The RAF head coach, Warrant Officer John Wilding, said the tournament is getting ever more challenging: "We have to say that the championship is a championship now, because I think the Navy are really stepping up and they're developing, so it's three big games, which is what we want, which is what all the services want.
"We're really excited about where we've come from as a group, quite a few new players but over the last couple of years we've blooded eight new caps in two seasons running and now those players know what it's about and are excited about coming back and putting on a good show."
WO Wilding admitted their backs are notably strong, but their pack mustn't be underestimated: "Just as I think the Navy are underrated, I think our forwards are underrated.
"Our backs are brilliant and if we can get the ball with the space and go forward, then it'll be a good day for us I think, but it all comes down to the forwards.
"They're under no illusion that the game is on them, but they've relished it, they've worked hard, and we've trained hard, we've trained well."
The RAF squad includes several new players, who, Vice Captain Flight Lieutenant Sarah Graham said, are revealing their worth: "What's really exciting for them is they haven't experienced the IS, the whole kind of occasion, which is probably quite nice for them, so it's kind of a new experience but also we've got full confidence in them that they're going to add value as well."
You can watch both the men's and women's Navy v RAF clashes LIVE with BFBS Sport – find out more here.
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