Scrumqueens Awards 2016: Part 4. Squads

Sevens Squad of the Year

Selecting our Sevens squad of the Year has been more difficult this year than ever before, even after Portia Woodman and Patricia Garcia were called up for the test team (which made them ineligible for our sevens squad).

After sweeping our main sevens awards it’s a slight surprise that there are “only” three Australians in the squad – but that is still more than any other team, and also reflects how many Australian names were nominated. Overall six countries are represented with two from Canada, England, France and New Zealand, and one from Russia.

Grassineau, Caslick and Zrokova we have discussed in earlier awards. Caslick’s teammates Parry and Tonegato were almost as obvious picks, with Tonegato’s adaptability a real plus. The power and strength of Mayans wins her France’s second place in the team alongside Grassineau. Jo Watmore is probably England’s purest sevens player, and Emily Scarratt deservedly wins a place thanks to her inspirational leadership as well as her undoubted playing skills. Jen Kish’s powerful presence on the field could not be overlooked, and Landry is a try scoring machine. This left room for Sarah Goss up front and Kayla McAlister in the backs from New Zealand.

It would have great to have been able to select more. We have no Fijians (Litia Naiqato was strongly promoted), Brazilians (Edna Santini has plenty of fans) or Irish players (like Ali Miller), for example.

1. Shannon Parry (AUS)2. Emma Tonegato (AUS)3. Marjorie Mayans (FRA)4. Sarah Goss (NZL)5. Jo Watmore (ENG)6. Jen Kish (CAN)7. Camille Grassineau (FRA)8. Charlotte Caslick (AUS)9. Ghislaine Landry (CAN)10. Elena Zdrokova (RUS)11. Emily Scarratt (ENG)12. Kayla McAlister (NZL)

XV Squad of the Year

More players than ever before were nominated in for our test squad of the year and making choices has been extremely difficult. Sides who play more regularly and are more visible gain a clear advantage in women’s rugby, where live streaming or TV access is often unavailable and it is no surprise that the bulk of our team come from the world’s leading sides New Zealand, England and Canada.

For the world’s number 1 team there are five starters – although some may be surprised to see just one in the pack, but such is the strength of these positions that picking one player per spot was a real challenge. And there was no leaving out the likes of Portia Woodman, Kelly Brazier, Selica Winiata  and Kendra Cocksedge behind the pack.  Young props such as USA’s Hope Rogers and Canada’s DaLeaka Menin have made real inroads this year up front and they are included in the squad on merit, while others like England’s Harriet Millar Mills and Alex Matthews have stepped up to the plate again alongside the consistency of their captain Sarah Hunter. In the second row Latoya Blackwood continues to impress, while on the bench Wales lock Shona Powell-Hughes had a good 2016 and provides strong cover. Ireland's only starter Claire Molloy fights of a wealth of talent including Marlie Packer for the seven shirt.

In the backs, as well as those we have mentioned, Julianne Zussmann had to be our fullback despite Danielle Waterman's brilliant return for England later in the year, while Andrea Burke and Elodie Poublan form what would be one hell of a powerful centre partnership.

On the bench Patricia Garcia covers both half-back spots which gives us room for an extra forward with the likes of Rawinia Everitt able to cover lock and backrow. Gaelle Mignot and Vickii Cornborough could easily have made the starting team and Sene Napou continues to prove a real threat for Ireland whenever she pulls on the green jersey.

1. Rochelle Clark (ENG)2. Fiao'o Faamausili (NZL)3. DaLeaka Menin  (CAN)4. Harriet Millar Mills (ENG)5. Latoya Blackwood (CAN)6. Alex Matthews (ENG)7. Claire Molloy (IRE)8. Sarah Hunter (ENG)9.  Kendra Cocksedge  (NZL)10. Kelly Brazier (NZL)11. Selica Winiata (NZL)12. Andrea Burk (CAN)13. Elodie Poublan (FRA)14. Portia Woodman (NZL)15. Julianne Zussman  (CAN)

Replacements

16. Gaelle Mignot (FRA)17. Vickii Cornborough (ENG)18. Hope Rogers (USA)19. Shona Powell-Hughes (WAL)20. Rawinia Everitt (NZL)21. Patricia Garcia (SPA)22. Sene Napou (IRE)23. Danielle Waterman (ENG)