– By Megan Williams (Ireland Women’s Sevens player)
“Its not about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”
I love this quote. It really identifies with the true fighting Irish spirit, and I carry this quote with me wherever we go and whoever we play. It feels resonates, now more then ever, as we are now on our way to the second leg of the Women’s World Series, in Brazil.
We arrived 12 days ago at The Sydney Academy Of Sport on the northern beaches of Narrabeen for a hard training camp to prepare for Sao Paulo.
DUB ✈ SYD Flight 1 of 3 First stop London 💂😜 Saying Babaii 👋 To Dublin 🍀 and haya Australia here we Commmme 🌞🏈🙌 pic.twitter.com/yNP1EKV9PP
— Megan Williams (@Megan91Williams) January 31, 2016
We played the currently ranked No.1 women’s team, Australia in a three-match series as part of the Sydney Sevens Men’s World Series.
Australia are a world-class team that I thoroughly respect and look up to but one that I well and truly wanted to beat.
I think I can speak for the team in saying that it was one of the best experiences we have ever had. This was our chance to showcase what the Irish girls can give in front of 50,000 screaming, dressed to impress Sevens fans.
Part of the Sevens culture is to soak up the sun and watch over 40 games in two days, full of booze and fancy dress. No matter who you play for the crowd is pumped, cheering and encouraging every team out there. The more tries you score, the more switches, huge tackles and fancy foot-work you display, the more the crowd scream. It was an amazing atmosphere to soak in of and one I will never forget.
After the last of the final whistles had blown, we came away with three losses. Our heads were down and hearts heavy. No words were spoken at the end, we just knew we could do better and we will. We have another shot at them on the weekend as they are in our pool, as well as Fiji and Canada.
Our schedule last week looked a little something like this:
- 8am: Mobility
- 8:30am: Breakfast
- 10am: Pitch
- 11:30am: Pool recovery
- 12:30pm: Lunch
- 2:30pm: Gym
- 4pm: Skills
- 5pm: Ice baths
- 6:30pm: Dinner
There were recovery days off in between. These days were important for us to to relax, refuel, replenish and go again. It meant we could train and play to our up most best. Like any trip there were tears, tantrums, laughter, sunburn and quarantine but mostly a huge bond growing between us. At times it felt like a bizarre dysfunctional family holiday.
We had our last training session against the worlds’ best on Friday and came out flying, executing every phase play and, this time, got inside their heads and were full of confidence compared to the start of the trip.
We had grown and learned as a team and with that we finished with our heads high, and hearts pumping. We planted a little seed, now we have to back it up come this week.
Ireland Sevens compete in the Women’s World Sevens Series in Sao Paulo this weekend. Follow @megan91williams on Twitter and Instagram @meganwfitness for all the inside updates from the squad.
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