How farming set Emily Scarratt on the path to 100th England start

Emily Scarratt has exhausted most superlatives during her glittering career, which will see a 100th England start on Saturday against New Zealand. “Sluggish” is certainly not a word that will have been attached to her too often along the way. But that is how John Mitchell, the Red Roses head coach, describes Scarratt during the build-up to this year’s Six Nations.

Upon returning from neck surgery, the 34-year-old was asked to play at inside centre instead of her regular position of outside centre. Frustrated by tendon issues, which she is still managing, it was a tricky tournament to continue a “rockier few years”, following a compound fracture dislocation of her left ankle in 2021.

Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones became the first-choice midfield as England romped to the Grand Slam. With Jones out injured, Scarratt has returned to the 13 shirt for this clash with the Black Ferns.

Her comeback is testament to resilience and stoicism, qualities that galvanise the more obvious assets of skills and athleticism. Over an arduous pre-season, as England prepare for the WXV1 tournament, she even set a personal best in speed testing.

Given her accomplishments, Scarratt exudes quite extraordinary humility. She will become the fifth England player to reach 100 starts, joining Rochelle Clark, Sarah Hunter, Jason Leonard and Owen Farrell; an esteemed quartet. Two aspects of her background, Scarratt believes, have contributed to her mindset.

‘I asked myself if it was over many times’

“As a person, naturally, I’m relatively chilled and roll with the punches,” she says. “I think that lent itself well to those [difficult] moments, which started with my ankle break. The neck was a bit different, and harder because it was such an unknown. There was never a time-frame, and there was the question: ‘Well, is that it?’ I asked myself that many times.

“When I first came into the England programme, I was 18, really young, and I didn’t really come in with anybody. There were a load of big characters and the environment was different. You sloped in and you stayed quiet; that was definitely my approach. The older girls were lush, but arguably harsher. There was more of an ‘earn your stripes’ kind of culture, which I didn’t mind at all.

“The other thing, to flip it completely, is that I grew up on a farm. You don’t get to choose what Mother Nature gives you. You work hard no matter what happens, but sometimes it pisses it down all year and things fail. Sometimes it’s perfect. You just don’t have control over that. I wonder whether growing up in that environment rubbed off on me in some way.”

Amy Garnett, the former Saracens hooker, was among the most prominent personalities back in 2008 and Scarratt remembers being “absolutely slotted” during one of her earliest training sessions with the England squad.

New Zealand offer a fascinating challenge to Mitchell’s team this weekend. However, it remains a glorified pre-season fixture. England are yet to beat the Black Ferns at a World Cup, a fact that is not lost on Scarratt. Would she still be here without the gut-wrenching loss to these opponents in the 2022 decider at Eden Park?

“I think so,” Scarratt answers. “I’m not still playing the game because I need to win another World Cup. I really want to. I just don’t want this experience to finish yet, and I still feel I have something to give.

“Maybe a more valid question is whether I’m still here without a World Cup next year. I can’t answer that, but it’s definitely a huge pull. I was lucky enough to play in the 2010 one and I’m super-excited for what this one could be.”

As an endorsement of England’s depth, Scarratt will not be guaranteed a spot in the World Cup squad next year. Now, though, is a chance to reassert her class at Twickenham, the stadium where next year’s World Cup final is due to take place.

“Reputation doesn’t mean a lot to me,” Mitchell stated on Thursday. “Experience and enthusiasm do.” As she brings up a century of England starts, a refreshed Scarratt does not appear to be lacking in either department.

England v New Zealand

Saturday September 14, 2.30pm, Twickenham, Live on BBC1

England: Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Emily Scarratt, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Maddie Feaunati, Marlie Packer (captain), Alex Matthews. 
Replacements: Amy Cokayne, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Georgia Brock, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Helena Rowland.

New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, Ruahei Demant (co-captain), Katelyn Vahaakolo; Hannah King, Maia Joseph; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Alana Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-captain), Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Replacements: Atlanta Lolohea, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Layla Sae, Iritana Hohaia, Amy du Plessis, Ruby Tui.