Emily Scarratt has provided an insight into England’s title celebrations and a tradition involving Marlie Packer after their Finals Day triumph against France in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations.
The Red Roses overcame Les Bleues 10-6 in a hard-fought silverware showpiece at the Twickenham Stoop to clinch the Championship title for a third consecutive year.
And speaking to her former England teammate Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt on The Nick & Mo Show on Instagram, Scarratt dished the dirt on what the players got up to after the final whistle.
“It was a good night,” she said. “It’s a bit weird – you know what it’s like Mo, you’re normally the hostess with the mostess on the front of the bus, orchestrating, DJ-ing whatever it might be.
Vote for the 2021 Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship
“But we were spilt over two buses because of Covid so I can only speak for my bus but we had Marlie Packer doing ‘Proud Mary’ as is tradition, we had Ash the physio doing Irish dancing.
“It was actually really nice and we went back to the hotel, we’re the only people at the hotel so we’ve kind of got the run of the play which is cool, and had a few drinks on the patio.
“It was a beautiful evening, very civilised but it was nice to spend time with each other.”
Scarratt added that Packer initially feigned reluctance at performing her regular celebratory tribute to the rock ’n’roll classic – famously covered by Tina Turner – before going full throttle.
“She was giving it the big one yesterday, saying ‘guys no, no’ and then went for it. We had the whole intro of her being bashful, us peer pressuring her and then she was up there.”
Poppy Cleall scored the only try while Scarratt kicked five points in the final triumph, with the England skipper admitting that the bruising encounter left a few sore bodies in the Red Rose camp.
Zoe Aldcroft voted Women’s Six Nations Player of Finals Day
“I think some of the girls, forwards especially, are moving around a little gingerly but you can expect that can’t you but I’m doing alright though,” said Scarratt.
“I think it was just the relentless nature of it and both teams were a little bit cagey as well, so everything stayed pretty tight which is why the forwards are feeling it a lot more.
“They are certainly feeling it more than me, but France is always physical, that’s always the one thing you can definitely guarantee but the forwards put in one hell of a shift.”
Scarratt was named the inaugural Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship last year and the nominees for this year’s award were announced live on The Nick & Mo Show.
England duo Cleall and Zoe Aldcroft, plus France’s Caroline Boujard, are up for the prize and Scarratt also explained how she was surprised with the award last year.
“Last year was the first one and although players don’t have that sort of stuff in their sights, it’s not something that I even realised was happening,” she added.
“I remember I was at Loughborough and Baz our media women asked if they could do an interview and then she was like just keep your phone out.
“I have never been asked to keep my phone out in an interview before in my life and she put the camera on and small talking with me and I said, ‘We’ve not started have we?’
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“She said no and asked if my phone was on loud and I was wonder what she was on about bt my phone rang and it was Midds [Simon Middleton] and I answered it.
“He said I was Six Nations Player of the Championship and Baz was filming me, filming the reaction but it was the first I’d heard of it and it was really cool.”
