Leanne Infante's World Cup Column: Recovery & Familiar Faces
In the third instalment of her World Cup column, Leanne Infante talks recovery, team selection and familiar faces.
We all want to play every game in this tournament. You take your foot off the gas and it sometimes feels harder to build up that momentum again. For me, being consistent in my performances has always been a big thing, so getting the opportunity to run out every week has been great.
Although saying that, having come off the bench in the South Africa game, it was quite nice to have a bit of a rest! Our first training session this week was high-tempo, and I think everything finally caught up with me and I felt like I’d been hit by a bus!
That’s why recovery is so important for us, especially during a World Cup when it’s only going to get tougher and tougher. People are having to prioritise their bodies a lot more at the back end of the tournament, taking the time to recover well and make sure we’re on top form. I feel like I haven’t spent as much time with people this week but it’s important to take time for yourself.
Team Selection Suspense
We find out the team selection through a WhatsApp group in the evening. A message goes out to everyone from our manager, Harriet, and that’s the first time we see the team. This week, however, WhatsApp decided to go down on the evening of the announcement, so we were all in our rooms waiting for the selection for what seemed like forever, completely unaware.
We had no idea the app was down, so the suspense was killing us. I tried to message our players’ group but nothing was sending or coming through. Moz and I were sat in our room going mad, so I ended up messaging Harriet privately and we finally figured out what was happening, so she sent out the team news individually to everyone. It was all a bit stressful, but we got there in the end and I’m obviously really pleased to be selected.
Reuniting with familiar faces
A lot of people might not know this, but as well as playing I also coach at a grassroots club called Guildfordians RFC. One of the players that I coach, Iona, is over here with her family during her half term school holiday, so they invited me to come along with them to visit Waiheke Island.
It was really nice to spend some time away from camp and explore this beautiful island. We went for lunch at a vineyard, Iona and I went in the sea and it was a great recovery day after the game. Spending some time away from camp with some familiar faces from home is sometimes just what you need when it comes to taking time for yourself and preparing yourself mentally for another tough week.
Sarah’s Milestone
Sarah getting her record is such a phenomenal achievement. I’ve played with her for a few years now so to have her guide me and the team both on and off the field has been amazing. She’s a calming figure in the squad, although I’ve got to say I was a bit scared of her when I first joined the group a few years ago! To be able to build a relationship with her over the years as that 8/9 axis has been great and it’s such an honour that she’s achieving 138 caps.
To know that I have built up that relationship with her and I’m now able to have really constructive conversations with her is something that I really value. As a young player I might have just nodded my head and not really known how to respond, but as time goes on you build up relationships so now it’s more of a conversation. We’re both able to tell each other what we want. She certainly knows her stuff and it’s great to be able to learn from her and play alongside her. We’re all so proud of you Sarah!
