Phenomenal Emily can claim another crown
EMILY SCARRATT has drawn comparisons with Jonny Wilkinson as she prepares to lead England women into a World Cup semi-final. Scarratt, one of five players to learn their trade at amateurs Lichfield, still finds time to visit her old amateur club and act as a water carrier. Training has been cancelled tomorrow night so that all the members can cram into the clubhouse and watch Scarratt, Amy Cokayne, Natasha Hunt, Harriet Millar-Mills and Justine Lucas take on France. All eyes will be on Scarratt, who guided England to World Cup glory in 2014, captained the Team GB Sevens squad on their Olympic odyssey in Rio last year and is England’s leading points scorer. ‘She’s always been an absolutely phenomenal talent,’ said Rebecca Williams, who has been involved at Lichfield for nearly 20 years. That glowing testimonial is echoed by Birmingham’s King Edward’s School director of sport Chris Johnson, who was her boss before she took up a professional contract. ‘She commanded respect,’ he said. ‘We’ve got 850 boys here. She was equally at ease coaching rugby to our first team all the way down to our U12 players. She reminds me of Jonny Wilkinson in that way. He wasn’t the most outspoken person, but he was the person who got the job done. Emily is the same sort of person.’ Scarratt will aim to prove him right tomorrow.