There is just no stopping Emily Scarratt.
Having been crowned World Player of the Year in 2019, Scarratt can now add the 2020 Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship trophy to her ever-expanding mantlepiece following her central role in helping England achieve back-to-back Grand Slams.
Nobody scored more points in the 2020 Championship than Scarratt – nobody has ever scored more points in an England shirt, full stop – and she also chipped in with two vital tries.
It was perhaps fitting, then, that Scarratt was the first to get her hands on the trophy having captained England to victory in Italy on Sunday, standing in for the injured Sarah Hunter.
The 54-0 triumph in Parma completed a second perfect Championship in succession for England, and Scarratt has been at the heart of it throughout their elongated campaign.
Whether it was February or November, the 30-year-old proved herself as a player for all seasons during a Championship – and a year – like no other.
SETTING THE TONE
Arguably England’s toughest assignment on the road to another Grand Slam came on the very first weekend of the Championship as they travelled to face France in Pau.
The hosts had achieved a clean sweep of their own in 2018 and were determined to lay down a marker in a clash between two title-chasing sides.
A tight game was balanced on a knife-edge entering the final 20 minutes, with England 12-10 up, when Scarratt made her mark.
Perched on the shoulder of Amber Reed and in prime position to receive a fine offload, Scarratt sprinted in from the French 10-metre line and converted her own score to extend a lead which England held until the final whistle to kick off their campaign in style.
Scarratt’s nine-point individual haul hardly scratched the surface of a standout display which saw her named Player of the Match.
The influential centre made a game-high 159 metres from her 15 carries, kicked 152 metres from hand and was rock-solid in defence with 11 tackles.
It was a performance that saw Scarratt and England send a message to their Women’s Six Nations rivals – and the juggernaut continued at pace.
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Following their triumphant start, England faced a triple-header against their fellow Home Nations – beginning with a trip to Scotland to contest the Calcutta Cup.
Scarratt kicked five conversions and a penalty as England ran out comfortable 53-0 winners at BT Murrayfield and they recorded another clean sheet the following weekend as Ireland were beaten 27-0.
England’s No.13 made 65 metres from six carries against the Irish and added another conversion to her tally to help her side move to within one game of the Triple Crown.
And the Red Roses promptly completed the set in style in Round 4, scoring 10 tries to ease past Wales 66-7.
Scarratt was in superb form off the tee at Twickenham Stoop, slotting over eight of her 10 conversions – but England would have to wait longer than planned to try and seal their Grand Slam.
CREATIVE TRAINING
There was no let-up in Scarratt’s training regime despite lockdown being announced in March – though she had to think outside the box.
“As soon as things started to shut down, I borrowed a couple of bits from the rugby store cupboard at Loughborough to take home,” Scarratt wrote in Rugby World in April.
“My family has an arable and beef farm, so I’ve set up a training area in one of the barns there and used a few things from around the farm.
“I made a bench press with two spare tyres my dad had in the workshop and a piece of wood, but one of the tyres disappeared when he had a flat on the truck so I had to find another bit of wood for that!
“I’m using a big tractor tyre on the floor for target practice with my kicking, or if I’m doing circuits I’ll flip it over.
“There’s also a half-mile drive between the farm buildings and the house so I’m able to run up and down there. I’m really fortunate that there’s lots of space.”
Having illustrated her initiative off the field as well as on it in 2020, Scarratt was ready to hit the ground running upon her return to action – with England on the brink of something special.
GRAND SLAM SECURED
England travelled to Parma with the Grand Slam in their sights and Scarratt played a typically central role in helping them over the line.
The Loughborough Lightning star scored the visitors’ third try to help them wrap up the bonus point before half time and she was flawless off the tee, successfully slotting all five of her conversions.
“We didn’t quite know what was going to happen with this being the first hit out, but the girls have been playing some really good rugby at the weekends,” she said.
“It was really important that we came here and finished the job, we knew what we wanted to do and it was just a case of doing it tonight.
“It wasn’t always pretty, it probably wasn’t always totally box office, but we’re really glad to get the job done.”
A starring role in a 54-0 win to seal a Slam was just about the perfect way for Scarratt to round off yet another successful Championship – she now has 257 Women’s Six Nations points to her name in all.
Recognition by her peers – whose votes made up the Player of the Championship contest – is the icing on the cake for the England star, who will already be eyeing up a Grand Slam hat-trick in 2021.
On this form, Scarratt – and England – will take some beating.
