Nathan Smith consistently offers candid insights, an interviewee who aims for bold statements instead of evasive answers. This quality makes the highly knowledgeable Northerner an ideal subject for journalists, especially at the PWR’s midway point, as his Lightning squad prepares for a critical match at Queensholm this coming weekend.
Currently, two teams are clearly ahead: the three-time champions in their distinctive cherry and white, and the fierce wolves clad entirely in black. Trailing them, Harlequins, Chiefs, Trailfinders, and Loughborough are intensely vying for the final two coveted playoff spots.
Does he anticipate this current hierarchy shifting?
Smith pauses to consider, his mind audibly sifting through match schedules and potential outcomes…
“Truthfully? Unlikely. They possess a substantial advantage in what is a relatively compact league, coupled with rosters deep enough to withstand injuries. Furthermore, their proven track record in successfully concluding seasons makes them exceptionally difficult to catch. Their performance would need to collapse dramatically for that to happen.
“However, this scenario presents them with a distinct challenge compared to the teams pursuing them,” he adds. “They must contend with a psychological aspect, and given the caliber of their players, international commitments will also be a factor.”
As the Six Nations tournament commences, drawing numerous star players into national camps, the squads of both the reigning champions and the North London team will feel noticeably thinner than those of their competitors – and this psychological dynamic is particularly intriguing.
“Could Saracens potentially grow overconfident,” he ponders, “believing a home semi-final berth is already guaranteed? And regarding Gloucester-Hartpury – having never pursued a fourth championship myself, I can’t say – but what motivates that continued drive for success?”
It’s easy to envision such statements provoking Alex Austerberry or eliciting a subtle grin from Dan Murphy, yet these are compelling insights. Smith quickly emphasized that his team is capable of defeating both formidable opponents; while they may be the league’s giants, he fully believes his squad can deliver an upset.
Indeed, they delivered a shock defeat to Saracens 13 months prior at Franklin’s Gardens, a 22-17 triumph that resonated throughout the league and marked a pivotal display for his developing players.
“Prior to that match, confidence was a concern,” he acknowledges. “Afterward, we finally achieved the breakthrough.”
This outcome was long anticipated and incredibly hard-fought. Lightning secured consecutive playoff appearances in 2019 and 2021, featuring prominent players such as Katy Daley-McLean, Emily Scarratt, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Hunter, and Cath O’Donnell. However, with the emergence of the Chiefs and the rapid ascents of the Bears and the Circus, they were displaced from the elite tier of domestic rugby.
A transformation was necessary. For a club renowned for its thriving BUCS Super Rugby pipeline and its consistent ability to discover exceptionally driven athletes, the solution seemed both clear and paradoxical: a reduction in high-profile players.
They had become “excessively dependent on international players, yet their supporting athletes lacked the competitive standard.” If they lost one of these key figures, they were “entirely out of contention.” Consequently, the strategy shifted towards “building the necessary squad depth to compete effectively.
“Excluding Sadia (Kabeya) and Alev (Kelter), I don’t believe we possess any individual superstars. What we do have, however, is a full squad of 15 players ready to compete and secure victories in crucial matches. We’re not carrying any dead weight; this is a robust, youthful team that’s genuinely striving for success. They demonstrate immense effort for one another, battling fiercely every single week.”
While arguments could be made to classify Helen Nelson and Fancy Bermudez as ‘star players’, a look at the Lightning lineup unequivocally shows a group of emerging talents who excel on the field.
Isla Curphey, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Lilli Ives Campion, Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Haineala Lutui, Alicia Maude, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Carmela Morrall, and Lucia Scott were all in the starting lineup against Trailfinders in their most recent fixture. All born in the 2000s, they are exceptionally dedicated and hardworking athletes. Hibbert-Jones’ extended contract this week perfectly illustrates the program’s philosophy and objectives: they seek individuals with “significant potential and strong character.”
How has their season unfolded thus far? Three victories, losses at the Stoop and StoneX, and, remarkably, two draws. Smith’s evaluation, predictably, reflects this varied performance.
“Historically, we’ve struggled with strong starts to seasons, so this beginning – our strongest in six years – is genuinely thrilling. We find ourselves actively competing, rather than having to play catch-up to enter contention. The onus is now on us to complete what we’ve started.”
The chances that slipped away are certainly frustrating. “A couple of missed tackles” determined a vibrant opening match against Quins, and a ten-point advantage was surrendered to Trailfinders. “We ought to be solidly among the top four, were it not for those developmental mistakes.”
Nevertheless, they managed to salvage three points in a losing effort against Barney Maddison’s team, and against Exeter, they repeatedly fought their way back into contention, demonstrating “exceptional mental resilience. Those acquired points might well be crucial when the season concludes.”
January became, much to the chagrin of the African Violet team, a compact pre-season, necessitated by circumstances. “If we persist with our current approach, we won’t secure a top-four finish; we must return improved from our break. Every other team will be doing the same!”
Athletes underwent intense training; coaching staff meticulously analyzed their methods, statistics, and timetables seeking incremental advantages; and fundamental principles were examined. The directives were to play with intensity and speed, fight collectively, and defend with such ferocity that they are concurrently devising disruptive strategies for offensive transitions.
Last season, they “excelled during unstructured play,” while this term, they exhibit unprecedented power when in possession, and – significantly aided by Scarratt – are devastating from set-piece plays. The ultimate objective? To be capable of both spontaneous adaptation and planned execution: “we must avoid being predictable.”
Alongside all this strenuous activity, a fiercely contested spike ball tournament served as a diversion, culminating in a pizza evening where Olivia, Nathan Smith’s daughter with Sarah Hunter, was the undeniable highlight.
The critical matchups fall in rounds 11, 14, and 16 – these are the reverse fixtures against the other playoff hopefuls (though the March journey to Salford also promises excitement). But before those, an 18-game winning run needs to be broken in Gloucester, and he has authorized his talented warriors to play aggressively. A style one might call ‘Scaz-ball’.
Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC
Loughborough Lightning
“This upcoming game is our least intimidating encounter of the season. Absolutely no one anticipates us securing any points, much less a victory. This provides us with an opportunity to experiment, dictate our style of play, and genuinely push for a favorable outcome. The burden is entirely on them to maintain their winning streak, which is unsustainable indefinitely – therefore, our goal is to be the team that disrupts their run.”
Possibly the most exciting anticipation is observing how the recent addition, Haineala Lutui, performs against the Circus’ formidable contingent of powerful players. The 19-year-old dynamo completed 22 carries in her debut match, the highest in the opening round, and has maintained an unwavering intensity ever since. She has consistently led in that category, has seized the challenging title for post-contact meters from Sarah Bern, and executes her role with the captivating, agile power of a figure-skating behemoth, liberally distributing offloads throughout her impactful runs.
“She is outstanding: highly receptive to coaching, grasps professional standards, a testament to her background, and an extraordinary ball carrier who has tackled every obstacle presented thus far – completely unflustered. Her potential is limitless, and there’s no better way to gauge one’s capabilities than by directly confronting players like Zoe Stratford and Alex Matthews.”
The task he has assigned to Lutui’s remarkable, opponent-overpowering abilities is straightforward: “demonstrate my assessment is correct. I am confident in your capacity to rival players of that caliber.”
One gets the sense this is a challenge he could extend to his entire team: youthful, intrepid, and aiming to make their mark on history. This Sunday, they will unleash their full power, boldly aspiring to deliver an exceptional performance within a season brimming with potential.
