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Katy's kicking for World Cup glory
SOUTH Shields rugby union star Katy McLean would love to "drop it like Jonny".
The England fly-half heads into the biggest game of her life tomorrow against current champions New Zealand in the women's Rugby World Cup final.
In 2003, fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicked England's men to glory with a drop goal in the last minute of extra time to beat Australia to the world crown.
Now former Mortimer School pupil Katy could get the chance to emulate her hero as she takes to the field at the Twickenham Stoop.
However, she would gladly sacrifice personal glory for team success.
She said: "Rugby is a team game. If we succeed in the final, it is because we have performed to the best of our ability as a team.
"Everyone is focused on going out there to do their best for the team and for each other.
"This is what we have been building up to for the last couple of years. Now that we are here, we are determined to grab the chance with both hands.
"It was great to win the Six Nations with England earlier this year, but this is the big one – the World Cup is the pinnacle of every player's career, and to win in the final would be the greatest feeling."
Holders New Zealand have met England in three consecutive finals, with the Black Ferns on top each time.
But history holds no fears for the current England squad, who believe they have what it takes to beat the Kiwis.
"We have already played New Zealand twice this year," explained Katy. "They won the first game, but we beat them in the second match.
"We know they are a very good side and that they will be very hard to beat, but we have already beaten them once, so we know if we play at our very best we have a chance to do it again."
Victory tomorrow would be the culmination of years of hard work on and off the field, but the Darlington Mowden Park Sharks player isn't allowing herself to dwell on the possibility of a dream come true.
She said: "I'm not thinking about what might or might not happen. All you can do is focus on the game."
For a player once described as "the female Jonny Wilkinson", that could mean kicking her side to World Cup glory – drop goal, anyone?
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
