Lizzie Hanlon press conference | Loughborough Lightning vs Harlequins Women

Harlequins Women's prop Lizzie Hanlon spoke to the media ahead of Friday's PWR Round 14 fixture against Loughborough Lightning

She discussed a range of topics including:

• Reflections on the performance against Saracens
• The threat posed by Loughborough on Friday night
• The race for the top four

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

So yes, so all joking apart, what can you learn from a sort of game like that? Because there were, to me, viewing at home, there were a lot of pluses in there too.

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Yeah, um, there were absolutely positives in our performance, of course, significant areas we need to work on as well. I think just it comes down to sharpening up our skill set and really focusing on the sort of no talent battle. Um, and yeah, we know what we can do um as a team. We believe in ourselves as a team, we just didn't bring it um how we wanted to at the weekend.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

And what you did see positives, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Yeah, absolutely. I think um there were absolutely parts of our game that um and even areas of play, you know, there were um times where we were really we built momentum and we kept it with us. It was just silly mistakes that sort of let them back in the game and they exploited us much better than we exploited their mistakes.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

And it felt like there were a few really good like training ground things that came off, like when I for scored that try, which came straight from the lineup. I think there was only like one other player that touched it, and it was it was that was kind of magnificent.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Yes, uh a very proud moment for us all, even though I for scored the try. It was um, you know, that was the the um special play that we put in that week and it came off well. It was brilliant.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

The trouble is everyone else will have seen it on social media now because I think I think that's one of the most that's one of the most clipped moments, I think, from the entire game.

SPEAKER_01 1:27

Well, quite deservedly I'd say. Um yeah, it was a good a good moment, but yeah, unfortunately, maybe can't use that straight away.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

Yes. So when you come up against a team like Loughborough, who have had moments in the season where they've done really well, and then they've had moments like last weekend where they lost it at the very, very, very, very death. Um uh whereas like at Trailfinders, you won it at the very, very death. How do you think that might balance out?

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Um I think, well, they posed a real challenge for us at the start of the week, and we know that they stick in games for the whole 80 minutes, you know, they've proven that over the last couple of games. And um, I think even with our performance at the weekend where we um scored our sort of um bonus point try at the end, um, you know, we're a team that can stick in it for 80 minutes too. So I think it'll be an absolute battle um and not one in the first 70 minutes, you know, it's gonna be tight, I imagine.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Oh, brilliant. As a as a viewer, that's what I love. Um because I was ill, I managed to watch all four games. I just the YouTube thing is fantastic. So um, and are there players, um, I think Sardia is back. I don't know if she'll be playing or not, but are there players you look forward to lying up against?

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Um there are always, you know, the girls I know from camp, I suppose I know the best, but as a team we focus on ourselves. Um, it's about us as a team. Um, so I suppose perhaps individuals look for certain individuals on the other team, but I think no one um I suppose I I the team will come out and it will be what it will be, but we've got to play the same rugby we try to.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Okay, and so in terms of the way Queens have played across the season, it feels again much like Love, but you've had your peaks and troughs basically. Not that many troughs, sorry, that sounded terrible when I said that. Um allow it. Okay, but how how would you describe the way the play has evolved across the season so far?

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Um, I think you're absolutely right. We've had um peaks and some troughs. Um and I think as a team we've evolved, we have um certainly improved certain aspects of the game, but um when you focus on one thing, perhaps another thing slips off. So it's all a natural um two steps forwards, one step back, it sometimes seems like, but I think absolutely we've taken strides in the right direction and um becoming a more cohesive bunch. Uh and yeah, we've just got to make sure that it all comes together at the weekend, which sometimes, of course, it doesn't.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

It feels like especially having people like Afa and Lee together as a kind of like, I don't know, like a heartbeat, I guess, somehow in the in the team. That really makes a difference. And and I think uh Claudia's been playing really well as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

Yeah, you've absolutely um nailed it. They bring such good energy to the pack, um, they really do drive the standards, and they're such such brilliant role models, and um you know they don't even need to say everyone uh anything, they just people follow they, you know, they're just a brilliant people to have within the squad. So they absolutely have made a huge difference. I think having people like them in the squad makes everyone play better.

SPEAKER_00 4:43

And you mentioned you you use the same word I did about the troughs. Are there bits where you can learn? I mean, everyone says this, you learn more from a defeat than you do from a victory. I'm not completely certain that's true, but are there things you still think you can still improve on and maybe you can try things out against Loughborough?

SPEAKER_01 5:02

I think one of our biggest things is um, you know, if something doesn't go our way, we tend to um allow it to continue um not going our way. You know, we conceded a couple of penalties in a row, which we didn't need to do. Um, so I think one of the things we're really trying to learn is how to stop um momentum shifting quite so quickly, um, and you know, to stop after one mistake, try and get back on top. So um I think that's one in particular one area that we really want to focus on.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

So is discipline itself something that you talk about in, you know, like at half-time team talks and things?

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Yeah, of course um of course, and it's one of those things that um it's so important in the game, and it's sometimes the same mistake at one stage in the game is um much more detrimental than in another stage of the game. So you've just got to make sure you um stay clean at the crucial moments, and um you know the game will work itself out.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

Brilliant. And so finally, thinking about the way the season is kind of panning out, um and it feels like the top two who interestingly clash this weekend, that's gonna be a corker. Um it feels like the top two are possibly nailed on, and then there's the battle for the next two slots. And how do you think how do you think your journey into the end of the season is going in terms of getting one of those two slots?

SPEAKER_01 6:31

I think um in some instances we've made it tougher for ourselves. You know, it's at the stage where absolutely every point um is crucial and it's a very tight to end. This is a first-off, you know, this is the closest this league has ever been, so anyone can beat anyone. It's a very, very competitive league. So I think that makes it tougher for us. But um, you know, I think if we put in a good performance like um we know we can, um, you know, the result will come and the top all will come.

SPEAKER_00 6:58

And do you do like um I a lot of the head coaches look at everything in terms of what they call blocks? Everything's like a block, including like the breaks, the blocks, everything's a block. So do you look ahead further than the Luftwaffe game? Do you look ahead to the next two or three games?

SPEAKER_01 7:16

Um there's mentioning it, you know, there's an overview. We know what we our focus is going into a block, and um we know what we want to get out of it, but of course the most important thing is the next game, so we can't really look further than Friday. Friday is our number one priority at the moment.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Okay, and then I said that was the final question. This is actually the final question. Is there a big difference to you um about playing home and away? Because it felt like the crowd played, they almost got you extra points, I think, um on the weekend. And I wondered if there is a is there a feeling when you're playing that that it really does kind of either help you or if there's nobody there, doesn't help you.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

Yeah, um, it was amazing to have so many fans there. You know, the crowds have been growing this year. We've had the biggest crowds we've had um ever, I think. Um so we need to make sure that that keeps growing. But it absolutely makes a difference for us as players, you know, hearing the volume from both stands at the weekend was just amazing. But even then, away crowds um can be just as enthusiastic and them just as encouraging, really, even if you know it's just a great atmosphere to be a part of, and I think that um hypes everyone up.