England men have had Ellis Genge as captain this season; he is from the West Country like Marlie and that shows in their character – they’re very confident, committed and real grafters. Marlie is very different to Sarah, who made her debut as captain in 2015 and had time to build. Sarah is very much a typical public speaker and is about the detail. Marlie is more, ‘See what I do, follow my lead’.
She has dealt with the decision-making side of captaincy well so far at Saracens but the biggest skill she has to develop is forging relationships with referees. Sarah Hunter was very good at speaking to referees, as was Richie McCaw in the men’s game. It’s a real craft, to make sure you do not speak to them in a condescending way and also picking your moments of when and how often you speak to them.
As a flanker, Marlie is in breakdowns and amidst the confrontational moments, so it’s also about finding that balance of not getting penalised yourself. In last year’s Six Nations, Marlie conceded seven penalties, which was the most of any England player. It’s a fine balance to stay on the right side of the referee and develop those relationships.
Marlie may be taking over from Sarah as captain, but she knows she cannot rest on her laurels because of the quality of players in her position. When I played seven, Marlie and Heather Fisher were coming behind me, and that healthy competition pushes you on to get better. Sadia Kabeya played at six at the weekend but is normally a seven so those two are fighting for the same jersey and will push each other to be better.
I can only see Marlie getting better as the Six Nations progresses. She steps up when it matters and likes a big occasion, so with more big decisions to make she will come into her own. She will take charge from the front and lead this England team into a new era for women’s rugby.
