England captain Catherine Spencer has no fears at facing down the Haka should England cross paths at the Women's Rugby World Cup with holders New Zealand.
England famously drew their two match Test series with the Black Ferns last autumn and Spencer firmly believes that the experience of fronting up to the Haka will stand this England side in good stead, should they have to repeat it.
"It was a really enjoyable experience; one of those moments you want to bottle up and open occasionally to get a bit back," said the 31-year-old. "We're standing there as a strong English wall staring down the Haka.
"Obviously it brings them together, but facing it, you are facing it together as a team and saying 'that's your thing, but we'll show you what we can do on the pitch'.
"I've always loved watching the men's Haka. I've been over to New Zealand quite a few times and seen the Haka done by various rugby teams and I really enjoy it, but to see it on the middle of the pitch at Twickenham is a very special moment.
"It should be a really privilege for the girls that are out there, and none of us would take it lightly. I know what it's like to face it and I hope it will continue for many years."
Twickenham win
England lost the First Test at Esher RFC 16-3 - the sides' first meeting since the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup final - but bounced back two weeks later at Twickenham to claim their first win over New Zealand for eight years.
It was also Spencer's 50th cap for her country - an occasion she fittingly marked by scoring England's try in a 10-3 win.
"We know we can beat them and we are confident we can play better than we did in that game. It was huge for our confidence; it was a fantastic year for us as a team and individually. I really enjoyed the whole year and learnt many lessons as a player and as captain."
New Zealand's tour also included a mid-week 48-3 hammering of England A, but for Spencer even that defeat leant itself to England's World Cup preparations.
"It was fantastic that they were able to come over to England - they rarely play internationals. We've got 44 people with experience of playing against the world champions which is invaluable leading into the World Cup.
Lessons learnt
The lessons Spencer alluded to had come earlier in the year, hence for England's captain the origins of that famous Twickenham win lay not in yet another Six Nations Championship title, but rather their shock defeat to Wales at Taffs Well.
Non Evans' last-gasp penalty snatched a dramatic 16-15 win and gave Wales their first-ever win over England. It left Spencer, who took over as England captain in 2007, with some serious soul-searching to do.
A fourth consecutive Grand Slam had gone, but wins over Ireland, France and Scotland made sure of the championship.
"2009 was a big year for us in women's rugby. We learnt a huge amount of lessons and made huge strides as a squad and came out the end of 2009 a lot stronger than we were at the beginning.
"Losing to Wales was heartbreaking for me individually. England had never lost to Wales and I was the first captain to lose to Wales. I know it's only a game, but the few days following that were really not good days for me and you start to question yourself.
"But we had a tournament to carry on with. We had to pull ourselves out of that, analyse the game and look at ourselves individually and as a team. We did that very well and our coaches responded brilliantly, and all the individuals involved.
"To nearly lose something makes you realise how much you want it. Although we'd won the Grand Slam three years previously, winning the championship meant a huge amount to us and we really learnt a lot from that."
Sacrifices
Only a game, perhaps, but with 54 caps to her name, Spencer is well placed to comment on the sacrifices made by herself and her team-mates in order to pursue their dreams of representing their country, and possibly even winning a World Cup.
"I do this because I love the sport, I love playing for my country. We're not professional, we're not paid but our outlook is very much professional. We really work hard and get quite good at time management!
"I wouldn't change it for the world; this I what I do, I have two lives. I have my normal life where I go to work and my other life where I play rugby for England, and at the moment they fit together fine and I wouldn't want to change a thing.
"When you lead the team out at Twickenham with the red rose on your chest it's all worth it. The hard mornings where you drag yourself out of bed, and I'm so not a morning person, and when you're out in the cold and the wet of an evening - it's more than worth it."
