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Behind the team: Scotland Head of Physical Performance Josie Symonds

Head of Physical Performance Josie Symonds with Scotland players during a training session. Credit: Scottish Rugby/SNS

Monday, July 29 of this year was the date Josie Symonds circled in her diary as soon as the Guinness Women’s Six Nations finished in April.

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Symonds only took up her new role as Scotland women’s head of physical performance a couple of weeks before the tournament had started so she had needed to hit the ground running in terms of working with new players and colleagues at that time.

Scotland won two out of their five matches during the tournament to make it eight wins from their last 11 Tests and there was plenty from a fitness point of view for Symonds to be impressed with.

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There was the attacking intent versus Wales, the determination to keep getting up off the line against France and the dogged display in tricky conditions in Italy for example.

But the great thing post-tournament from Symonds’ point of view was – like the players and the coaching staff – she knew there was lots that could be tweaked and improved on as the sixth in the world Scots look to keep getting better and, eventually, catch up with the top five sides.

Earlier this week skipper Rachel Malcolm said that Scotland are now on a “14-month journey” which runs from a few weeks ago in July to September next year when the Rugby World Cup 2025 comes to an end in England.

To start with, on September 6 Bryan Easson’s charges will host Wales at Hive Stadium in a September Test.

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They will then play Fiji on September 14 in a second September Test at the same venue before heading to South Africa to defend their WXV 2 title later that month and into October.

Then, in March and April, will be the Six Nations.

All of that, after some warm-up games more than likely over the summer, will then lead into the showpiece Rugby World Cup 2025 held in England between August 22 and September 27.

Scotland’s place there still needs to be rubberstamped, but will be after WXV 2.

A lot to come then and, in her position, Symonds is going to be key in helping the players navigate through the next year and a bit.

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It will be a busy schedule by anyone’s standards, so it is maybe just as well Symonds has been called a ‘Duracell Bunny’ before.

“Josie is an absolute ball of energy,” the aforementioned Malcolm said a few days ago when asked about the head of physical performance.

“She’s so enthusiastic about all aspects of strength and conditioning and how that translates to rugby, everything Josie does is about transferring things that are worked on onto the pitch and a game situation.

“I think she’s going to bring a huge amount to our programme in that area.”

“I certainly am energetic,” Symonds confirmed.

“On the first day of this four-week block of pre-season that we are in now [day one was July 29] I was so excited to be with the players again and really start the long run in to next year’s World Cup.

“We built up a great rapport during the Six Nations and I just wanted to get back working with them, get my teeth into things and start implementing strategies that will, ultimately, help the team keep on moving forward.

“When I came into the post before the Six Nations a lot of structures were already in place while a lot of the time we spent together was during match weeks so we could not bring in a lot of new things or change too much, but I spent time during the tournament getting to know all of the coaches, getting to know the players and filling up my notebook with thoughts.

“It was clear that I had come into a really strong environment with a lot of experienced people and after the Six Nations, I was just excited for what was to come next.

“I took a step back from things, made some more notes and then worked with Fraser [Menzies, Scotland women’s sport scientist] and Lara [Wilson, Scotland women’s performance nutritionist] to start to tailor things and get ready for the first day of this month-long camp.”

During the ongoing camp the 35-strong wider Scotland squad and six ‘day trainers’ – who are joining for experience – have been based at Oriam on the outskirts of Edinburgh between Mondays and Wednesdays.

Week three has just finished with week four to come next week before a squad of 30 is then named for the September Tests and WXV 2.

“While general strength and power is obviously important for rugby and always will be, I always try and tailor programmes to each player individually,” Symonds, who is 31 and played the game herself as a full-back for Worcester, said.

“By getting to know the players and spending time with them during the Six Nations and during this block I feel like I have got to know them well and got the gist of what makes them tick.

“Obviously, things like previous injuries, what they have enjoyed working on before and things they are looking to improve are important, but so too is getting to know their character and the way they go about things away from the training pitch or the gym.

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“That is a really nice aspect of the job and it means now that I can have open and honest dialogue with the players so that everything we are doing is helping them and the team improve.

“Of course with professionalism still pretty new in women’s rugby in Scotland and younger players starting to come through from the club game, the starting point for all of the players in terms of fitness varies greatly too.

“Thanks to the Six Nations period, all the data that Fraser has collected and the time spent in this training block everything is being driven by the data and we feel like we are in a pretty good spot.

“One thing we are really working on is recovery and behaviours around that.

“When we have these short, sharp weeks just now we have to get through as much work as possible so recovery is key while, at a tournament like WXV 2, games come thick and fast so again recovery is very important.

“Sometimes the players might think they hear too much from me, but they know that is just my enthusiasm coming through and we all have the same goal and are on the same page as we look to arrive at the World Cup a year from now in the best shape we can possibly be.”

Symonds, who currently plays American football, may have grown up in and around the West Midlands, but her father is a proud Scot.

“There may be Wolverhampton accents on his side of the family now, but Grandad was a Glasgow man, and Dad and I have always been Scots at heart,” Symonds, who arrived at her current post via roles at Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs, explained.

“The national anthem is always a spine-tingler for us, especially when there were two big home crowds during the Six Nations [versus France and England]. Dad came to support and shed a tear or two during the national anthem.

“Scotland means a lot to him and to his family and now this role with the women’s national team means a lot to me.

“I feel like we have just scratched the surface and I’m really excited for the amazing year or so to come.”

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Spew_81 3 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test, in a series they had already won, would’ve been a perfect opportunity.


I also made it clear I would’ve kept Cruden in the mix, up until the end of RWC 2019. As he was a game manager. He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement: “or should I say anyone not Mo’unga”. I would’ve had Mo’unga in the wider training group and in the end of year tours. At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie (as McKenzie can cover: 9, 10, 14, and 15); but as Cruden was out of favour and departed, I would’ve had Mo’unga, B Barrett, and McKenzie as the 10 hierarchy; as Mo’unga is a game manager.


McKenzie had to have made his intentions clear that he wanted to transfer to 10 at least as far back as 2018. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have played at 10 for the Chiefs in 2018. The Chiefs had other options at 10. Why play someone out of position in Super Rugby, when they didn’t have to - unless McKenzie wanted to be the All Blacks 10 after B Barrett left? McKenzie played 10 in high school and never hid the fact that he wanted to have a shot at 10 and the highest level (nothing wrong with that). Also, McKenzie played 10 for the Maori All Blacks earlier in 2017:


[January 18, 2018] “It [10] has been a position I've always played and in the last few years I've played at 15, but now there is the opportunity to play at 10 and its one I'm looking forward too.


Damian McKenzie targets first-five role for Chiefs ahead of Super Rugby season | Stuff


Hansen seemed to think that McKenzie was a valid option at 10: “In World Cup squads, versatility is king. McKenzie's Test career has been at fullback; next year at the Chiefs he will be their first-choice fly-half”.


'When you're afraid you start second guessing yourself' - The Damian McKenzie All Blacks Interview - ESPN


It makes sense that Hansen and Foster’s logic was that McKenzie would follow the same path as B Barrett did to the 10 jersey for the All Blacks; from 15 to 10.


Why would McKenzie move positions from 15 to 10 at Super Rugby level, if he didn’t want to play 10 for the All Blacks? Just to be a better ‘dual playmaker’? He clearly wanted the All Blacks 10 jersey (nothing wrong with that). Hansen wanted a dual playmaker system, that’s why he wanted two 10’s that could play 15. It removes the need for a 10 on the bench (Cruden or Mo’unga) that’s why Hansen didn’t give Cruden a real shot at reclaiming the 10 jersey, and why he didn’t develop Mo’unga - until McKenzie got injured out of RWC 2019. This all fits the established narrative. Hansen could’ve had Mo’unga at 10 and B Barrett at 15 and had two pivots with different styles.


I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10, that played like the incumbent 10, instead of a game manager at 10. That was one of my main points. I’m saying that was the reason why Mo’unga wasn’t given a proper chance to develop into the international 10 he could’ve been.


All I’ve said is that I don’t think Hansen and Foster made the best choice, in hindsight. One of each type of 10 would’ve offered more options, making the job harder for opposition defense coaches. But without the benefit of parallel universes, where all the alternative ideas could play out, no one will really know.


I believe what the information shows, and what seems to be plausible, based on that information. There can be many, sometimes contradictory, conclusions that can be drawn from the same information. Without reading the minds of all involved we can just speculate based of the information that we have.


I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did). Foster and Hansen would’ve had long term planning discussions while Hansen was the main coach and Foster was the assistant. The next 10, after B Barrett would’ve been discussed during the 2016-2019 cycle as B Barrett (while very good) didn’t have the ability to consistently manage the really tight games (I’m not sure any 10, even Carter, could do it alone against the developed rush defenses that are common now). Also, as with any long term planning, they would’ve been thinking about B Barrett’s eventual replacement. They seemed to want another player who played like B Barrett.


Hansen and Foster seemed to be grooming McKenzie as the replacement 10. No wonder Mo’unga chose not to die for the team, and made sure he would be set for life by the time RWC 2027 comes around.


I have shown my reasoning and the information that led to those conclusions. If you have contrary information, post it, I’d be interested to see it. I’m happy to change my mind. I am very interested to discuss this type of thing, especially when someone has different views. It makes the discussion more interesting. I am happy to agree to disagree on this. You make some good comments, I’m sure we will sometimes agree and sometimes disagree in future :)


[Bonus Comment] Also, here’s an idea that is a bit left field that you can sink your teeth into. McKenzie should’ve made his primary position as a 9, covering: 10, 14, and 15 (McKenzie has been seen as valid 9 cover, he played 9 when Perenara got sin binned in Wellington, vs France in 2018). Start Aaron Smith and have Mo’unga at 10 and Barrett at 15; bring on McKenzie with 20 minutes to go. Three playmakers. That would’ve been a nightmare for defense coaches to defend against. Imagine A Savea taking the ball off the back of a mid-field scrum on the 22, with those three options to offload to. You can’t rush all three players. That is the way to beat a rush defense, create too many options to cover; but you need a 10 who is a game manager that can take advantage of the options.

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