FLYING winger Lydia Thompson is relishing the prospect of welcoming a home Worcester crowd to Sixways when England take on USA this weekend.
The resurgent Red Roses have been in sensational form in recent weeks, thumping Canada 51-12 at Twickenham Stoop last Sunday after back-to-back victories over New Zealand.
And those wins against the Kiwis included a dominant 56-15 win at Franklin’s Gardens and saw the Red Roses rack up a whopping 99 points in two games.
Simon Middleton’s side do battle with the USA at Sixways – the home of Worcester Warriors – on Sunday and Thompson, who represents the club in the Allianz Premier 15s, is anticipating a raucous crowd to get the place rocking.
The 29-year-old said: “Worcester always attracts some fantastic crowds – and even playing there in the Premiership, we’re getting great crowds coming in.
“I just can’t wait to play international rugby and put on an international game for the crowds, it’ll be really special.
“We’ve got a really positive vibe at the moment. We’re really proud of what the team has achieved but also we’ve reflected a lot.”
England cruised past New Zealand 43-12 at Sandy Park before sending a similarly buoyant crowd into raptures with that emphatic triumph over the same opponents in Northampton.
And they carried on where they left off at the Stoop on Sunday by running in seven tries against the Canadians to stretch their winning streak to 17 games.
Middleton’s team will aim to extend their winning streak at Sixways and solidify their superiority as the world’s No.1 side.
They will face a stern test against the Americans, however. The visitors sit five places behind them in the official rankings and reached the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.
The English game is jam-packed with a raft of US talent including Alycia Washington at Worcester and Kate Zackary at Exeter.
And Thompson reckons that transatlantic cocktail can only be a force for good.
“To see some of the top players in the world go against each other is an amazing opportunity,” she said.
“We’ve been really lucky at Worcester to have Alycia come over to play with us this season – she has been spectacular.
“Her running game and the power she can bring in the scrum [is amazing], so I’m so excited for her to show what she can do in a USA shirt.
“Then obviously you’ve got other Premiership players like Kate who’s been at Exeter, who’s been fantastic for her club.
“It will be awesome to see players who play in the Premiership pull on their national shirts and really have a strong and competitive game.”
England Women take on the USA in the their final autumn international at Sixways Stadium, Worcester on Sunday (November 21), kick-off 2.45pm.
Visit www.warriors.talent-sport.co.uk for more information.