Cantorna toasts another Chiefs victory
By James Fowler
13/3/23
Exeter Chiefs Women’s Centre Gabby Cantorna said she was ‘really pleased’ with her team’s performance as they secured their 13th consecutive bonus point victory of the season to retain their position at the top of the Allianz Premier 15s table.
In another domiant display from Susie Appleby’s side, the Chiefs managed to rack up eight tries in total, with Ebony Jefferies, Lori Cramer, DaLeaka Menin, Claudia MacDonald, Emily Tuttosi, Merryn Doidge and Nichola Fryday (2) all crossing the whitewash.
Although Cantorna didn’t manage to bag a try herself, the American international was certainly instrumental in pulling the strings and creating the opportunities for players around her.
Reflecting on the victory, Cantorna spoke of how crucial it was for the Chiefs to maintain their incredible winning run before the players part ways for the upcoming international break.
“I think it was good for us as a squad to get another win before we part ways for the Six Nations break,” she said. “It was something we really had our eyes on, so we’re really pleased with our performance and getting the bonus point here at home.”
With Sale’s starting XV containing five American internationals, Cantorna reflected on the extra motivation she and the rest of the Chiefs American contingent had to get one over their international colleagues.
“It’s always nice to beat them. A little trash talk here and there, it’s easier to talk to people you know across the field I think, so it’s always nice to get a W over them especially when we’re about to spend three weeks together, so I’m happy with it for sure. But they’re still good friends and really proud of the progress they’ve put in this season as well.”
Cantorna has built up a tremendous relationship with Liv McGoverne since the New Zealander’s arrival to the Chiefs at the beginning of the season and the centre was keen to underline just how well they have been gelling together this season.
“I love playing with Liv, I think she has a really good eye for space and as far as her and I personally I can tell when she’s getting tired, she can tell when I’m getting tired, so we kind of let our roles interchange which is really I think helpful for us both to put in good performances, but also long performances, because it has been a bit of a haul this season I would say.”
In what has already been a very long season, which included a World Cup at the beginning of it, Cantorna spoke of how she and the rest of the squad are holding up in the face of the physical challenges they are facing on a weekly basis.
“(My body) was tired coming into the week to be honest, it’s just been a physical long stretch, I think we’ve taken a little bit off in training just to try and keep ourselves ready to go for the weekend, but there’s a few aches, a little pain here and there, but nothing too bad.”
Cantorna will within the next few days join up with the USA squad, as they travel to Madrid to take on Spain in a friendly fixture on March 25, before facing their North American rivals Canada a week later in the first match of the Pacific Four series, and Cantorna spoke of how excited she is to go and train and play in a slightly warmer climate.
“I’m looking forward to getting into the sun for starters. We had a glimpse of it today and then it swiftly went away. It’ll be nice to get to a bit of a warmer temperature, but for me personally it’s going to be a little different, we’ll have obviously a different team in from the World Cup and you spend so much time with those people, so I think it’ll be good to start setting our foundations and I’m excited to get my hand up in the 12 shirt there and hopefully start playing well there as well.”