The combative Taylor had a frustrating campaign in the last World Cup staged in Guildford. She feared her World Cup was over when suffering a serious leg injury in the second pool game against South Africa at the Surrey Sports Park.
Forced to miss the remaining pool game against eventual champions New Zealand and the play-off against Sweden, she returned for the final game against South Africa where Wales’ 29-17 victory ensured a final position of ninth.
“It was definitely a strange one,” recalls Taylor who plays her club rugby for Bristol. “To miss the game against New Zealand was really gutting. You always want to test yourself against the best players in the world so to miss that was really disappointing.
“But to get back and play the final game against South Africa was pretty special but with last Thursday now marking the fact that it’s less than a year to go for the next World Cup, it’s fair to say I already have one eye on that tournament.”
In the last World Cup Wales were placed in the ‘group of death’ while other teams had the luxury of being in weaker pools, but Taylor believes that situation will not occur four years on.
“It was always going to be a tough group to get out of as we had New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,” she says, before adding: “But this World Cup will be different as the world has moved on. Teams have had four years to progress and you only to look at the likes of Canada and USA to see how much they have progressed to realise that there will be no easy pools at next year’s World Cup.”
Wales went into the last Six Nations knowing they had to secure a top four finish to guarantee their place in France. Wins against Italy and Scotland ensured the spot at the top table.
“We placed a lot of pressure on ourselves going into the Six Nations as we went into the tournament targeting which games we had to win to achieve our place in France and fair play to the girls we achieved that. Maybe in years gone by we wouldn’t have been able to do that so that was particularly pleasing.
“Even the younger members of the squad stood up and it’s great to see the effect playing sevens has had on the side. The skills and fitness on show have improved. It will be interesting to see which group we’ll be in.”
