The way Scotland women played and the win they put on the board on Saturday versus Fiji as they rose to number five in the world was “for Emma Wassell”, captain Rachel Malcolm said.
Last week second-row Wassell, the 29-year-old from Ellon, was pulled out of the wider squad due to a tumour in her chest which she needs treatment for.
At the weekend she acted as assistant team manager at Hive Stadium as the Scots defeated the Fijians 59-15 in Edinburgh, but she will not be heading to South Africa on Thursday with the squad for the WXV 2 event.
Malcolm, the 33-year-old back-row who is one of Wassell’s closest friends, said: “Wass has been through a tough year, but I think having her around the group in the week leading into Fiji in particular really kind of helped build our confidence.
“I think the week before, if I am honest, from a personal point of view it was really tough because she wasn’t always around and she was coming back from hospital so for myself and a number of other players it was pretty hard to have our minds on the Wales game [a 40-14 win on September 6].
“Her energy is always there and in the Fiji week she was a member of our management team and I have never seen her work so hard!
“Wass is sometimes not the most diligent when it comes to off field bits and bobs as she would admit herself, but during that week she was brilliant and was just kind of on hand to get a few things done and was bringing energy to everything.
“Pre-match I always try to stay away from emotion and try to focus on the rugby, but on Saturday I said that’s out the window and I said to the squad there is one person we need to make proud and that is Emma Wassell.
“I asked for an emotional performance, I asked for a brave performance and I think that is exactly what I got from the team. The win was for Emma Wassell.
“I just feel so honoured to lead this group and it shows how much Wass means to everyone that we went out and put in that performance for her.”
Scotland women’s squad for WXV 2 (uncapped in bold)
Forwards
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester Hartpury)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Louise McMillan (Saracens)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
Emma Wassell is picture post-Fiji match with supporters thanks to Mark Brown
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