Scotland head coach Bryan Easson says captain Rachel Malcolm is “an exceptional woman who leads by example” as she prepares to earn her 50th cap for her country.
The 30-strong squad is in Cape Town ahead of WXV 2 matches with Italy (Saturday, DHL Stadium 2pm UK time, shown on BBC iPlayer and RugbyPass TV), Japan (October 5) and Australia (October 12).
Scotland, now ranked an all-time high fifth in the world, are looking to defend the title they won in South Africa last year and Loughborough Lightning back-row Malcolm, from Glasgow, will lead the team out against Italy on a big day for her.
“It is not just about her rugby playing ability, but it is about how she carries herself and leads on and off the pitch,” Easson said ahead of Malcolm’s half century moment.
“She is an exceptional women who is a leader, she leads by example and every player wants to play for her and follow her across that white line.
“The best athletes always strive to get better and better and work hard every day and that is what Rachel does. She is 33 now and on the cusp of her 50th cap, but I thought that the match against Fiji two weeks ago was her best in a Scotland jersey and that just shows that work ethic.
“Her super strengths are around defence and leadership, but her attack play is always coming on as we saw in the try versus Fiji and she is such a rounded player and person.
“To have a player like Rachel leading us in recent times, she has been the driver behind a lot of what we do and she thoroughly deserves this 50 cap milestone.
“The team want to get an opening win this weekend and they want to get an opening win for Rachel Malcolm.”
In terms of the starting XV, there are five changes from the one that defeated Fiji 59-15 in Edinburgh on September 14.
Winger Coreen Grant, stand-off Helen Nelson, tighthead prop Christine Belisle, second-row Fi McIntosh and No.8 Evie Gallagher come into team with young back-row Alex Stewart added to the bench.
Meanwhile Claire Cruikshank has now been confirmed as part of the Scotland coaching team that is at WXV 2, more information here.
Scotland women’s matchday squad for the WXV 2 clash with Italy
15 Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders) (67)
14 Coreen Grant (Saracens) (12)
13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears) (21)
12 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (19)
11 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers) (14)
10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) (62)
9 Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders) (24)
1 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning) (12)
2 Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears) (71)
3 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) (37)
4 Fi McIntosh (Saracens) (3)
5 Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) (39)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C) (49)
7 Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier) (44)
8 Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears) (29)
Subs
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (12)
17 Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester-Hartpury) (31)
18 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears) (13)
19 Louise McMillan (Saracens) (54)
20 Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars) (6)
21 Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers) (2)
22 Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders) (61)
23 Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury) (2)
Rachel Malcolm is pictured at the WXV 2 launch earlier this week alongside the other skippers, thanks to World Rugby/WXV 2
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