Gary Heatly in Manchester
Lisa Cockburn says she shed some happy tears on the morning of the Wales game at the weekend ahead of her Women’s Rugby World Cup debut.
And the happy tears were replaced by happy cheers later on in the day after the 32-year-old tighthead prop won her 35th cap off the bench and helped Scotland to an impressive 38-8 bonus point triumph at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester.
Heading into the 2022 showpiece event played in New Zealand she had been in and around the Scotland squad for a while and was expected to be involved in the Southern Hemisphere, but a big setback occurred versus England in the Six Nations a few months earlier.
In that game at Hive Stadium she ruptured hr ACL and then a torn plantar fascia injury further derailed her down the line meaning that, in total, she missed 18 months of action.
Fast forward a bit and, after a return to Scotland colours in late 2023 and what came after that, she was not named in the original squad for the Six Nations earlier this year.
As a result, she has really battled to get to this stage and the Gloucester-Hartpury player said: “I came into the World Cup and I didn’t know how much game time I would get, if any.
“I obviously want to play and I was delighted when I saw the team sheet for Wales and I love coming off the bench.
“I love bringing impact and bringing energy off the bench and Saturday was quite a rollercoaster of emotions.
“I had a few tears this morning – happy tears thinking of all the support I have had from my partner, family, friends, team mates and others in recent times – and then after the game I was just so happy, I was buzzing after making my World Cup debut.
“The squad did so well.
“We stuck to our game plan and had that fast start and that’s what we really, really wanted.
“Obviously, Fran [McGhie who finished with a hat-trick] getting a try after 60 seconds was incredible. Just that momentum, positive momentum, really helped us build and build and build.
“We’ve been working so hard in both attack and defence and there’s an immense amount of clarity and detail in what we’re doing, so everyone knows exactly what their job is everywhere around the park and for every circumstance.
“Everyone did their job versus Wales and it resulted in that performance.
“Lots of people I know were there supporting us while the reception we got when we came off the team bus pre-match from the Scotland fans was something I’ll never forget.
“I am absolutely ecstatic right now and am excited for what is to come.”
The result against Wales now makes them favourites to progress to the quarter-finals from Pool B behind likely group winners Canada. That would mean a probable knock-out tie with world number one side England on September 14.
However, there is a lot of rugby to be played before then and next up is Fiji this coming Saturday in Manchester before a meeting with world number two Canada in Exeter on September 6.
Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm (C), Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.
Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Emma Orr, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills.
Lisa Cockburn is pictured with Jade Konkel on Saturday – thanks to Ruby Adam Photography
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.