Lisa Thomson wants her younger squad mates not to feel pressure, but instead embrace the occasion as they head to the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Having been to many top-level events before, Thomson, who is now a double World Cupper and double Olympian as well as having played at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, knows they are a different beast than just normal games or runs of games.
But she believes the 12 World Cup debutantes in the group, including 20-year-old uncapped winger Hannah Walker, can embrace the big adventure rather than fear it.
The World Cup event runs from August 22 to September 27 and the Scotland pool matches are against Wales in Manchester on August 23, Fiji in Manchester on August 30 and Canada in Exeter on September 6.
The Scotland squad headed to Manchester on Friday and Thomson, the 27-year-old Trailfinders Women centre who now has 71 caps to her name, said: “We’ve been in Six Nations camps and tournaments that are this length of time before and I think the biggest thing is enjoying it for what it is.
“As a group we play our best rugby when we are happy and smiling and the young talent we have coming through right now is unreal so I just want them to take it all in, embrace it and really show a wider audience what they are capable of.”
And she says that Scotland have a different mindset going into the upcoming World Cup than they did in 2022, stating they are feeling more “business-like” and that they want to make their mark on the big event.
The top two from each pool will make it through to the last eight in the 16-team tournament with a quarter-final spot definitely achievable for the Scots.
Losses to Wales, Australia and hosts New Zealand in the group phase three years ago still rankle with Thomson and co.
“Our mindset is different this time, 100 percent,” she added.
“There is a group of players that have been in here since around 2016 and last time our biggest goal was qualifying for Scotland’s first World Cup since 2010.
“Maybe then getting to New Zealand we maybe took our foot off the gas a wee bit thinking ‘we’ve made it, we’ve got to a World Cup’.
“But now we’re heading down to England where most of us play our club rugby and we want to make our mark on this event.
“Things are feeling a lot more business-like and we know what we want to achieve.
“We’re heading south to win games and get out of the pool.”
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 Thomson is pictured in St Andrews at the squad announcement – 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.