Gary Heatly in Bristol
England’s power game in the wet weather at Ashton Gate in Bristol blew Scotland away eventually on Sunday in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
The Scots took a 3-0 lead early on, but then England, the world number one side, scored six tries and kicked five conversions until a late score from Rhona Lloyd.
It finished 40-8 and, although hurt just now, Scotland can be proud of their campaign.
A match report can be found here from the England game and here are five talking points…
Forward strength too much to handle
In the first 10 minutes Scotland took the lead and were forcing England into making uncharacteristic mistakes, but once the latter’s pack got the upper hand at set piece time and got on the front foot there was only ever going to be one winner here as they bagged a 31st Test win in a row.
Lloyd’s late try shows character
Scotland could have wilted here and perhaps lost by more points in the end, but the fact that they scored their only try in the last play of the game with the clock in the red show everything you need to know about this squad and their battling qualities.
End of an era
Now that Scotland have exited the big dance it has brought to an end Bryan Easson’s time as head coach while defence coach Tyrone Holmes is also set to be leaving. Experienced players Jade Konkel and Lisa Cockburn have already hung up their boots and others may follow. This is a ‘changing of the guard’ type moment, so simply ‘thanks for your service’ to those moving on.
Contract issues rumble on
In the build up to the tournament players’ minds were elsewhere in the midst of contract talks and it seems as if the number of Scottish Rugby-contracted players is going to be down to around 15 going forward. That means that stalwarts such as 74-cap Konkel have not been given one for the future and has left many supporters wondering what is next.
Scotland “on the crest of something pretty special”, support should not decrease
With the number of contracted female players set to be cut by the governing body going forward, the women’s game in Scotland is at a bit of a crossroads.
“We’re at a very pivotal point,” skipper Rachel Malcolm said.
“We have had a core group for the best part of 10 years now as Scotland women and we’ve grown hugely and it kind of feels like we are just on the crest of something pretty special.
“The 32 players that have been at this World Cup have shown that with support and having people training in full-time environments with excellent coaches just how far we can go.
“What I want to see for the future of this game is that support to not decrease but continue.
“I think to do that we need to just keep driving it, we need to keep challenging it and use this as a springboard into the next phase of Scotland women.”
When asked what CEO Alex Williamson, performance director David Nucifora and the rest of the hierarchy at Scottish Rugby can do to help the women’s game progress and not stall or go backwards, the skipper stated: “Just to listen.
“We [as players] know this game better than anyone.
“We’re a part of this thing and I think we all want the same thing.
“We want to push Scotland women forward. We want to be a part of Scottish rugby. We want to work together to get us to compete with the likes of England.
“And I think, with the player voice incorporated in that, then we can definitely move this sport forward and this team forward.”
Outgoing head coach Bryan Easson added: “In three years we’ve gone professional and in three years we’ve gone to fifth in the world and are now sixth. We’ve qualified for two Rugby World Cups and we’ve got to the latter stage of a World Cup – that doesn’t happen by accident.
“You invest and you look after players and you invest in the future and what you want it to look like, you don’t just stop that, you’ve got to keep building on that.
“Investment is up to the powers that be where they see the future going, but you have to invest.”
What’s to come…
Time will tell.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel. Subs: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Molly Poolman, Eva Donaldson, Rachel McLachlan, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
England: Helena Rowland; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cockayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Rosie Galligan, Zoe Aldcroft (C), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews. Subs: Lark Atkin-Davies, Mackenzie Carson, Sarah Bern, Abbie Ward, Maddie Feunati, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Emma Sing.
Scorers:
Scotland: Try: Lloyd. Penalty: Nelson.
England: Tries: Clifford 2, Talling, Dow, Cockayne, Aitchison. Conversions: Aitchison 5.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau.
Player of the match: Morwenna Talling (England).
The Scotland squad and backroom team are pictured post-England match – 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.