Gary Heatly in Manchester
Elis Martin says it has been a “wild” journey since her first Scotland cap versus the USA in 2022 as she prepares to start on Saturday afternoon versus Fiji (2.45pm, live on BBC Two).
The hooker, who is now 26 and came through the ranks at Hillhead Jordanhill and Edinburgh University, has had plenty of ups and downs in the last three years, but her dedication and hard work now sees her being at a second Women’s Rugby World Cup and about to make her third start for her country.
She was a late call up to the event in New Zealand when Evie Gallagher got injured, but she did not play in that one.
Fast forward to now and she earned her 23rd cap off the bench in the bonus point Pool B 38-8 win over Wales last weekend at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester and will be back there this time around for the Fiji clash.
Cap number 24 will come from the start with Lana Skeldon injured and in the run up to the game Martin, who now plays for Loughborough Lightning, has been reflecting on the last few years.
“It’s a bit crazy, isn’t it? It’s just a bit wild,” she said.
“You couldn’t have sat me here at the last World Cup to talk through things because I honestly didn’t feel like I knew what was going on, it was all new to me.
“Regardless of all of that, I felt like that this group of players was my family and this was where I should be straight away.
“I’ve never complained or said that I didn’t enjoy coming off the bench. I think it’s a special skill being able to come off and finish a game and not everyone can do it.
“But to be able to say I’m going to start for my country in a World Cup brings tears to the eyes. I couldn’t feel more grateful to be able to pull on this shirt and it feels like the last three years have come together and given me this opportunity.
“We’ve got just the same amount of emotion and energy going into this game against Fiji as we did against Wales. Realistically every single game now until hopefully the latter stages is going to carry on being the most important game for us and we will focus on a match at a time.
“We want to keep the emotion, keep the clarity and keep the calmness from last week and put in another strong performance – and I think we are ready to do that.”
Canada and Wales meet at the same ground at noon.
The win versus Wales last weekend now makes the Scots favourites to progress to the quarter-finals from Pool B at the World Cup 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, after Fiji this time out, there is a meeting with world number two Canada in Exeter on September 6.
Scotland squad to play Fiji: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Molly Wright, Anne Young, Lisa Cockburn, Adelle Ferrie, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock.
The Fiji matchday 23 is here.
Elis Martin is pictured at the captain’s run on Friday – 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.