Scotland women’s head coach Dave Butcher has hailed the international debuts of Ceitidh Ainsworth and Katie Buchanan as “fantastic”.
The duo came off the bench at the weekend in the second half at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh as the Scots went down 64-26 to Canada in the WXV Global Series clash.
“It was fantastic from both of them,” Butcher said.
“Ceitidh Ainsworth to start with, I think that’s her first ever senior game at scrum-half after growing up as a stand-off.
“We thought it would be a big challenge for her when we came into camp, but we said to her ‘this is the position we feel you’ll be really successful in’.
“And there’s not been a day where she’s complained or anything, she’s just got on with it. I think what we saw versus Canada is her ability to be a rugby player in a scrum-half shirt, she’s a really good reader of the game.
“What impressed me the most is her speed in and out of contact considering she’s so inexperienced. I think she’s got a massive future in the game.
“I think she’ll challenge all the other nines that we have very heavily moving forward.
“And Katie Buchanan, well we know what we get with her.
“She is a winger who has great feet and who wants to beat tacklers.
“With her coming into the mix we have now got four or five wingers there that we know can put on the field and they will make something happen.”
Next up in the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – is New Zealand this coming Saturday and then Scotland are hosting Australia on September 26, both at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Ceitidh Ainsworth and Katie Buchanan are pictured after their debuts – thanks to Scottish Rugby
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