Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm says life so far under new head coach Sione Fukofuka has been “really good” and that he is working hard with the squad so that they can “push on” from where they have been before.
The Scots headed into camp on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Women’s Six Nations tournament which runs from April 11 to May 17.
And Australian Fukofuka wants his sixth in the world side to aim for a top three finish in this year’s competition.
Last year under former head coach Bryan Easson the Scots finished fifth in the standings, but they were just two points behind Ireland in third.
And in 2024 they finished fourth and were just a point behind third placed Ireland.
The team are also heading into the event off the back of reaching the quarter-finals at last year’s World Cup in England and back-row Malcolm, 34, said: “Life under Sione has been really good so far.
“He puts a big focus on culture, things like what is our ‘why’ is and what is driving us, and I think that is something that as a team we have always responded really well to.
“He has also been really conscious to protect certain aspects of what we are passionate about and what drives us that were already in place and working well from before.
“It is exciting to have fresh eyes on us as a team, trying to get us to play to our strengths and bring his view on the game to the table.
“He has spoken about his aims for the team moving forward and a little bit of pressure is always good, we do not want to be going into the Suix Nations with no real clear aims. He wants to achieve, he wants to win and he wants to be successful as a head coach.
“He also wants us to be successful for ourselves and take what we have built forward again. I think that is what we want, someone that is going to push us.
“Sione set out from the start that we are going to be uncomfortable, we are going to get pushed and we are going to have to work hard. But, as a group, that is what we thrive on and we also thrive on someone believing in us and I think he definitely does.”
In the Scotland training squad of 38 that is now building up to the opener versus Wales in Cardiff on April 11, nine of the players are uncapped.
Asked who she thinks might break through in the coming weeks, 61-cap Malcolm of Trailfinders Women said: “I think Holland Bogan, who was co-captain of the Glasgow Warriors team in the Celtic Challenge, has had a brilliant season.
“She has been in and around the squad over the last couple of years, but I think she has really stamped her mark on that Celtic Challenge event this year and definitely deserves the call up to the Six Nations.
“She is a second-row while, in the backs, stand-off Hannah Ramsay has been in and around the squad and has that additional bit of experience in the Celtic Challenge for Edinburgh by pulling the strings and organising their attack. This is something that is going to be really important for us going forward as we have a clear idea of how we want to attack.”
- Scotland have been dealt a blow ahead of the Six Nations with the news that key player Evie Gallagher has been ruled out through injury with Gemma Bell replacing the back-row in the 38-strong training group.
- UK and Ireland based organisations have been invited “to submit their interest in becoming part of the league’s future” by The PWR.
It will be interesting to see if Scottish Rugby try and get Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors – or a combined Scottish women’s team – involved.
Rachel Malcolm is pictured at the Women’s Six Nations launch – thanks to Women’s Six Nations
GH Media will be covering Scotland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign from start to finish in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk