Gary Heatly in Bristol
Scotland skipper Rachel Malcolm says that Sunday afternoon’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England is the biggest game of her career and that the team have a level of belief that they have never had before going into such a contest.
You would have to search far and wide to find people who are backing the Scots to win this last eight clash in Bristol against the world number one side and tournament favourites (4pm, live on BBC One).
Unless Scotland can summon up the performance of a lifetime then the final whistle looks very much like it will bring the end of an era.
Head coach Bryan Easson is certainly leaving after the tournament whilst other members of the coaching team are too and some of the more experienced players may decide to call time on their international careers once the Scots’ race is run.
Indeed, on Friday night 73 cap Jade Konkel stated she will be stepping down at the end of the competition and on Saturday prop Lisa Cockburn made a similar announcement.
However, Scotland will certainly not be leaving the event without a fight and this group of players have become used to fighting their corner on and off the pitch in recent times.
Malcolm, the back-rower who will be leading the side into battle for a Scottish record 53rd time, said: “I don’t think we’ve ever played England with this Scotland team and this level of belief and this level of unity so it’s a different game and it’s a different challenge and one that we couldn’t be more excited for.
“I think it is the biggest game of our career because we have a huge amount of belief in this team.
“Performances have built week on week while we’ve been at the tournament and I think to be at this stage of a massive event like this, it doesn’t feel like pressure it feels like an honour and a privilege and we want to go out and do the jersey justice – we’re incredibly excited.”
Before the tournament 34-year-old Malcolm said that the build-up had been “very disruptive”.
That was due to the timing of the Easson news dropping and contract negotiations being tricky between players and the governing body right up until they departed for England.
Off the back of that there seems to have been an ‘us and them’ vibe in the air between the squad and Scottish Rugby hierarchy since.
Malcolm said last weekend that the playing group and backroom staff have “battened down the hatches” to avoid outside noise.
And on Friday she added: “I’m not that fussed about what anyone else outside our group thinks about us and I never have been.
“What I care about is the people in this group – the management team and the players – and I’ll protect them at all costs.”
Scotland squad to play England: 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.
The England matchday 23 is here.
Rachel Malcolm is pictured – 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.