Scotland skipper Rachel Malcolm believes the squad at her disposal is the strongest one there has been for “a very long time” and she wants her players to believe in themselves against Spain this coming weekend and then at the WXV 2 event next month.
The Scots have not played a competitive match since April when they finished the TikTok Women’s Six Nations with a bang thanks to impressive home wins over Italy and Ireland.
Those results arrested a 12-game losing streak and gave the group a lot of momentum going into four Test matches between now and late October.
Once they get over to South Africa early next month for the World Rugby-run WXV 2 tournament, the Scots will be taking on the hosts in Burgersdorp on October 13, USA in Cape Town on October 20 and Japan in Cape Town on October 27.
Before the squad heads out to there they have one warm-up Test at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh against Spain on Saturday.
And with Scotland ninth in the world and Spain 13th and preparing for the third tier WXV 3, the hosts will start as favourites.
Last week head coach Bryan Easson named a 30-strong squad for this game and WXV 2 and captain Malcolm, the back-rower, said: “I think, for me, this is the strongest our squad has been in terms of depth for a very long time, if not the strongest it has ever been.
“I was really pleased with the way we played against Italy and Ireland and now we have a good pre-season block of training behind us and we can’t wait to get back out on the pitch and keep on building.”
Easson added: “I am really happy with the squad. We had up to 10 players out in the Six Nations, bit now we have four out and I think we are really building a group and this squad will only get stronger.
“This Spain game is an important one for us and the girls enjoy playing at home. A good showing there can help us heading into WXV 2.”
Scotland squad:
Forwards
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (University of Worcester Warriors)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (University of Worcester Warriors)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C)
Elis Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks)
Louise McMillan (Saracens)
Lana Skeldon (University of Worcester Warriors)
Demi Swann (University of Worcester Warriors)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Sale Sharks)
Backs
Beth Blacklock (Saracens)
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (University of Worcester Warriors)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh)
Rhona Lloyd (GB Sevens/Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais)
Liz Musgrove (Ealing Trailfinders)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, V-C)
Emma Orr (Heriot’s/Biggar)
Lisa Thomson (GB Sevens)
Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning)
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
Match tickets are on sale now for the Spain Test at Hive Stadium on September 30 at 5.45pm, click here to secure some…
Keep an eye out on GH Media’s channels for Scotland women’s coverage up to and through to the end of WXV 2 in October…
Thanks to Rugby People and Scottish Rugby/SNS for the images