Gary Heatly in Bristol
As a defence coach, Tyrone Holmes has been very pleased with some of the defensive stats so far from Scotland in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but he knows the numbers will need to be even better on Sunday.
The Scots are massive underdogs heading into the last eight clash against the world number one and tournament favourites England at Bristol’s Ashton Gate ground.
They will throw everything at it though and Holmes said on Wednesday: “The whole campaign has pleased me so far, but being a defence coach, I suppose the clinical defensive performances against Wales and Canada have pleased me the most.
“We had the best tackle performance stats of round one of fixtures against Wales at 96 percent and we then had the second best stats of the third round against Canada at 94 percent, only beaten by England.
“So I think how clinical we’ve managed to be defensively has been exceptional.
“And just the buy in from the players in that part of the game has been great. As a defence coach I need them to be emotional, to want to go and dig deep and put themselves in a dark place.
“I think how they’ve done that for three weeks consistently is a big ask from me, but they’ve done a great job.
“I think we’re up for the England game. One of our big World Cup goals was to make it to the knock-out stages. I think we’ve done that exceptionally well – a quality win over Wales, a very technical and professional win over Fiji and a great performance against the second best team in the world Canada.
“And we’re here at the knock-out stages and there’s definitely a belief in the squad that anything can happen.
“England is a challenge. They’re the best team in the world. We relish that – it’s not the first time we’ve been underdogs. I think we have the mindset that we’re going to go out there and give it everything. Yes, it will demand one of our best performances yet, but we have that in us and that’s the plan.
“No team is perfect. There are definitely chinks in the armour. It’s whether we possess the skills and accuracy to execute some of the ways that we want to play. I think when we’re at full steam, it’s anybody’s game. They are a very good team, but definitely not unbeatable.”
In terms of personnel for the big game, Christine Belisle was drafted into the squad as a replacement for Elliann Clarke earlier this week and is likely to be in the matchday 23 as one of the two tighthead props along with Molly Poolman.
Asked if they would think about starting the more experienced Belisle, Holmes said: ““I don’t think there’s a reason not to, she’s an experienced international. She’s done a great job coming back in and learning all the plays, her detail and energy have been great and it’s just exciting to have her back in.”
Holmes also said that hooker Lana Skeldon is fit and available for selection.
Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Christine Belisle, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm (C), Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.
Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Emma Orr, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills.
Tyrone Holmes is pictured with No.8 Evie Gallagher – 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.