Gary Heatly in Exeter
Molly Poolman says she will “absolutely go for it” if she gets off the bench for her Women’s Rugby World Cup debut for Scotland on Saturday.
The 21-year-old tighthead prop has been added to the group replacements for the Pool B decider at Exeter’s Sandy Park versus Canada (noon, live on BBC Two)
“I will absolutely go for it and try and show what I can do on that pitch and what I’ve learned over the last year or so being around such top class players,” the player who now turns out for Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby said ahead of what would be her sixth international cap.
“Even when I wasn’t in the matchday 23s for the first two games we’ve been helping the team prepare the best way and hopefully that helped the team to defeat Wales and Fiji.
“It’s been quite fun, quite exciting, the whole experience so far has been really enjoyable.
“And then to be able to see the girls put in the performances that they have, it just makes it so worthwhile. To even be involved in this surreal experience. I wouldn’t have imagined being here a year ago.”
A year ago Poolman was recovering from an injury picked up playing for Scotland under-20s and involved in club and Celtic Challenge rugby.
Fast forward a few months and it has been a steep learning curve since she earned her first full cap off the bench versus France during the Six Nations earlier in the year.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” she stated.
“A lot of that has been about scrummaging and about rugby at this level in general, but a lot of it has also been about how to keep care of my body a bit better so I can go hard in every training session rather than feeling sore and kind of ploughing through it.
“We’ve got a great group of recovery leaders, every day they put in our group WhatsApp chat what we need to do whether it’s contrasting in the sauna or even having your recovery shakes or doing mobility and that has helped me to become a better and more consistent athlete.
“I am still just learning all of the time, but I love this group of players and I cannot wait to be part of this big Canada match.”
Bonus point wins over Wales and Fiji mean that Scotland have already made it to the last eight of the World Cup.
They are currently second in the pool behind Canada, who have also made it to the knock-out stages, and who tops the section after three games will be decided when the two teams meet.
Second in the world Canada will be favourites in that one, but if sixth in the world Scotland can cause an upset then they would likely avoid tournament favourites England in the last eight and would play Australia or USA.
Scotland’s quarter-final will be in Bristol on either September 13 or 14, but for now Canada are the focus.
And, like Poolman, playmaker Evie Wills is getting ger first shot on the bench for the game.
She was also at the 2022 World Cup, but has never been on the field at the big dance so if the Stirling County product who is now with Sale Sharks gets on to win cap number seven it would be a big moment for her.
The 24-year-old said: “How can we not take confidence from the last two performances?
“Against two very different teams, two very different performances, but we got two really good wins with bonus points.
“We are in the best possible position ahead of facing Canada this weekend.
“We have done a lot of analysis this week leading up to this game and even some of the coaches were touching on it last week and planning ahead.
“And because technology has moved on, we can see their last 10 games.
“I think, there’s some unknowns, but you’ve just got to do what you do best and that’s really what we’re focusing on. It’s been 70 percent focus on us, 30 percent on them and, like I said, I feel confidence on the back of the last two games and the way the girls played.
I’ve been in and around this group for about five seasons now and it’s never felt like this, never felt this good.
“It’s something that you just can’t put into words, I feel truly backed and believed in by all 31 other players that are here and the management as well.
“That just goes to show how close-knit we are as a group and how lovely the girls are, but also how important our leadership group is.”
Scotland squad to play Canada: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Lisa Cockburn, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
The Canada matchday 23 is here.
Molly Poolman and Evie Wills are 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.