Gary Heatly at the Salford Community Stadium
Scotland 38 Wales 8
Scotland put in a performance full of pace and power to defeat Wales 38-8 on Saturday with a bonus point to give them the perfect start to their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
Most pundits felt this match between numbers eight and nine in the world rankings was going to be tight all the way, but Scotland had other ideas and were in control for large parts.
This victory at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester was the Scots first in this competition since 2010 versus Sweden – and their biggest ever win over Wales – and gives them a great chance of a top two finish in Pool B and a quarter-final spot.
Scotland got off to a flying start when stand-off Helen Nelson set up winger Francesca McGhie for an unconverted try within 60 seconds.
At the same time second-row Emma Wassell went off with a blood injury with Eva Donaldson coming on.
Wales levelled things up after 13 minutes when their co-captain Alex Callender went over for an unconverted try.
In the 17th minute the Scots worked the ball well through the phases and then centre Lisa Thomson found McGhie on the edge and she went over for her second unconverted try and it was 10-5.
Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan, who kicked the winning penalty when these sides met in the World Cup in New Zealand in 2022, nudged over three points to make it 10-8.
Nine minutes before half-time, Scotland’s third try came when scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden went over for her first ever try for her country. Nelson converted and it was 17-8.
Wales then knocked on the door before the break and tighthead prop Elliann Clarke went off for an HIA, but some strong Scottish defence held them out and having a nine point lead intact after 40 minutes was crucial.
And things got even better for the Scots after 43 minutes when McGhie, the 22-year-old who missed the Summer Tests due to injury, went over for her third try which was the bonus point score. It was her 13th try for her country on her 23rd cap and when Nelson converted it was 24-8. Clarke was also back on now.
After 53 minutes Wales second-row Gwen Crabb was yellow carded, but by the time she returned the score was still the same.
Try five did come for Scotland a few moments later though when No.8 Evie Gallagher, who turned 25 on Friday, went over with Nelson converting for 31-8.
Late on centre Emma Orr added Scotland’s sixth try and Nelson converted to put the icing on the cake.
That was the way it ended and what a performance from Scotland.
The tournament in England runs from August 22 to September 27 and the remaining Scotland group stage matches are against Fiji in Manchester on August 30 and Canada in Exeter on September 6.
- Australia defeated Samoa 73-0 earlier in the day in Pool A at the same venue.
Later in the day Canada and Fiji played in Scotland’s group and the former won 65-7 in York while, in Pool D, France defeated Italy 24-0 in Exeter.
Teams:
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock.
Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams (C-C), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (C-C). Subs: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.
Scorers:
Scotland: Tries: McGhie 3, Brebner-Holden, Gallagher, Orr. Conversions: Nelson 4.
Wales: Try: Callender. Penalty: Bevan.
Yellow card: Crabb (Wales).
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr.
Player of the match: Francesca McGhie (Scotland).
Francesca McGhie is pictured en route to one of her tries – thanks to Scottish Rugby
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.