Meryl Smith is brimming with confidence after a great first season with Bristol Bears last term – and now she wants to start 2024/25 with a bang by helping Scotland defeat Wales at Hive Stadium on Friday evening.
The first Vodafone Series match in Edinburgh – the second comes on September 14 versus Fiji – is a warm up for WXV 2 in South Africa later this month and into October.
The Scotland camp is playing down the importance of the result, keener to try out things they have been working on during pre-season, but a positive score would make it nine wins in the last 12 Tests and that cannot be sniffed at.
And for certain players, like 23-year-old, 17-capper Smith who is at inside centre with Olympian Lisa Thomson rested, it is a big chance to show what they can do.
Smith feels her big move to PWR side Bristol has helped her and taken her game on a notch and she said: “To go down south and be in that professional environment, well I think I’ve seen myself improve so much just by getting that experience at such a high level.
“The head coach down there Dave Ward pushes us and to train in that environment with the English, Welsh and other Scottish internationals – and the non-internationals as well – has given me more confidence in my ability.”
Smith has often been seen/used as a utility player and is comfortable at 10. 12 and 15.
The player who spent her early years in the Netherlands and then grew up in Edinburgh, insists she will play anywhere she is asked and feels playing 12 helps if you ever have to move in one to 10 and just general helps that connection if you have played both positions previously.
“From 12 you’ve perhaps got a bit more time to scan and see the bigger picture,” Smith explained.
“At 10 you’re under a lot of pressure to react quickly to what’s in front of you and try to pick the best option. That links in because at 10 you need a 12 who’s going to try and give you the information quickly and early and help you out there. I’ve got that experience at 12 and I can understand what it’s like at 10 which definitely helps.
“It’s really good being back in with Helen [Nelson] playing at 10 and 12 and just interchanging – I think we work really well together and I’m enjoying that.
“Lisa Thomson is an incredible player and we’re excited to have her back in the squad after she’s been away with the sevens. I think my skillset is probably less about ball carrying and more about being a second playmaker in that 12 role.
“I like to think that I can ball carry if that’s what we need, but it’s just a case of playing what’s in front of us, trying to pick the best options.”
Backs Leia Brebner-Holden and Lucia Scott could both debut off the bench here with the game kicking off at 7.35pm and having been confirmed as being shown on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer.
Scotland women’s matchday squad for the Vodafone Series clash with Wales (uncapped players in bold)
15 Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders) (65)
14 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers) (12)
13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears) (19)
12 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (17)
11 Coreen Grant (Saracens) (11)
10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, V-C) (60)
9 Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs) (23)
1 Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers) (35)
2 Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears) (69)
3 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) (35)
4 Fi McIntosh (Saracens) (2)
5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) (37)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C) (47)
7 Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars) (5)
8. Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears) (27)
Subs
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (10)
17 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning) (10)
18 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears) (11)
19 Louise McMillan (Saracens) (53)
20 Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers) (11)
21 Jade Konkel (Harlequins) (62)
22 Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers) (uncapped)
23 Lucia Scott (Gloucester-Hartpury/Hartpury University) (uncapped)
Meryl Smith is pictured, thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS
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