This Friday Scotland face their last challenge for a place in next autumn’s World Cup.
Most sane people rate them racing certainties to beat Colombia, but Brian Easson and his squad aren’t letting such vain thoughts enter their heads. ‘Utmost respect’ is the order of the day.
Colombia turned the tables on the higher rated Kazakhs last weekend to prove worthy winners. They will admit that the few test matches the pandemic permitted them (three) were a crucial advantage.
But now they come face to face with a nation that has rediscovered its self-belief, despite all its past disappointments.
Covid-19 dealt the Scots a cruel blow when Philip Doyle was unable to continue his stewardship of the team, so recently begun. In his place Bryan Easson has done a fine job building on Doyle’s initial steps.
Twenty of his squad of 30 (full list below) perform in the English Prem 15s league to ensure top-level standards and fitness. Rhona Lloyd is the one player operating in France at Bordeaux.
Easson has been carefully fitting the pieces together to form a talented and resilient squad. Everything starts up front, where Christine Belisle had proved an important addition at tight-head. Behind her the Scots have proven match winners in Jade Konkel, Lloyd and Chloe Rollie. It will be fascinating to see whether the newest incomer, Caity Mattinson, has impressed the selectors sufficiently to gain a (starting) place.
It was important to unearth new talent, unburdened by the memory of many lost games.
The squad had to make do with a single match last autumn, against Japan (won with some difficulty 36-12). Wouldn’t they have preferred more match practice at the highest level? Even so, the odds are Helen Nelson won’t be required to pot a vital kick in the 81st minute.
After the Six Nations the next stage must surely be a series of testing internationals over the summer, especially against teams ranked higher than them. Currently they stand ninth, their highest ever. Their immediate targets are Ireland and Italy who lie four points ahead of them; they meet both of them away this year.
But first, the Toucans!
Las Tucanes haven’t had their troubles to seek. After entering their bubble a fortnight before their trips to Madrid and Dubai, their head coach Raúl Vesga and four players were unable to travel after contracting Covid-19. Lissete Martinez had to take charge at the last moment.
They then lost heavily to Spain’s second team, but were undaunted. They overcame the loss of Maribel Mestra, their No 8, to a red card to see off the more fancied Kazakhstan side.
They are led by a 21-year-old, Leidy Soto, who happens to be the younger sister of Juliana Soto, also in the squad. She hopes Scotland will give them due respect. But I fancy Easson had already given ‘utmost respect’ as his squad’s watchword
Las Tucanes are on a great adventure, and whatever the outcome of Friday’s match, they’ve put Colombia firmly on the map of women’s rugby.
One important effect will be to inspire more players across South America. The talent is surely there.
Media Coverage
Match available via BBC Alba and World Rugby’s channels, including youtube.
Kick-off 15.00 GMT, Friday 25 February
The Scotland Squad in Dubai:
Anne Young (Edinburgh University) – 1 cap
Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors) – uncapped
Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs) – 44 caps
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) – 11 caps
Coreen Grant (Saracens) – 1 cap
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning) – 51 caps
Eva Donaldson (Edinburgh University) – uncapped
Evie Gallagher (Stirling County) – 7 caps
Evie Wills (Hillhead Jordanhill) – 2 caps
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) – 36 caps
Jade Konkel (Harlequins) – 48 caps
Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning) – 35 caps
Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury) – 14 caps
Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors) – 47 caps
Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) – 11 caps
Lisa Cockburn (Worcester Warriors) – 22 caps
Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks) – 39 caps
Liz Musgrove (Unattached) – 10 caps
Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill) – 30 caps
Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors) – 15 caps
Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill) – 7 caps
Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning) – 38 caps
Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University) – uncapped
Molly Wright (Sale Sharks) – 9 caps
Rachel Malcolm (captain, Loughborough Lightning) – 23 caps
Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks) – 23 caps
Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionesses du Stade Bordelais) – 32 caps
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) – 25 caps
Sarah Law (Sale Sharks) – 47 caps
Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University) – 1 cap
