Starters (for your main course, please scroll down)
World Rugby didn’t have to seek out trouble. The revised title of the competition ‘World Cup 2021 played in 2022’ told its own story. But few imagined this last qualifier taking place against the background of war. Fortunately the show could go on.
Bryan Easson went for the most experienced side available; only Sarah Bonar (injury) and Hannah Smith (suspension) were missing. After two successive disappointments at RWCs Rachael Malcolm was ready to use the term ‘pressure’ to summarise the Scots’ position. This was an opportunity not to be bungled.
Las Tucanes had already reached far beyond what they must have thought possible. To be just one step short of a World Cup appearance was the stuff of dreams. They were the embodiment of what World Rugby had hoped to achieve through its new qualifying procedure.
Lissete Martinez made two changes to the team that defeated Kazakhstan, Angie Manyoma replacing the suspended Maribel Mestra in the back row and Laura Mejia moving in to loose-head.
Victory would mean a place in Pool A alongside Australia, New Zealand and Wales
Main Course
Any qualms the Scots may still have harboured at kick-off dissolved rapidly. At once they drove the Colombian pack rearwards to earn a penalty. Sarah Law did the sensible thing and kicked three points.
Good handling allowed Rhona Lloyd to make a big run on the right. As the ball came back across the Colombians strayed offside, a fault that was to haunt them throughout. Law doubled the score.
The first try came from a big break through the middle by Lana Skeldon; the ball moved smoothly through hands for Lisa Thomson to go over.
Next it was Chloe Rollie’s turn to run deep. She was halted by a spill forwards, but once again the Tucanes’ pack crumpled at the scrum; Jenny Maxwell fed Megan Gaffney on the short side for a second try.
The Scots looked a very smooth machine now. A lovely combined move offered Lloyd her chance.(21-0)
For all the Colombians’ endeavours their only reward came when Rachel McLachlan was deemed offside at a ruck and the reliable Maria Arzuaga added three more points to her tally.
They suffered the same fault as the Kazakhs had against them last week. They would drive into contact, repossess, but hardly ever let the ball move wide through more than one pair of hands. Too many forwards felt the need to support the ruck, and the alignments out behind didn’t encourage enterprising passes.
By the break Scotland had added a fourth try, scored by Law with the approach work done by the devastating Jade Konkel.
Half-time 28-3
So Easson could set the targets every coach appreciates: the game safely in the bag, he would want to see certain features of play brought to the fore.
Law delayed a pass delightfully to offer Gaffney a run to the line for her second of the day. Isabel Romero was shown a yellow as she tried to intercept a pass close to her line, but could only knock it on. The Toucans had thrived with fourteen players against Kazakhstan, but this was their first experience of a tier-1 match-up. All they could do was tackle without the ball and drive into the next arm-wrestle with it.
The tries multiplied, to Konkel, then Skeldon for her second and to two young replacements, Evie Wills and Molly Wright. Indeed, the benchers performed just as Easson must have wished. They upped the pace and showed they were ready to start another game. Caity Mattinson in particular looked as though she could easily become the first choice No 9; her service was in a different class from Maxwell’s.
The contrast between the ends of Scotland’s last two World Cup matches could hardly be more extreme. Both finished in jubilation, but this one had none of the heart-stopping intensity of the Ireland game. Job done.
Result: Scotland 59 Colombia 3
Player of the Match: Louise McMillan
Teams
Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Thomson, Nelson, Gaffney, Law, Maxwell, Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, McMillan, Malcolm (captain), McLachlan, Konkel
Bench: Wright, Cockburn, Dougan, Donaldson, Gallagher, Mattinson, Wills, Campbell
Colombia: Mejia, Soto J. Soto L. (captain), Romero, Arzuaga, Lopera, Ramirez; Andrioly, Barajas, Betancur, Alvarez, Vargas; Manyona, Munoz, Hernandez
Bench: Avendaño, Olave, Gomez, Arango, Quintero, Tapias, Garcia, Brant
Officials :
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) and Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Afterthought
As World Rugby breathes a huge sigh of relief – the final piece of the jigsaw has been fitted in – we shouldn’t forget the pain suffered by teams absent here in the UAE. Both Hong Kong and Samoa should have attended, but the pandemic had other ideas. With four nations in contention the occasion would have been even more memorable.
Colombia proved their right to be present competing at high level; their future path can only be upward. Kazakhstan must hope for a speedy return to rugby normality. They simply hadn’t been able to play enough rugby to give themselves a chance.
Fortunately it’s only three years to the next RWC. Much to look forward to.
