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\u201cI think the legacy is probably not just at this tournament, but the last few years,\u201d Easson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve hit all success criteria that we\u2019ve been set out to do. We\u2019ve qualified for two Rugby World Cups, we\u2019ve qualified for a quarter-final, performances are in a position now where everyone takes us seriously. I think we will leave this World Cup with our heads held high, regardless of the result on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Bryan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/6c927b91e92fc6fe4149dd83f5d1a9fa.jpeg\"\/)
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Bryan Easson (right) and Rachel Malcolm have transformed Scotland’s fortunes (Martin Rickett\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
The manner in which Scotland have flourished over these last few weeks is all the more impressive given the storms that seem to rumble in the background. <\/a>During the summer, reporting from the BBC revealed significant uncertainty over the contracting process for the squad before this tournament. It is understood that perhaps as many of half of the group playing in England may not have full-time professional deals beyond the World Cup; to have performed in the way they have, to have shown such togetherness, speaks volumes about the culture that Easson and Malcolm have created.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The inspirational skipper captains the side for the 53rd time on Sunday, a new record for the nation. Malcolm carries genuine belief that Scotland can break their extended English hoodoo yet if this is to be the end of an era with Easson departing, it is one with which she and the rest of the squad will reflect with great pride.<\/p>\n \u201cBryan and I have been through our fair share of ups and downs.\u201d Malcolm said. \u201cIt\u2019s not always been plain sailing for us, but we\u2019ve always worked together to get the best out of the group we\u2019ve had and deal with the off-field issues and stuff. He\u2019s always focussed on our happiness and how to get the most out of us as individual.<\/p>\n \u201cThis group make me proud every day, regardless of the performance, just because of what we come up against and what we fight for to be part of this team. To finally see what we know has been building come to fruition in the last few weeks has been my happiest time as captain. But we have so much more in us. This weekend is another opportunity for us to take a massive step forward. This game is huge, but it\u2019s a different type of pressure; no one expects us to win, and that\u2019s where we thrive.”<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Scotland have enjoyed an excellent tournament (Action Images via Reuters)<\/p>\n Easson shuffles his forward pack for the mighty challenge ahead, tighthead prop Christine Belisle in from the cold and into the starting side after a tournament-ending injury to Elliann Clarke. Jade Konkel\u2019s ball-carrying from No 8 will be highly valuable \u2013 the back row could be playing her final game in a Scotland shirt, heightening that end of an era feel. There is stability, though, in a backline that has thrived so far, wings Francesca McGhie and Rhona Lloyd bringing serious speed and Emma Orr an increasingly important figure, and leader, in the 13 channel.<\/p>\n England, for their part, have talked up the Auld Enemy, both coach John Mitchell and returning captain Zoe Aldcroft<\/a> praising the togetherness and growth Scotland had shown as they looked ahead to the quarter-final clash late on Friday night. Mitchell also made reference to the adversity his side have faced \u2013 while Aldcroft is fit to return, full-back Ellie Kildunne is out as she progresses through concussion return-to-play protocols <\/a>and loosehead Hannah Botterman does not feature having missed the start of the week with a back injury.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Zoe Aldcroft returns from injury to lead England (PA Wire)<\/p>\n It is expected that the duo will be available for a semi-final, assuming England get there, but opportunities perhaps abound for a playmaking pair given the task of getting an attack more clunky than clicking against Australia properly firing. The exceptionally versatile Helena Rowland<\/a> \u2013 who has started games at 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 for England \u2013 takes the place of Kildunne, while Holly Aitchison<\/a>, now fully over an ankle injury that initially threatened her tournament, takes the reins at fly half.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really need to see anything from Holly,\u201d Mitchell said having given the fly half her first start of the tournament. \u201cI know what she can produce, and trust that and back that. She was in a really great position before she got the niggle and now she\u2019s in a better position having overcome that.<\/p>\n Holly Aitchison starts at fly half for England against Scotland (PA Wire)<\/p>\n \u201cHelena is pretty handy in the backfield. She\u2019s got a huge work-rate and is very consistent. She\u2019s super quick. She\u2019s phenomenal and gives us so much versatility.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cNow there is an understatement,\u201d Bryan Easson chuckled when it was suggested to the Scotland head coach and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":420353,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5008],"tags":[748,20096,393,4884,28556,712,16,15,1514],"class_list":{"0":"post-420352","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-england","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-bryan-easson","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-rachel-malcolm","13":"tag-scotland","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom","16":"tag-world-cup"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115195423446677118","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/420353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/d3ac31751fbc9aaff73d4444a396d480.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Zoe](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/7cd1a222ca31c92b134adb7e6acb27b0.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Holly](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/876012bb27311f5c86b27373cf05d233.jpeg\"\/)
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