Easson on 'difficult' England defeat, learning lessons & Ireland test

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has been speaking to the media before his team's final Women's Six Nations fixture against Ireland on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• On the 59-7 loss to England last weekend: "It's always a difficult task to play against the best team in the world."

• But Easson is encouraged by Scotland's second-half performance: "It is one we can be proud of, that also shows some of the good things we've shown against France and Wales."

• Scotland have "learned a lot about ourselves" and the Ireland game is a real opportunity to "put together these learnings and put it on the pitch for that 80-minute performance."

• Easson says Scotland are "on track" with preparations for this summer's World Cup and it's a "real positive" that they have capped seven new players in the Six Nations.

• He is expecting a tough challenge against Ireland: "It's about putting the performance in and respecting them. They're a very physical side, they've shown that against some of the top sides in the world, and we have to fight fire with fire this weekend."

• On the return of Leah Bartlett, Anne Young and Rachel Malcolm: "The three of them give us real opportunities, it was three fairly good conversations around selection, but three good players to come in."

• Easson says the result won't "be a defining moment" but Scotland "want to make sure that we are learning from all the games."