Scottish Rugby

Scotland booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2002 with victory over gritty Fiji in Salford.

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Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Elis Martin says Scotland have prepared for an improved Fiji in their crucial Women's World Cup Pool B match on Saturday.

Should pool favourites Canada defeat Wales earlier in the day, the Scots will take to the field at the Salford Community Stadium knowing a win would guarantee a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

The sides last met in September 2024 when the Scots ran out 59-15 winners, but Martin warns Fiji are now a different proposition.

"We've obviously watched quite a few of their games and you can tell that they've been working on getting fitter, making sure that they are putting on a show," said Martin, who replaces Lana Skeldon at hooker in the only change to the side that beat Wales.

"Their game last week against Canada was a difficult scoreline [a 65-7 defeat], but at the end of the day, they still posed massive threats to Canada.

"They scored through them and they offloaded and got in behind them. And that's something that we're looking to stop at source and really shut down.

"So absolutely, they're better than they were before, but so are we, so we'll see what happens."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty

Captain Rachel Malcolm says the Scotland players have had to "decompress" following the high of their opening Women's World Cup victory over Wales before they take on Fiji on Saturday.

The Scots produced a scintillating display to win 38-8 in their Pool B opener and know victory over Fiji in Salford in Saturday could seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Malcom says rather than simply riding the momentum from one game to the next, the squad have had to wind down before building up for another big performance.

"I think everyone looks at winning and thinks that you just go from cloud nine to 10, but often there's a little bit of emotional decompress, and I think we've felt that a little bit this week," said Malcolm.

"It's just been about managing the week. I think, obviously, Saturday, Sunday, we were absolutely buzzing. That is something that we've built towards for three years [when Scotland exited the World Cup at the pool stage].

"That heart rate that we had three years ago to come in reverse, that definitely took some out of us emotionally.

"The focus that we've had this week around kind of really switching our gameplan a little bit, because we're playing almost a polar opposite in terms of playing style, has been really good.

"The attention to detail around the different players that Fiji have and the different threats that they have has been so good.

"But we know we need to be back up performance-wise exactly where we were on Saturday to get that result against Fiji."

Scotland are now viewed as a "genuine threat" following the statement win over Wales in the Women's World Cup opener, says former skipper Lisa Martin.

Having been dogged by player contract uncertainty in the build-up to the tournament, Scotland cast off that turmoil with a 38-8 walloping of Wales.

"There might have been a little bit of that being fuelled by the contract situation, which as frustrating and annoying as it is, that has been taking the headlines pre-match, but is completely a footnote now," said Martin on the BBC's Scottish Rugby Podcast.

"The thing that we're talking about is how well they are able to play and you're hoping the likes of Scottish Rugby can look at that and be like, well, this is the respect we need to be giving these guys.

"The performance they've put out there shows they are worthy of so much better and hopefully it's something that can be rectified going forward and that we never have to have these conversations going into a major tournament that there's uncertainty for about 16 to 18 players as to what they're going to do come October.

"People are starting to take notice of the squad and seeing them as being dangerous threats rather than it's just Scotland, it'll be fine.

"I remember speaking to a few of the England girls a number of years ago and when it always came to the Scotland-England matches, no one was ever really picked out.

"Whereas now, you're looking at threat players and you're saying, well, we need to do something to negate what Francesca McGhie can do. We need to do something that's going to negate Evie Gallagher's ability to win turnovers and stuff.

"People are starting to see Scotland as a genuine threat and a genuine favourite. It's fantastic to see that it's transcended beyond women's sport, it's now sport and people are excited to see Scotland play and see the likes of Francesca and Evie and Chloe Rollie."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Scotland women's captain Lisa Martin says a prospective move to Newcastle Falcons could appeal to Gregor Townsend.

The current Scotland men's head coach's contract expires in April 2026, but he has been linked, external with a move to English club Newcastle Red Bulls to become their director of rugby.

"It's definitely something that you'd think would turn his head a little bit," Martin told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"It's something different, it goes back to a bit of full-time coaching again for him because in the international set-up, you don't really do much hands-on coaching.

"I suppose you look at Scottish Rugby at the minute, there's just a massive kind of bottleneck in terms of coaching, we've had coaches having to move on elsewhere because there is nowhere else for them to go further up the set-up.

"I think it would be a sensible thing from a wider perspective to maybe encourage Gregor to look at other options but I suppose it's down to him.

"Is he wanting to continue his project with Scotland and try and get the success that we've all been talking about that this generation needs and expects to have?

"Or is it time to cut your losses and say I've done what I can, let's move on and let's see what can I do with a brand new project and create a new legacy within Newcastle Red Bulls?"

With the next edition of the men's Rugby World Cup taking place in 2027, BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English believes Townsend may want another crack at that competition before he moves on.

"He can't stay forever," English added. "I think the SRU were planning that he was going to stay until the World Cup and then there'll be a parting.

"But Newcastle is a very interesting project and if he is on the list, I could see why that might have appeal.

"It's a brand new trainset. It's a fantastic opportunity day-to-day at a club with low expectations but big budget. That would appeal to most coaches.

"But Townsend has said constantly his love of this job. This is not only a job to him, it's a kind of way of life."

Image source, PA Media

Scotland head coach Brian Easson says his side made Wales "look pretty ordinary" in their opening Women's World Cup win.

The Scots won 38-8, with Fran McGhie scoring three of the Scots' six tries.

"We were ruthless all the way through," Easson said on BBC One. "We were pretty dangerous and defensively we made Wales look pretty ordinary.

"Once we got our kicking game right, I thought we managed the game pretty well and then there was only one team in it.

"The togetherness of this group is unbelievable. I know people talk about cultures and environments, I've never been in an environment like it. They are so tight together and they fight together.

"We knew the magnitude of this game, this was a big one. The focus was firmly on Wales, the focus as of now is on Fiji."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 38-8 victory over Wales in their Women's World Cup opener, where Fran McGhie scored three of the Scots' six tries.

Here's what some of you said:

Bob: Brian Easson deserves a huge amount of credit for the way he has built the squad. I remember him as the SRU development coach for the Highlands, he was outstanding in that role. I just hope the SRU are not stupid enough to lose him.

Kenny: An excellent team performance but let's not get carried away. Wales turned us over a couple of times and the breakdown a danger area. But the attack is sharp. Lets go Scotland!

Chris: Fran McGhie looked like the complete player. Her hat-trick was brilliant. She needed to really work for the first one, showing her dancing feet to beat several defenders. Likewise her try-saving tackles were phenomenal! I was roaring at the TV in celebration when she ran back to scythe down the Welsh runners.

Mark: For any Scottish Rugby enthusiast the women's team has become a must watch in the sporting calendar. I thought the defence and attacking intent was immense. A strong squad camaraderie is also clearly evident. Here's hoping the win will attract even more fans and help springboard them into the quarter finals.

Jane: Possibly one of the best performances I've seen the women produce. The bonus is there are still areas to improve. Rachel Malcolm's leadership is outstanding. Cannot wait to watch them done in Manchester next weekend!

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland in Salford

Image source, PA Media

Rachel Malcolm says Scotland's six-try demolition of Wales in their Women's Rugby World Cup opener is one of her greatest days as national captain.

Malcolm led her country for the 50th time and was part of an outstanding Scottish performance that made a mockery of pre-match predictions of a tight affair.

"It's probably up there with one of the best performances, let alone scorelines that I've been a part of as captain, as part of the squad," Malcolm told BBC Scotland.

"I think we were just extremely efficient and professional and there's a bit of an inevitability about everything that we did. It just makes me so proud of the group and how hard they've worked for that performance.

"There's nothing that can break this group. It's what our X-factor is, it's just how together we are as a group. Whether it's on-pitch, off-pitch, we'll always stick together and fight for each other..

"That's what makes results like that so special to be a part of because we know what we have and what we have is so special."

Scotland have beaten Wales 38-8 in their Women's World Cup opener.

Fran McGhie scored three of the Scots' six tries and they face Fiji next in Pool B.

Who impressed you? How far can Scotland go in the tournament?

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Image source, PA Media

Scotland captain Lisa Martin on BBC Radio Wales

It's the ability of the backs to get the ball into the hands, and creating problems for Wales' backline.

You give Fran McGhie a one-on-one like that and it's always going to end in a try.

BBC Scotland rugby reporter Andy Burke

Scotland's potency lies in their back three and it was demonstrated perfectly with that [fourth] try.

Rhona Lloyd came off her wing and into the line, drew in the defence with some near footwork then timed her pass to Fran McGhie to perfection.

There was still a bit to do, but as we have seen since she arrived in Test rugby, McGhie knows her way to the try line.

Former Wales wing Caryl James on BBC Radio Cymru

Scotland were fantastic, they knew exactly what they wanted to do. Even though they've struggled off the field, they didn't show it on the pitch.

It looks like what's happened off the pitch motivated them and they put in a heroic performance.