Bryan Easson, the Scotland Women’s team head coach, aims to use his team’s solitary autumn Test against Japan on November 14 at the DAM Health Stadium to build momentum for their World Cup ‘repechage’ qualification tournament early in 2022.
Having included four uncapped players — the Edinburgh University quartet Shona Campbell, Meryl Smith, Anne Young and Holly McIntyre — in the 26-strong group he announced yesterday, he also sees it as an opportunity to grow the depth of the squad.
Lyndsay O’Donnell, the Worcester Warriors second row who is from Alloa, has been recalled and is in the frame for a first appearance since 2017.
Scotland are on a roll at the moment, having bounced back from an opening-day defeat by Italy to claim the scalps of Spain and Ireland in the World Cup’s European Qualification Tournament back in September. That secured their place in the final qualifying competition, expected to be staged in Dubai during January.
Scotland will fancy their chances of coming out on top in a round-robin against Samoa, Colombia and either Hong Kong or Kazakhstan for entry into the main event in New Zealand in October.
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Having made only one enforced change to his starting XV over the course of those three matches inside a 12-day window in September, Easson knows that he needs to have more players up to speed if Scotland are to be competitive against the world’s best.
“This game is ideal in two ways,” he said. “It allows us to get the group back together after being in Italy, and it allows us to play against a team with a different style. It also means we are able to look at the player base with a little bit less stress than the qualifiers when we simply had to win those games.
“Yes, we want a win to keep the momentum going, but it does also allow us to look at other players who could potentially come into the fold for the World Cup in New Zealand, post the Dubai tournament.”
A number of established names are missing, including Mairi McDonald, Liz Musgrove, Abi Evans and Siobhan Cattigan, who have medium- or short-term injuries which are not expected to keep them out of the World Cup qualifier. Katie Dougan, Eva Donaldson and Rachel Shankland were omitted, although Easson was keen to stress that no doors are closed as far as future call-ups are concerned.
Squad. Scotland Women (2021 Autumn Test v Japan, November 14, DAM Health Stadium)
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Forwards Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), Christine Belisle (Loughborough), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park), Evie Gallagher (Stirling County), Jade Konkel (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough), Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors), Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors), Emma Wassell (Loughborough), Molly Wright (Watsonians), Anne Young (Edinburgh University).
Backs Shona Campbell (Edinburgh Univ), Megan Gaffney (Loughborough), Sarah Law (Sale Sharks), Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais), Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough), Holly McIntyre (Edinburgh Univ), Helen Nelson (Loughborough), Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs), Hannah Smith (Watsonians), Meryl Smith (Edinburgh Univ), Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks), Evie Wills (Hillhead Jordanhill).