Easson backs Scotland Women to be a match for favourites England

Scotland Women’s watershed result against France in October will count for nothing unless the team meet their next biggest obstacle – the allconquering England team in Doncaster today.

The Women’s Six Nations will get added attention and BBC network coverage in a Covid-shortened season.

And the Scots have just two games to build on the stunning 13-13 draw with France at Scotstoun five months ago.

But while that result bridged a huge gap in relative resources, taking on England really is Scotland’s Everest.

In the last 10 years Scotland have registered points against the English in just three games and have conceded more than 40 in all but one.

But the record was similar against the French and the current side with just three changes for today’s game will be much more competitive, believes coach Bryan Easson.

“The France game was really positive for everybody involved in the squad so, of course, we are going to use that,” he said. “We’ve not gone on too much about it. We can’t believe that because we did well against France we can now just turn up and everything goes well again.

“It helps, but it is about how we kick on from that game.”

The home-based Scots may have had no games since October, but they’ve had the best environment and support with weekly sessions throughout at the men’s base in Oriam and in Glasgow.

“The work the girls have put in over the last few months has been excellent, we have worked hard on areas we believe have had deficiencies in the past and on skill development,” he added.

“As a group we feel we

are in a place where we can put in performances now.

“I am not going to shout and say we are going to win Six Nations and World Cups, but this is a team that is building, progressing and I see us getting better every session.

“That is the challenge I give them: ‘be better after every session’. You will see a better group of people and a better group of players.

“We will be more structured and put whoever we are playing under pressure.”

England’s set-up is full-time and all their players play in the English Premier. Just six of the Scots play down south, but it is a fair fight, insisted Easson.

“Any game you play in is a fair fight, you have got to challenge yourselves,” he said.

“We’ve trained more than we probably ever have because of the situation we have been in, so for me it is 15 v 15.”

Scotland reshuffle in the pack with back rower Louise McMillan moving to second row while Christine Belisle makes her first start at prop.

Jade Konkel is taking a sabbatical to train as a firefighter. Stirling County’s Siobhan Cattigan takes over her position at No 8.

Bryan Easson.