Scots keep their focus
Rollie hails squad after ‘tough’ week
SCOTLAND full-back Chloe Rollie insists the players ‘have each other’s backs’ after a tough week that ended with them running the USA close in their first World Cup warm-up game.
The build-up was overshadowed by the family of their former team-mate Siobhan Cattigan calling for an independent inquiry into her death at the age of 26 last November.
They have launched a legal action against the SRU for what they allege was lack of duty of medical care following a head knock she picked up against Wales in April 2021.
Rollie, who won her 50th cap on Saturday, claimed the off-field events prior to the game had brought the squad closer together — and she insisted their morale could not be faulted.
‘It has been tough for me and for everyone,’ she said. ‘We are coming to focus on our rugby but that noise is there. We will get through this and want to focus on performing well, training and playing well and getting the results that we should be getting.
‘What has been happening has brought us together more in some ways. Some people have maybe struggled more than others but we’ve got each other’s backs no matter on and off the pitch. We have always been really close but it has simply emphasised that we are really, really close.
‘That’s amazing just before a World Cup because we will be away for so long and be together for so long. Knowing that is how it is going to be is so good for all of us. You certainly cannot fault the morale of this squad as we have been through a lot but have gelled together.’
Rollie, from Jedburgh, was one of the star performers in a Scotland team who were in the game until the final moments against an American side ranked fifth in the world, five places above them.
Scotland scored two tries, one from hooker Lana Skeldon and a superb individual effort from winger Rhona Lloyd. Fly-half Helen Nelson was impressive with the boot, putting over two conversions and a penalty.
Hope Rogers got two tries for the USA, another coming from Kate Zackary.
A penalty each from Alev Kelter and Gabby Cantorna secured the win, with the Scots narrowly failing to get over the opposition try line at the end despite several attacking breaks.
‘We would love to have got the win but it’s just the way it went,’ said Rollie.
‘We showed some amazing pieces of play in attack and defence. It’s now just about building towards the World Cup in New Zealand and we’ve still got that hard determination to do well.’
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson said he would be making wholesale changes for their final warm-up match against Spain in Edinburgh in a fortnight.
Easson, who has to cut his squad from 36 to 32 for the tournament, said: ‘Our captain Rachel Malcolm picked up an elbow injury and had to come off and we will find out this week how bad it is.
‘I have most of the World Cup squad in my mind and I have a few different permutations but everyone will get the chance to impress.
‘It’s exciting for me as Scotland women’s national coach to be able to make decisions around the squad. It is a tough squad to pick which is testament to the work these players are putting in.’
He paid tribute to Rollie for making a half-century of appearances, but made it clear that young players were coming through all the time.
‘Chloe has 50 caps but we now have players who are pushing,’ he said.
‘That competition makes players work harder and play harder. Chloe improves in every training session. It is a privilege to work with this group.
‘We open our World Cup against Wales in October and it is about peaking for that match. Teams will make changes to ensure they get the right squad in warm-up games which is why we made eight changes as early as we did against the USA and we will do so again against Spain.’