Frustrated Nelson wants to finish series in style
Scotland vice-captain Helen Nelson is adamant the squad will go out and play with “fire in our bellies” this evening as they aim to avoid finishing the Tiktok Women’s Six Nations campaign winless in Belfast.
The Scots have lost four from four to date in the competition for 2022 and with the World Cup in New Zealand now just more than five months away, a victory would give everyone involved in the set-up a big boost before they head their separate ways on Sunday.
If Scotland can secure a handsome victory to round off ‘Super Saturday’ at the Kingspan Stadium (8pm, live on BBC Scotland) then they would jump over current fourth-placed Ireland in the table and could go ahead of fifthplaced Italy, depending how they get on versus Wales in Cardiff at noon.
Where they finish in the table will be of no interest to Scotland right now though, it is all simply about winning and 27-year-old centre Nelson, inset, who will be winning cap number 42, said: “Last time we played against Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers [winning 20-18 in September] it was a great team performance.
“We want to go and do that again and we will play with fire in our bellies.
“The campaign has been quite frustrating, especially the games against Italy and Wales where we led at halftime and then lost.
“We’re going to have some fun out there in this game. We have nothing to lose, so we want to tie all the good things we have done in the last four games together for our last game. The main frustration is knowing we’re not playing to our potential at times.
“We don’t always earn respect from other teams as we’re not putting the performances in to gain it – because we know how good we can be, that’s immensely frustrating.
“That’s driving us on to play better in Belfast and show people what we are all about.”
Scotland are 10th in the current world rankings with Ireland seventh, but the former are going to the World Cup and the latter are not.
There is also a lot more experience in the Scotland matchday 23 compared to their hosts - 598 caps to 290 - so the visitors simply have to put their stamp on this game.
“We need to get our set piece firing and get the ball into the hands of our back three,” Nelson adds. “Weneedtobepatient and clinical when we get our chances.”
Meanwhile, Ireland head coach Greg Mcwilliams was not too downhearted despite the thumping 69-0 defeat to England six days ago.
“We want to be better and we have to be better, but the girls are working so hard and they’re doing their best, that’s all we can ask for,” he explains. “Let’s just hope this is a weekend where things click and the players can show their ability to play good rugby.”
Unbeaten sides France and England play in the title decider at 2.15pm UK time in Bayonne.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Lisa Thomson, Helen Nelson, Shona Campbell; Sarah Law, Caity Mattinson; Molly Wright, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel Mclachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Jodie Rettie, Leah Bartlett, Katie Dougan, Louise Mcmillan, Eva Donaldson, Mairi Mcdonald, Emma Orr, Megan Gaffney.