The women’s Rugby World Cup is heading to England and is shaping up to be the largest ever, with the Thistles looking to produce their most successful campaign yet. As this is their first World Cup as a fully professional side, there is a weight of expectation surrounding them and whether they can capitalise on their form.
Having recently wrapped up their WXV2 campaign, the Thistles have finished the season as the seventh-ranked team, losing in a final matchup to a powerful Australian side. The journey to this placement provides a good look into how the side might do in the World Cup.
Heading into the final fixture against Australia’s Wallaroos, the Thistles had shown why they were the favourites. Not only were they the reigning champions – in the first fixture Evie Gallagher impressed at 8 as the Thistles stunned the Italians who had recently upset WXV1 side, Ireland. Their second win was no less impressive, a tough match against the fan-favourite Japanese side courtesy of a powerful performance by outside centre Meryl Smith.
Australia came out the gate with a brace of tries, and late offloads exposed poor defensive reads as Scotland struggled to gather momentum. While the Thistles began to show their trademark confrontational defence, a deadly grubber through unlocked it.
After 30 minutes, Scotland found their usual intensity with strong carries and a dynamic attack. Like the men’s team, the Scottish audacity to threaten points from anywhere was on show during this final.
While a disappointing red card to Emma Orr allowed the Wallaroos to pull ahead at the death and lift the trophy, this is a side that has proven they are capable of winning tournaments.
So where does that leave Scotland heading into the next World Cup? At seventh in the world, and stealing victories from many of the top sides, the Thistles are a dark horse in the competition. There are some notable challenges for them to overcome if they want to go the distance, however.
In pool B, Scotland has to overcome unpredictable Welsh and Fijian sides before facing a formidable Canada (ranked 2nd). Given their consistency and quality, the Thistles should escape the pool and make it into a quarter-final where they will likely face a winner from another pool.
Scotland are underdogs, but as long as they avoid the intimidating England side in the quarter-final, they have a strong opportunity to reach the semi-finals and carve a path for further professionalisation in women’s rugby.