England head coach John Mitchell says his aspect will goal to “hunt weaknesses” that he feels stay in Scotland’s “improved” aspect in Sunday’s Girls’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final conflict.
The previous rivals meet at Bristol’s Ashton Gate when the Pink Roses will put their record-equalling 30-match successful streak on the road in opposition to a Scotland aspect who’re showing of their first World Cup quarter-final since 2002.
England, who welcome again captain Zoe Aldcroft to the line-up after lacking the ultimate two pool video games by means of damage however are with out Ellie Kildunne, are unbeaten in opposition to Scotland since 1999 and subsequently large favourites to progress.
“They have definitely improved, which is great,” mentioned Mitchell of Scotland, who gained two of their three pool matches to qualify for the final eight.
“I feel everybody has raised their efficiency.
“Clearly Scotland will raise their performance against us but there is still vulnerability within the Scotland team, there’s still opportunities to build pressure, so we will be hunting those weaknesses.”
Hosts and event favourites England gained all three of their pool video games and, chatting with Sky Sports activities Information, Mitchell mentioned: “We’re within the phases of the event now the place there’s all the time an finish level. So we have to earn one other week and that makes it actually enjoyable as effectively as a result of you have to be sure to get the job finished.
“We have really adapted well [in the tournament]. We have learnt from different situations. We have had some injuries pre-tournament, some injuries in-tournament.
“We have been a bit of bit untidy within the first half in opposition to Australia and we labored our method out of that basically calmly.
“Those situations are really important to learn from and make sure you get better at them.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Alex Matthews was ‘stunned’ after being chosen as England captain for his or her remaining pool recreation in opposition to Australia
Heavy rain and gusty winds are forecast to coincide with Sunday’s 4pm match however Mitchell says his aspect are effectively ready for such tough circumstances.
“We believe that we can adapt to all conditions,” he mentioned.
“We’ve got particular plays up our sleeve that allow us to be able to dictate opportunities at the other end of the field through the weather. I think we are well equipped to deal with both.”
‘They’ve not seen this Scotland earlier than’ – underdogs relish ‘enormous’ conflict
Though world-ranked No 1 England are the clear favourites to progress to a semi-final tie in opposition to both France or Eire, Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm believes her aspect characterize a really totally different proposition from the previous.
“This game is huge,” mentioned Malcolm, who will captain Scotland for a document 53rd time on Sunday.
“Scotland haven’t been in a quarter-final for 22 years and I think it’s a different type of pressure.
“Nobody expects us to win and that is sort of the place we thrive. It’s the largest recreation of our profession as a result of we now have an enormous quantity of perception on this crew.
“The performances have built week on week while we’ve been here and to be at this stage, to be in the top eight teams in the world in a competition, is massive for not just this group but for Scotland women’s rugby in the history of this game.
Scotland’s Chloe Rollie holds off a problem throughout Scotland’s win of Fiji
“It doesn’t feel like pressure; it feels like an honour and a privilege that we want to go and do justice, so we are incredibly exited.
“I do not suppose we now have ever performed England with this Scotland crew and this stage of perception and this stage of unity. So it is a totally different recreation and a special problem and one we could not be extra excited for.”
Francesca McGhie, who starts at left wing, said: “They’ve not seen this Scotland earlier than so we’re simply excited to see what we are able to do.”
Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Bryan Easson said that while England represent “very troublesome” opposition, his side have enjoyed an encouraging tournament and that “performances would counsel we’re bettering”.
He also took note of Australia’s approach in their early successes against England in the final pool game, before the hosts ultimately won out comfortable 47-7 winners.
“I assumed Australia performed effectively that first 40 [minutes] and did put lots of strain on England,” said Easson.
“They put them below stress, they put the maul below stress as effectively, which was attention-grabbing. So we have had a take a look at that and another video games as effectively the place they have been put below stress as effectively.
“So we are well aware of the opportunities but we are also very well aware of the threats as well.
“It is all the time a pressurised recreation however most likely a World Cup quarter remaining there’s a little little bit of strain to carry out on them as effectively. So we now have to have a look at that and take each inch we are able to.”
England vs Scotland: How they’ll line up
ENGLAND
Beginning XV: 15 Helena Rowland, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Rosie Galligan, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (captain), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Abbie Ward, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Emma Sing.
SCOTLAND
Beginning XV: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Sarah Bonar, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Jade Konkel.
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Younger, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Rachel McLachlan, 21. Alex Stewart, 22 Caity Mattinson, 23 Evie Wills.
England’s World Cup outcomes to date
Scotland’s World Cup outcomes to date
Girls’s World Cup – remaining fixtures
Quarter-finals
- September 13: New Zealand vs South Africa (Exeter) – 1pm
- September 13: Canada vs Australia (Bristol) – 4pm
- September 14: France vs Eire (Exeter) – 1pm
- September 14: England vs Scotland (Bristol) – 4pm
Semi-finals
- September 19: New Zealand/South Africa vs Canada/Australia (Bristol) – 7pm
- September 20: France/Eire vs England/Scotland (Bristol) – 3.30pm
Bronze remaining
- September 27: TBC vs TBC (Twickenham) – 12.30pm
Ultimate
- September 27: TBC vs TBC (Twickenham) – 4pm
